Bachelor Pass Requirements for Grade 12

Do you know what it takes to pass Grade 12 with a Bachelor? Well, on this page we make it clear for you in terms of what the main requirements are in order to pass Matric with a Bachelor.

The minimum Grade 12 Bachelor Pass requirements are:

• Home Language: A minimum of 40%.
• Four High Credit Subjects: At least 50% each (excluding Life Orientation).
• Two Other Subjects: At least 30% each.
• Overall Requirement: You must pass six out of the seven subjects you are taking.

Ok, let’s make it even more easy for you to understand!

Example: You are a Grade 12 learner taking seven subjects. To get a Bachelor’s Pass, you will need to meet these minimum requirements:

1. Home Language (like isiXhosa or English): You need to get at least 40%. This means, if the total marks are 100, you must get at least 40 out of 100.
2. Four High Credit Subjects (like Maths, Physical Science, Accounting, etc.): In each of these subjects, you need at least 50%. So, if the subject is out of 100 marks, you should score at least 50 out of 100 in each.
3. Two Other Subjects: For the other two subjects (besides Life Orientation), you need at least 30%. If the subject total is 100, this means you must get at least 30 out of 100.
4. Overall: Out of your seven subjects, you need to pass six of them to get your Bachelor’s Pass.

Look at this:

• isiXhosa (Home Language): 45% (Pass)
• English: 60% (Pass)
• Mathematics: 55% (Pass)
• Life Sciences: 52% (Pass)
• Geography: 65% (Pass)
• Life Orientation: 80% (Doesn’t count for this pass requirement)
• History: 35% (Pass)

If passed six out of seven subjects with the required marks, you will get a Bachelor’s Pass!

Distinguishing between the Requirements for Bachelor’s Pass and Diploma Pass

Let’s distinguish between the requirements of a Bachelor’s pass as compared to those of a Diploma pass in matric.

A Bachelor’s Pass is different from a Diploma Pass because:

• A Bachelor’s Pass requires 50% or higher in four subjects, which allows you to apply for Bachelor’s Degree courses at universities and colleges.
• A Diploma Pass only requires 40% or higher in four subjects, which only allows you to apply for Diploma courses at colleges or universities.

Criteria	Bachelor’s Pass	Diploma Pass
Home Language	Minimum 40%	Minimum 40%
Additional Subjects	Minimum 50% in four subjects (excluding Life Orientation)	Minimum 40% in four subjects (excluding Life Orientation)
Other Subjects	Minimum 30% in two other subjects	Minimum 30% in two other subjects
Total Subjects	Must pass at least 6 subjects	Must pass at least 6 subjects
Qualification for	Bachelor’s Degree at university	Diploma at a college or university of technology
Life Orientation	Counts towards NSC, but not as one of the four subjects requiring 50%	Counts towards NSC, but not as one of the four subjects requiring 40%

Did you know that in 2023, 282,894 Grade 12 learners (representing 40.9% of candidates) who wrote their final exams, passed with a Bachelor? This shows that passing with a Bachelor is very achievable.

However, passing with a Bachelor doesn’t automatically get you accepted at universities. South African universities are unable to accommodate all qualifying learners, simply because the space is not enough.

Advantages of obtaining a Bachelor’s pass

Do you know why should you be aiming to achieve a Bachelor’s pass by now? There are many reasons to aim for a Bachelor’s pass than a Diploma pass in Grade 12. Have a look at the reasons why below:

• You can apply for a large variety of Bachelor’s Degree programmes as well as Diplomas at South African universities.
• You can study degree courses like law, medicine, engineering, psychology, and many more.
• You will have a better chance of getting job opportunities that require a degree.
• You will easily get access to scholarships or bursaries to fund your studies.
• The opportunity to do postgraduate studies after completing your degree is more and readily available.

Compulsory Subjects for Matriculation

Every Grade 12 student must take certain compulsory subjects to qualify for a matric certificate:

• Home Language: This could be English, Afrikaans, or any other recognized South African language.
• First Additional Language: Typically English or Afrikaans, depending on the Home Language.
• Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy: One of these is mandatory.
• Life Orientation: This subject covers personal development, social skills, and physical health.

High Credit Subjects

Beyond the compulsory subjects, students must select three additional high-credit subjects. These subjects are very important as they carry more weight in the Admission Point Score (APS), which universities use for admissions:

• Accounting
• Business Studies
• Economics
• Geography
• History
• Consumer Studies
• Physical Sciences
• Life Sciences
• Tourism
• Information Technology

Understanding Matric Symbols and APS

The marks students receive in their matric exams are translated into specific symbols or levels, which are used to calculate the APS. This score is crucial for university admission:

• Level 7 (80 – 100%): Outstanding achievement
• Level 6 (70 – 79%): Meritorious achievement
• Level 5 (60 – 69%): Substantial achievement
• Level 4 (50 – 59%): Adequate achievement
• Level 3 (40 – 49%): Moderate achievement
• Level 2 (30 – 39%): Elementary achievement
• Level 1 (0 – 29%): Not achieved