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Senior Certificate examination
2525
Senior Certificate examination
3.5 National Senior Certificate examination
3.5.1 Introduction
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination of 2008 was the first that was based on the New Curriculum
Statement (NCS), which requires all learners in Grades 10 to 12 to take seven subjects. Two of these subjects
must be South African languages, one of which must be the language of teaching and learning. In addition to two
languages, all learners must offer Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. In addition to
these four compulsory subjects, learners must choose three subjects from a list of approved subjects.
To obtain an NSC a candidate must, depending on the minimum requirements, achieve either 40% or 30% in six
subjects. In the seventh subject a candidate is allowed to achieve less than 30%.
3.5.2 Overall results
Table 11: National Senior Certificate examination results for full-time candidates with seven or more
subjects, by province and gender, in 2008
Source: 2008 Integrated Examination Computer System (IECS) database, March 2009.
Province
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
North West
Western Cape
South Africa
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
34 021
26 363
60 384
15 902
14 312
30 214
51 472
42 609
94 081
74 345
66 127
140 472
47 376
41 406
88 782
28 521
25 456
53 977
5 357
4 620
9 977
17 657
15 428
33 085
25 027
18 665
43 692
299 678
254 986
554 664
56.3
43.7
52.6
47.4
54.7
45.3
52.9
47.1
53.4
46.6
52.8
47.2
53.7
46.3
53.4
46.6
57.3
42.7
54.0
46.0
17 054
12 805
29 859
4 643
3 927
8 570
12 127
10 157
22 284
31 292
28 879
60 171
23 130
17 122
40 252
14 403
11 691
26 094
1 449
1 277
2 726
5 718
4 897
10 615
5 552
3 747
9 299
115 368
94 502
209 870
50.1
48.6
49.4
29.2
27.4
28.4
23.6
23.8
23.7
42.1
43.7
42.8
48.8
41.4
45.3
50.5
45.9
48.3
27.0
27.6
27.3
32.4
31.7
32.1
22.2
20.1
21.3
38.5
37.1
37.8
4 742
3 705
8 447
3 462
2 831
6 293
15 887
11 721
27 608
13 546
10 300
23 846
5 536
5 507
11 043
3 366
3 127
6 493
1 105
832
1 937
3 496
2 717
6 213
8 135
6 032
14 167
59 275
46 772
106 047
13.9
14.1
14.0
21.8
19.8
20.8
30.9
27.5
29.3
18.2
15.6
17.0
11.7
13.3
12.4
11.8
12.3
12.0
20.6
18.0
19.4
19.8
17.6
18.8
32.5
32.3
32.4
19.8
18.3
19.1
5 997
5 167
11 164
4 266
4 400
8 666
13 633
12 184
25 817
15 540
14 557
30 097
8 182
9 044
17 226
5 047
5 342
10 389
1 522
1 505
3 027
4 393
4 297
8 690
6 605
5 742
12 347
65 185
62 238
127 423
17.6
19.6
18.5
26.8
30.7
28.7
26.5
28.6
27.4
20.9
22.0
21.4
17.3
21.8
19.4
17.7
21.0
19.2
28.4
32.6
30.3
24.9
27.9
26.3
26.4
30.8
28.3
21.8
24.4
23.0
122
114
236
46
54
100
1 018
1 190
2 208
239
216
455
270
267
537
212
209
421
71
69
140
195
202
397
570
413
983
2 743
2 734
5 477
0.4
0.4
0.4
0.3
0.4
0.3
2.0
2.8
2.4
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.6
0.6
0.6
0.7
0.8
0.8
1.3
1.5
1.4
1.1
1.3
1.2
2.3
2.2
2.3
0.9
1.1
1.0
Gender
Candidates
Who
Wrote
Candidates Who
Failed/Did Not
Achieve Qualified for
Bachelor's
Programme
Qualified for
Diploma
Programme
with NSC
Number % % % % %
Admission to Higher EducationNo Admission to
Higher Education
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Number Number Number
6 106
4 572
10 678
3 485
3 100
6 585
8 807
7 357
16 164
13 728
12 175
25 903
10 258
9 466
19 724
5 493
5 087
10 580
1 210
937
2 147
3 855
3 315
7 170
4 165
2 731
6 896
57 107
48 740
105 847
17.9
17.3
17.7
21.9
21.7
21.8
17.1
17.3
17.2
18.5
18.4
18.4
21.7
22.9
22.2
19.3
20.0
19.6
22.6
20.3
21.5
21.8
21.5
21.7
16.6
14.6
15.8
19.1
19.1
19.1
Qualified for Higher
Certificate
Programme
%Number Number
16 967
13 558
30 525
11 259
10 385
21 644
39 345
32 452
71 797
43 053
37 248
80 301
24 246
24 284
48 530
14 118
13 765
27 883
3 908
3 343
7 251
11 939
10 531
22 470
19 475
14 918
34 393
184 310
160 484
344 794
49.9
51.4
50.6
70.8
72.6
71.6
76.4
76.2
76.3
57.9
56.3
57.2
51.2
58.6
54.7
49.5
54.1
51.7
73.0
72.4
72.7
67.6
68.3
67.9
77.8
79.9
78.7
61.5
62.9
62.2
Total
%Number
In 2008, as indicated in Table 11, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination for full-time candidates with
seven or more subjects was 62.2%. In all the provinces more females than males wrote the NSC examination.
However, in relative terms, as indicated in Table 11 and Figure 12, the national pass rate of male candidates
(62.9%) was higher than the national pass rate of female candidates (61.5%). A similar trend was seen in six of
the nine provinces, the exceptions being Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and the Northern Cape. In all the provinces
except Limpopo, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore, Table 11 shows that the overall pass
rate, by province, varied from 78.7% in the Western Cape to 50.6% in the Eastern Cape.
2121
Senior Certificate examination
Table 10: Number of learners, educators and schools in the ordinary school sector, by province, district
municipality and metropolitan municipality, in 2009 (concluded)
3.5 National Senior Certificate examination
3.5.1 Introduction
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination of 2008 was the first that was based on the New Curriculum
Statement (NCS), which requires all learners in Grades 10 to 12 to take seven subjects. Two of these subjects
must be South African languages, one of which must be the language of teaching and learning. In addition to two
languages, all learners must offer Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. In addition to
these four compulsory subjects, learners must choose three subjects from a list of approved subjects.
To obtain an NSC a candidate must, depending on the minimum requirements, achieve either 40% or 30% in six
subjects. In the seventh subject a candidate is allowed to achieve less than 30%.
3.5.2 Overall results
Table 11: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2009
District and Metropolitan
Municipality
Learners Educators Schools
Pre-Gr. R Gr. RPrimary
(Gr. 1-7)
Secondary
(Gr. 8-12) SNE1) Post-Matric2)
Female
Total Total Female Total Public Independent Total
Source: 2009 SNAP Survey.
Note 1: Data are for ordinary schools only and exclude learners, educators and institutions associated with stand-alone ECD sites, special schools, public ABET centres and public
FET colleges.
Note 2: Owing to a shortage of space in the table, the figures for male learners and male educators are intentionally omitted.
1) SNE learners in separate classes. (These are not the only SNE learners in the ordinary school sector, but the other SNE learners are included in mainstream classes.)
2) Any other classes offered to learners that have completed matric (Grade 12).
Western Cape
Cape Winelands
Central Karoo
City of Cape Town Metro
Eden
Overberg
West Coast
Total
South Africa
412
0
1 995
390
249
220
3 266
46 185
6 379
328
23 638
3 086
1 533
2 306
37 270
620 813
85 214
9 394
372 515
64 450
25 925
39 734
597 232
7 128 500
49 247
4 288
226 644
33 262
12 075
16 956
342 472
4 418 904
120
16
177
11
25
71
420
12 052
0
0
34
0
0
0
34
1 509
70 348
6 937
319 388
51 068
20 022
30 060
497 823
6 090 261
141 372
14 026
625 003
101 199
39 807
59 287
980 694
12 227 963
3 140
268
15 442
2 239
952
1 443
23 484
281 742
4 838
442
22 105
3 442
1 386
2 169
34 382
413 067
275
28
736
201
81
132
1 453
24 699
3
0
96
14
16
15
144
1 207
278
28
832
215
97
147
1 597
25 906
Province
Eastern Cape
Free State
Gauteng
KwaZulu-Natal
Limpopo
Mpumalanga
Northern Cape
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
38 149
29 980
68 129
15 834
13 974
29 808
53 798
44 861
98 659
70 994
61 182
132 176
45 531
37 819
83 350
28 733
25 245
53 978
5 588
4 789
10 377
56.0
44.0
53.1
46.9
54.5
45.5
53.7
46.3
54.6
45.4
53.2
46.8
53.8
46.2
19 084
14 314
33 398
5 016
4 112
9 128
15 145
12 643
27 788
27 360
24 083
51 443
25 067
17 507
42 574
15 743
12 383
28 126
2 204
1 817
4 021
50.0
47.7
49.0
31.7
29.4
30.6
28.2
28.2
28.2
38.5
39.4
38.9
55.1
46.3
51.1
54.8
49.1
52.1
39.4
37.9
38.7
5 218
4 274
9 492
3 335
2 695
6 030
16 622
12 087
28 709
14 770
11 517
26 287
4 986
5 216
10 202
3 323
3 233
6 556
1 018
723
1 741
27.4
27.3
27.3
30.8
27.3
29.2
43.0
37.5
40.5
33.8
31.0
32.6
24.4
25.7
25.0
25.6
25.1
25.4
30.1
24.3
27.4
7 407
6 476
13 883
4 300
4 391
8 691
14 409
13 608
28 017
16 378
15 028
31 406
7 465
7 910
15 375
4 919
5 246
10 165
1 320
1 340
2 660
38.9
41.3
40.0
39.7
44.5
42.0
37.3
42.2
39.5
37.5
40.5
38.9
36.5
38.9
37.7
37.9
40.8
39.3
39.0
45.1
41.9
62
54
116
19
28
47
23
30
53
172
149
321
20
15
35
8
16
24
1
1
2
0.33
0.34
0.33
0.18
0.28
0.23
0.06
0.09
0.07
0.39
0.40
0.40
0.10
0.07
0.09
0.06
0.12
0.09
0.03
0.03
0.03
Gender
Candidates
Who
Wrote
Candidates Who
Failed/Did Not
Achieve Qualified for
Bachelor's
Programme
Qualified for
Diploma
Programme
with NSC
Number % % % % %
Admission to Higher EducationNo Admission to
Higher Education
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Number Number Number
6 378
4 862
11 240
3 164
2 748
5 912
7 599
6 493
14 092
12 314
10 405
22 719
7 993
7 171
15 164
4 740
4 367
9 107
1 045
908
1 953
33.5
31.0
32.4
29.2
27.9
28.6
19.7
20.2
19.9
28.2
28.0
28.1
39.1
35.3
37.2
36.5
34.0
35.2
30.9
30.6
30.7
Qualified for Higher
Certificate
Programme
%Number Number
19 065
15 666
34 731
10 818
9 862
20 680
38 653
32 218
70 871
43 634
37 099
80 733
20 464
20 312
40 776
12 990
12 862
25 852
3 384
2 972
6 356
50.0
52.3
51.0
68.3
70.6
69.4
71.8
71.8
71.8
61.5
60.6
61.1
44.9
53.7
48.9
45.2
50.9
47.9
60.6
62.1
61.3
Total
%Number
Source: Report on the 2009 National Senior Certificate Examination Results, DBE (January 2010).
Note: Table 11 continues on p. 24.
Senior Certificate examination
2424
Source: Report on the 2009 National Senior Certificate Examination Results, DBE (January 2010).
Province
North West
Western Cape
South Africa
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
Female
Male
Total
16 386
14 279
30 665
25 593
19 338
44 931
300 606
251 467
552 073
53.4
46.6
57.0
43.0
54.5
45.5
5 640
4 325
9 965
6 422
4 492
10 914
121 681
95 676
217 357
34.4
30.3
32.5
25.1
23.2
24.3
40.5
38.0
39.4
3 456
2 900
6 356
8 419
5 905
14 324
61 147
48 550
109 697
32.2
29.1
30.7
43.9
39.8
42.1
34.2
31.2
32.8
4 072
4 089
8 161
6 754
5 923
12 677
67 024
64 011
131 035
37.9
41.1
39.4
35.2
39.9
37.3
37.5
41.1
39.1
0
2
2
6
22
28
311
317
628
0.00
0.02
0.01
0.03
0.15
0.08
0.17
0.20
0.19
Gender
Candidates
Who
Wrote
Candidates Who
Failed/Did Not
Achieve Qualified for
Bachelor's
Programme
Qualified for
Diploma
Programme
with NSC
Number % % % % %
Admission to Higher EducationNo Admission to
Higher Education
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Number Number Number
3 218
2 963
6 181
3 992
2 996
6 988
50 443
42 913
93 356
29.9
29.8
29.9
20.8
20.2
20.5
28.2
27.5
27.9
Qualified for Higher
Certificate
Programme
%Number Number
10 746
9 954
20 700
19 171
14 846
34 017
178 925
155 791
334 716
65.6
69.7
67.5
74.9
76.8
75.7
59.5
62.0
60.6
Total
%Number
In 2009, as indicated in Table 11, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination was 60.6%. In all the provinces
more females than males wrote the NSC examination. However, in relative terms, as indicated in
Table 11 and Figure 12, the national pass rate of male candidates (62.0%) was higher than the national pass rate of
female candidates (59.5%). A similar trend was seen in seven of the nine provinces, the exceptions being
Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. In all the provinces, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore,
Table 11 shows that the overall pass rate, by province, varied from 75.7% in the Western Cape to 47.9% in Mpumalanga.
Table 11: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2009 (concluded)
Figure 12: Percentage distribution of the National Senior Certificate examination pass and failure rates, by
gender, in 2009
0
20
40
60
80
Wrote
54.5
45.5
Failed
40.5
38.0
Qualified for
Bachelor's
34.2
31.2
Qualified for
Diploma
37.5 41.1
Qualified for
Higher Certificate
28.2
27.5
Passed with
NSC
0.2
0.2
MaleFemale
Perc
en
t
Total
Passed
59.5 62.0
Table 12: Comparing pass rates of the National Senior Certificate examination, by province, in 2008 and 2009
Source: Report on the 2009 National Senior Certificate Examination Results, DBE (January 2010).
Province
Pass Rates (%)
2008 2009
Eastern Cape 50.6 51.0
Free State 71.8 69.4
Gauteng 76.4 71.8
KwaZulu-Natal 57.6 61.1
Limpopo 54.3 48.9
Mpumalanga 51.8 47.9
Northern Cape 72.7 61.3
North West 68.0 67.5
Western Cape 78.4 75.7
South Africa 62.6 60.6
23
3.6.2 Overall results of full-time candidates
Table12:NationalSeniorCertificateexaminationresults,byprovinceandgender,in2010
Province GenderCandidates Who
Wrote
Candidates Who Failed/Did Not
Achieve
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Admission to Higher Education No Admission to Higher Education
TotalQualified for Bachelor’s Programme
Qualified for Diploma Programme
Qualified for Higher Certificate
Programmewith NSC
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Eastern Cape Female 35 894 56 .0 15 328 42 .7 5 681 15 .8 8 208 22 .9 6 629 18 .5 48 0 .1 20 566 57 .3
Male 28 196 44 .0 11 398 40 .4 4 544 16 .1 7 073 25 .1 5 082 18 .0 99 0 .4 16 798 59 .6
Total 64 090 26 726 41 .7 10 225 16 .0 15 281 23 .8 11 711 18 .3 147 0 .2 37 364 58 .3
Free State Female 14 327 51 .9 4 405 30 .7 3 203 22 .4 3 956 27 .6 2 744 19 .2 19 0 .1 9 922 69 .3
Male 13 259 48 .1 3 682 27 .8 2 687 20 .3 4 224 31 .9 2 623 19 .8 43 0 .3 9 577 72 .2
Total 27 586 8 087 29 .3 5 890 21 .4 8 180 29 .7 5 367 19 .5 62 0 .2 19 499 70 .7
Gauteng Female 50 710 55 .0 10 717 21 .1 18 284 36 .1 15 170 29 .9 6 537 12 .9 2 0 .0 39 993 78 .9
Male 41 531 45 .0 8 987 21 .6 13 017 31 .3 13 768 33 .2 5 753 13 .9 6 0 .0 32 544 78 .4
Total 92 241 19 704 21 .4 31 301 33 .9 28 938 31 .4 12 290 13 .3 8 0 .0 72 537 78 .6
KwaZulu-Natal Female 65 981 53 .9 19 584 29 .7 17 380 26 .3 18 131 27 .5 10 767 16 .3 119 0 .2 46 397 70 .3
Male 56 463 46 .1 16 304 28 .9 14 086 24 .9 16 577 29 .4 9 370 16 .6 126 0 .2 40 159 71 .1
Total 122 444 35 888 29 .3 31 466 25 .7 34 708 28 .3 20 137 16 .4 245 0 .2 86 556 70 .7
Limpopo Female 51 583 54 .5 23 603 45 .8 7 356 14 .3 10 629 20 .6 9 943 19 .3 52 0 .1 27 980 54 .2
Male 43 049 45 .5 16 220 37 .7 7 401 17 .2 10 842 25 .2 8 535 19 .8 51 0 .1 26 829 62 .3
Total 94 632 39 823 42 .1 14 757 15 .6 21 471 22 .7 18 478 19 .5 103 0 .1 54 809 57 .9
Mpumalanga Female 27 613 53 .4 12 506 45 .3 4 233 15 .3 5 992 21 .7 4 834 17 .5 48 0 .2 15 107 54 .7
Male 24 082 46 .6 9 807 40 .7 3 914 16 .3 5 963 24 .8 4 342 18 .0 56 0 .2 14 275 59 .3
Total 51 695 22 313 43 .2 8 147 15 .8 11 955 23 .1 9 176 17 .8 104 0 .2 29 382 56 .8
Northern Cape Female 5 594 54 .9 1 578 28 .2 1 192 21 .3 1 595 28 .5 1 229 22 .0 0 0 .0 4 016 71 .8
Male 4 588 45 .1 1 238 27 .0 960 20 .9 1 406 30 .6 981 21 .4 3 0 .1 3 350 73 .0
Total 10 182 2 816 27 .7 2 152 21 .1 3 001 29 .5 2 210 21 .7 3 0 .0 7 366 72 .3
North West Female 15 502 53 .6 4 050 26 .1 4 349 28 .1 4 423 28 .5 2 680 17 .3 0 0 .0 11 452 73 .9
Male 13 407 46 .4 2 983 22 .2 3 672 27 .4 4 514 33 .7 2 237 16 .7 1 0 .0 10 424 77 .8
Total 28 909 7 033 24 .3 8 021 27 .7 8 937 30 .9 4 917 17 .0 1 0 .0 21 876 75 .7
Western Cape Female 25 981 56 .8 6 347 24 .4 8 284 31 .9 7 325 28 .2 4 021 15 .5 4 0 .0 19 634 75 .6
Male 19 783 43 .2 4 293 21 .7 6 128 31 .0 6 428 32 .5 2 934 14 .8 0 0 .0 15 490 78 .3
Total 45 764 10 640 23 .2 14 412 31 .5 13 753 30 .1 6 955 15 .2 4 0 .0 35 124 76 .8
South Africa Female 293 185 54.5 98 118 33.5 69 962 23.9 75 429 25.7 49 384 16.8 292 0.1 195 067 66.5Male 244 358 45.5 74 912 30.7 56 409 23.1 70 795 29.0 41 857 17.1 385 0.2 169 446 69.3
Total 537 543 173 030 32.2 126 371 23.5 146 224 27.2 91 241 17.0 677 0.1 364 513 67.8
Source: Report on the National Senior Certificate Examination Results 2010, DBE (January 2011) .
In 2010, as indicated in Table 12, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination was 67.8%. In all the provinces more females than males wrote the NSC examination. However, in relative terms, as indicated in Table 12 and Figure 13, the national pass rate of male candidates (69.3%) was higher than the national pass rate of female candidates (66.5%). A similar trend was seen in eight of the nine provinces, the exceptions being Gauteng. In all the provinces, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore, Table 12 shows that the overall pass rate, by province, varied from 78.6% in Gauteng to 56.8% in Mpumalanga.
NSCexamination
24
3.6 National Senior Certificate examination
3.6.1 Introduction
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination of 2008 was the first examination that was based on the New Curriculum Statement (NCS), which requires all learners in Grades 10 to 12 to take seven subjects. Two of these subjects must be South African languages, one of which must be the language of teaching and learning. In addition to two languages, all learners must take Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. In addition to these four compulsory subjects, learners must choose three subjects from a list of approved subjects.
To obtain an NSC a candidate must, depending on the minimum requirements, achieve either 40% or 30% in six subjects. In the seventh subject a candidate is allowed to achieve less than 30%.
3.6.2 Overall results of full-time candidates
Table 14: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2011
Province GenderCandidates Who
Wrote
Candidates Who Failed/Did Not
Achieve
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Admission to Higher Education No Admission to Higher Education
TotalQualified for Bachelor's Programme
Qualified for Diploma Programme
Qualified for Higher Certificate
Programmewith NSC
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Eastern Cape Female 36 534 55.9 16 053 43.9 5 609 15.4 8 185 22.4 6 655 18.2 32 0.1 20 481 56.1
Male 28 825 44.1 11 309 39.2 4 682 16.2 7 345 25.5 5 447 18.9 42 0.1 17 516 60.8
Total 65 359 27 362 41.9 10 291 15.7 15 530 23.8 12 102 18.5 74 0.1 37 997 58.1
Free State Female 13 625 52.5 3 557 26.1 3 646 26.8 4 130 30.3 2 287 16.8 5 0.0 10 068 73.9
Male 12 307 47.5 2 757 22.4 3 171 25.8 4 241 34.5 2 126 17.3 12 0.1 9 550 77.6
Total 25 932 6 314 24.3 6 817 26.3 8 371 32.3 4 413 17.0 17 0.1 19 618 75.7
Gauteng Female 45 781 53.6 8 906 19.5 17 120 37.4 13 936 30.4 5 815 12.7 4 0.0 36 875 80.5
Male 39 586 46.4 7 245 18.3 12 917 32.6 13 840 35.0 5 579 14.1 5 0.0 32 341 81.7
Total 85 367 16 151 18.9 30 037 35.2 27 776 32.5 11 394 13.3 9 0.0 69 216 81.1
KwaZulu-Natal Female 63 397 51.9 20 530 32.4 14 472 22.8 17 195 27.1 11 064 17.5 136 0.2 42 867 67.6
Male 58 729 48.1 18 392 31.3 12 925 22.0 16 995 28.9 10 267 17.5 150 0.3 40 337 68.7
Total 122 126 38 922 31.9 27 397 22.4 34 190 28.0 21 331 17.5 286 0.2 83 204 68.1
Limpopo Female 39 316 53.3 15 665 39.8 6 220 15.8 9 233 23.5 8 189 20.8 9 0.0 23 651 60.2
Male 34 415 46.7 10 975 31.9 6 726 19.5 9 635 28.0 7 064 20.5 15 0.0 23 440 68.1
Total 73 731 26 640 36.1 12 946 17.6 18 868 25.6 15 253 20.7 24 0.0 47 091 63.9
Mpumalanga Female 25 657 53.3 9 616 37.5 4 445 17.3 6 726 26.2 4 846 18.9 24 0.1 16 041 62.5
Male 22 478 46.7 7 332 32.6 4 421 19.7 6 469 28.8 4 226 18.8 30 0.1 15 146 67.4
Total 48 135 16 948 35.2 8 866 18.4 13 195 27.4 9 072 18.8 54 0.1 31 187 64.8
Northern Cape Female 5 503 54.4 1 732 31.5 1 170 21.3 1 484 27.0 1 117 20.3 0 0.0 3 771 68.5
Male 4 613 45.6 1 427 30.9 842 18.3 1 387 30.1 957 20.7 0 0.0 3 186 69.1
Total 10 116 3 159 31.2 2 012 19.9 2 871 28.4 2 074 20.5 0 0.0 6 957 68.8
North West Female 13 216 52.1 3 116 23.6 3 827 29.0 4 079 30.9 2 194 16.6 0 0.0 10 100 76.4
Male 12 148 47.9 2 511 20.7 3 360 27.7 4 294 35.3 1 983 16.3 0 0.0 9 637 79.3
Total 25 364 5 627 22.2 7 187 28.3 8 373 33.0 4 177 16.5 0 0.0 19 737 77.8
Western Cape Female 22 215 55.6 4 009 18.0 8 719 39.2 6 347 28.6 3 137 14.1 3 0.0 18 206 82.0
Male 17 745 44.4 2 841 16.0 6 495 36.6 6 063 34.2 2 343 13.2 3 0.0 14 904 84.0
Total 39 960 6 850 17.1 15 214 38.1 12 410 31.1 5 480 13.7 6 0.0 33 110 82.9
South Africa Female 265 244 53.5 83 184 31.4 65 228 24.6 71 315 26.9 45 304 17.1 213 0.1 182 060 68.6Male 230 846 46.5 64 789 28.1 55 539 24.1 70 269 30.4 39 992 17.3 257 0.1 166 057 71.9
Total 496 090 147 973 29.8 120 767 24.3 141 584 28.5 85 296 17.2 470 0.1 348 117 70.2
Source: Reportonthe2011NationalSeniorCertificateExaminationResults,DBE(January2012).
NSC examination
24
3.6 National Senior Certificate examination
3.6.1 Introduction
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination of 2008 was the first examination that was based on the New Curriculum Statement (NCS), which requires all learners in Grades 10 to 12 to take seven subjects. Two of these subjects must be South African languages, one of which must be the Language of learning and Teaching (LOLT). In addition to two languages, all learners must take Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. In addition to these four compulsory subjects, learners must choose three subjects from a list of approved subjects.
To obtain an NSC a candidate must, depending on the minimum requirements, achieve either 40% or 30% in six subjects. In the seventh subject a candidate is allowed to achieve less than 30% in order to pass.
3.6.2 Overall results of full-time candidatesTable 12: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2012
Province GenderCandidates who
wrote
Candidates Who Failed/Did Not
Archieved
Candidatates Who Passed/Achieved
Admission to Higher Education No Admission to Higher Education
TotalQualified for Bachelor’s programme
Qualified for Diploma Programme
Qualified for Higher Certificate
ProgrammeWith NSC
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %
Eastern CapeFemale 35 551 55.6 14 306 40.2 6 052 17.0 8 536 24.0 6 605 18.6 15 0.0 21 208 59.7Male 28 438 44.4 10 167 35.8 5 194 18.3 7 612 26.8 5 393 19.0 36 0.1 18 235 64.1Total 63 989 24 473 38.2 11 246 17.6 16 148 25.2 11 998 18.8 51 0.1 39 443 61.6
Free StateFemale 12 837 52.9 2 637 20.5 3 761 29.3 4 208 32.8 2 228 17.4 2 0.0 10 199 79.5Male 11 428 47.1 1 948 17.0 3 176 27.8 4 345 38.0 1 953 17.1 3 0.0 9 477 82.9Total 24 265 4 585 18.9 6 937 28.6 8 553 35.2 4 181 17.2 5 0.0 19 676 81.1
GautengFemale 49 353 55.1 8 161 16.5 18 777 38.0 15 702 31.8 6 654 13.5 1 0.0 41 134 83.3Male 40 274 44.9 6 115 15.2 13 672 33.9 14 720 36.5 5 681 14.1 7 0.0 34 080 84.6Total 89 627 14 276 15.9 32 449 36.2 30 422 33.9 12 335 13.8 8 0.0 75 214 83.9
KwaZulu-NatalFemale 67 854 53.3 18 641 27.5 18 906 27.9 18 913 27.9 11 303 16.7 55 0.1 49 177 72.5Male 59 399 46.7 15 537 26.2 15 873 26.7 17 928 30.2 9 971 16.8 54 0.1 43 826 73.8Total 127 253 34 178 26.9 34 779 27.3 36 841 29.0 21 274 16.7 109 0.1 93 003 73.1
LimpopoFemale 41 374 53.5 15 108 36.5 7 463 18.0 9 886 23.9 8 860 21.4 11 0.0 26 220 63.4Male 35 986 46.5 10 416 28.9 7 861 21.8 10 217 28.4 7 441 20.7 6 0.0 25 525 70.9Total 77 360 25 524 33.0 15 324 19.8 20 103 26.0 16 301 21.1 17 0.0 51 745 66.9
MpumalangaFemale 25 874 54.0 8 359 32.3 4 876 18.8 7 331 28.3 5 253 20.3 55 0.2 17 515 67.7Male 22 015 46.0 6 026 27.4 4 619 21.0 6 946 31.6 4 380 19.9 44 0.2 15 989 72.6Total 47 889 14 385 30.0 9 495 19.8 14 277 29.8 9 633 20.1 99 0.2 33 504 70.0
North WestFemale 14 355 52.8 3 188 22.2 3 873 27.0 4 602 32.1 2 663 18.6 1 0.0 11 139 77.6Male 12 819 47.2 2 332 18.2 3 572 27.9 4 549 35.5 2 347 18.3 2 0.0 10 470 81.7Total 27 174 5 520 20.3 7 445 27.4 9 151 33.7 5 010 18.4 3 0.0 21 609 79.5
Northern CapeFemale 4 843 54.3 1 300 26.8 1 140 23.5 1 393 28.8 1 009 20.8 0 0.0 3 542 73.1Male 4 082 45.7 962 23.6 915 22.4 1 394 34.1 810 19.8 0 0.0 3 119 76.4Total 8 925 2 262 25.3 2 055 23.0 2 787 31.2 1 819 20.4 0 0.0 6 661 74.6
Western CapeFemale 25 309 56.7 4 660 18.4 9 416 37.2 7 653 30.2 3 568 14.1 2 0.0 20 649 81.6Male 19 361 43.3 3 018 15.6 6 901 35.6 6 946 35.9 2 485 12.8 3 0.0 16 343 84.4Total 44 670 7 678 17.2 16 317 36.5 14 599 32.7 6 053 13.6 5 0.0 36 992 82.8
South AfricaFemale 277 350 54.3 76 360 27.5 74 264 26.8 78 224 28.2 48 143 17.4 142 0.1 200 783 72.4Male 233 802 45.7 56 521 24.2 61 783 26.4 74 657 31.9 40 461 17.3 155 0.1 177 064 75.7Total 511 152 132 881 26.0 136 047 26.6 152 881 29.9 88 604 17.3 297 0.1 377 847 73.9
Source: Report on the 2011 National Senior Certificate Examination Results, DBE (January 2012).
In 2012, as indicated in Table 12, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination was 73.9%. In all the provinces more females than males wrote the NSC examination. However, in relative terms, as indicated in Table 12 and Figure 13, the national pass rate of male candidates (75.7%) was higher than the national pass rate of female candidates (72.4%). A similar trend was seen in all nine provinces. In all the provinces, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore, Table 12 shows that the overall pass rate, by province, varied from 82.8% in the Western Cape to 61.6% in the Eastern Cape.
NSC EXAMINATION
24
3.6.2 Overall results of full-time candidates
Table 12: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2013
Province GenderCandidates Who
Wrote Candidates Who Failed/Did
Not Achieve
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Admission to Higher Education No Admission to Higher Education
TotalQualified for Bachelor’s Programme
Qualified for Diploma Programme
Qualified for Higher Certificate
Programmewith NSC
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %Eastern Cape Female 40 128 55.6 15 199 37.9 7 182 17.9 9 965 24.8 7 775 19.4 7 0.0 24 929 62.1
Male 32 010 44.4 10 099 31.5 6 504 20.3 9 214 28.8 6 175 19.3 18 0.1 21 911 68.5Total 72 138 25 298 35.1 13 686 19.0 19 179 26.6 13 950 19.3 25 0.0 46 840 64.9
Free State Female 14 517 53.6 2 027 14.0 4 766 32.8 5 164 35.6 2 559 17.6 1 0.0 12 490 86.0Male 12 588 46.4 1 389 11.0 4 195 33.3 4 925 39.1 2 077 16.5 2 0.0 11 199 89.0Total 27 105 3 416 12.6 8 961 33.1 10 089 37.2 4 636 17.1 3 0.0 23 689 87.4
Gauteng Female 54 099 55.3 7 303 13.5 21 959 40.6 17 513 32.4 7 321 13.5 3 0.0 46 796 86.5Male 43 798 44.7 5 472 12.5 16 145 36.9 16 203 37.0 5 974 13.6 4 0.0 38 326 87.5Total 97 897 12 775 13.0 38 104 38.9 33 716 34.4 13 295 13.6 7 0.0 85 122 87.0
KwaZulu-Natal Female 79 987 55.1 18 542 23.2 26 205 32.8 22 811 28.5 12 383 15.5 46 0.1 61 445 76.8Male 65 291 44.9 14 333 22.0 20 997 32.2 19 949 30.6 9 945 15.2 67 0.1 50 958 78.0Total 145 278 32 875 22.6 47 202 32.5 42 760 29.4 22 328 15.4 113 0.1 112 403 77.4
Limpopo Female 44 184 53.6 13 981 31.6 8 994 20.4 11 415 25.8 9 793 22.2 1 0.0 30 203 68.4Male 38 302 46.4 9 320 24.3 9 787 25.6 11 279 29.4 7 902 20.6 14 0.0 28 982 75.7Total 82 486 23 301 28.2 18 781 22.8 22 694 27.5 17 695 21.5 15 0.0 59 185 71.8
Mpumalanga Female 27 009 54.0 6 541 24.2 6 506 24.1 8 655 32.0 5 300 19.6 7 0.0 20 468 75.8Male 23 044 46.0 4 692 20.4 6 448 28.0 7 711 33.5 4 191 18.2 2 0.0 18 352 79.6Total 50 053 11 233 22.4 12 954 25.9 16 366 32.7 9 491 19.0 9 0.0 38 820 77.6
Northern Cape Female 5 647 54.3 1 501 26.6 1 319 23.4 1 621 28.7 1 206 21.4 0 0.0 4 146 73.4Male 4 756 45.7 1 153 24.2 1 105 23.2 1 586 33.3 912 19.2 0 0.0 3 603 75.8Total 10 403 2 654 25.5 2 424 23.3 3 207 30.8 2 118 20.4 0 0.0 7 749 74.5
North West Female 16 084 55.2 2 268 14.1 5 492 34.1 5 463 34.0 2 861 17.8 0 0.0 13 816 85.9Male 13 056 44.8 1 458 11.2 4 674 35.8 4 786 36.7 2 137 16.4 1 0.0 11 598 88.8Total 29 140 3 726 12.8 10 166 34.9 10 249 35.2 4 998 17.2 1 0.0 25 414 87.2
Western Cape Female 26 987 56.7 4 250 15.7 11 266 41.7 7 968 29.5 3 501 13.0 2 0.0 22 737 84.3Male 20 628 43.3 2 823 13.7 8 211 39.8 7 064 34.2 2 528 12.3 2 0.0 17 805 86.3Total 47 615 7 073 14.9 19 477 40.9 15 032 31.6 6 029 12.7 4 0.0 40 542 85.1
South Africa Female 308 642 54.9 71 612 23.2 93 689 30.4 90 575 29.3 52 699 17.1 67 0.0 237 030 76.8Male 253 473 45.1 50 739 20.0 78 066 30.8 82 717 32.6 41 841 16.5 110 0.0 202 734 80.0Total 562 115 122 351 21.8 171 755 30.6 173 292 30.8 94 540 16.8 177 0.0 439 764 78.2
Source: Report on the 2013 National Senior Certificate Examination Results, DBE (January 2014).
In 2013, as indicated in Table 12, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination was 78.2%. In all the provinces more females than males wrote the NSC examination. However, in relative terms, as indicated in Table 12 and Figure 13, the national pass rate of male candidates (80.0%) was higher than the national pass rate of female candidates (76.8%). A similar trend was seen in all nine provinces. In all the provinces, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore, Table 12 shows that the overall pass rate, by province, varied from 87.4% in the Free State to 64.9% in the Eastern Cape.
NSC EXAMINATION
22
NSC EXAMINATION
3.6 National Senior Certificate examination
3 6 1 IntroductionThe National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination of 2008 was the first examination that was based on the New Curriculum Statement (NCS), which requires all learners in Grades 10 to 12 to take seven subjects. Two of these subjects must be South African languages, one of which must be the language of teaching and learning. In addition to two languages, all learners must take Life Orientation and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy. In addition to these four compulsory subjects, learners must choose three subjects from a list of approved subjects. To obtain an NSC a candidate must, depending on the minimum requirements, achieve either 40% or 30% in six subjects. In the seventh subject a candidate is allowed to achieve less than 30%.
The NSC has been reviewed and replaced by the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS), which is streamlined version of the NSC. The 2013 NSC examination was therefore the last examination based on the NSC.
3.6.2 Overall results of full-time candidatesTable 12: National Senior Certificate examination results, by province and gender, in 2014
Province GenderCandidates Who
Wrote Candidates Who Failed/Did Not
Achieve
Candidates Who Passed/Achieved
Admission to Higher Education No Admission to Higher Education
TotalQualified for Bachelor's Programme
Qualified for Diploma Programme
Qualified for Higher Certificate
Programmewith NSC
Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number % Number %Eastern Cape Female 36 829 55.0 13 449 36.5 7 331 19.9 9 486 25.8 6 552 17.8 11 0.0 23 380 63.5
Male 30 106 45.0 9 709 32.2 6 104 20.3 8 853 29.4 5 406 18.0 34 0.1 20 397 67.8Total 66 935 23 158 34.6 13 435 20.1 18 339 27.4 11 958 17.9 45 0.1 43 777 65.4
Free State Female 14 120 53.4 2 625 18.6 4 355 30.8 4 848 34.3 2 273 16.1 19 0.1 11 495 81.4Male 12 320 46.6 1 916 15.6 3 632 29.5 4 906 39.8 1 834 14.9 32 0.3 10 404 84.4Total 26 440 4 541 17.2 7 987 30.2 9 754 36.9 4 107 15.5 51 0.2 21 899 82.8
Gauteng Female 54 778 55.1 8 749 16.0 21 157 38.6 18 138 33.1 6 704 12.2 30 0.1 46 029 84.0Male 44 700 44.9 6 482 14.5 15 686 35.1 16 896 37.8 5 591 12.5 45 0.1 38 218 85.5Total 99 478 15 231 15.3 36 843 37.0 35 034 35.2 12 295 12.4 75 0.1 84 247 84.7
KwaZulu-Natal Female 74 720 53.6 23 224 31.1 19 530 26.1 20 402 27.3 11 521 15.4 43 0.1 51 496 68.9Male 64 647 46.4 18 999 29.4 16 194 25.0 19 349 29.9 10 023 15.5 82 0.1 45 648 70.6Total 139 367 42 223 30.3 35 724 25.6 39 751 28.5 21 544 15.5 125 0.1 97 144 69.7
Limpopo Female 39 253 53.8 11 929 30.4 8 002 20.4 10 531 26.8 8 784 22.4 7 0.0 27 324 69.6Male 33 737 46.2 7 882 23.4 8 323 24.7 10 396 30.8 7 128 21.1 8 0.0 25 855 76.6Total 72 990 19 811 27.1 16 325 22.4 20 927 28.7 15 912 21.8 15 0.0 53 179 72.9
Mpumalanga Female 24 570 54.5 5 623 22.9 5 835 23.7 8 366 34.0 4 706 19.2 40 0.2 18 947 77.1Male 20 511 45.5 3 843 18.7 5 394 26.3 7 532 36.7 3 717 18.1 25 0.1 16 668 81.3Total 45 081 9 466 21.0 11 229 24.9 15 898 35.3 8 423 18.7 65 0.1 35 615 79.0
Northern Cape Female 4 811 54.7 1 155 24.0 1 241 25.8 1 550 32.2 863 17.9 2 0.0 3 656 76.0Male 3 983 45.3 924 23.2 935 23.5 1 391 34.9 733 18.4 0 0.0 3 059 76.8Total 8 794 2 079 23.6 2 176 24.7 2 941 33.4 1 596 18.1 2 0.0 6 715 76.4
North West Female 13 955 53.5 2 469 17.7 4 497 32.2 4 661 33.4 2 327 16.7 1 0.0 11 486 82.3Male 12 111 46.5 1 536 12.7 4 012 33.1 4 811 39.7 1 752 14.5 0 0.0 10 575 87.3Total 26 066 4 005 15.4 8 509 32.6 9 472 36.3 4 079 15.6 1 0.0 22 061 84.6
Western Cape Female 26 759 56.1 4 955 18.5 10 757 40.2 7 515 28.1 3 524 13.2 8 0.0 21 804 81.5Male 20 950 43.9 3 517 16.8 7 767 37.1 7 058 33.7 2 584 12.3 24 0.1 17 433 83.2Total 47 709 8 472 17.8 18 524 38.8 14 573 30.5 6 108 12.8 32 0.1 39 237 82.2
South Africa Female 289 795 54.4 74 178 25.6 82 705 28.5 85 497 29.5 47 254 16.3 161 0.1 215 617 74.4Male 243 065 45.6 54 808 22.5 68 047 28.0 81 192 33.4 38 768 15.9 250 0.1 188 257 77.5Total 532 860 128 986 24.2 150 752 28.3 166 689 31.3 86 022 16.1 411 0.1 403 874 75.8
Source: Reportonthe2014NationalSeniorCertificateExaminationResults,DBE(January2015).
In 2014, as indicated in Table 12, the overall national pass rate in the NSC examination was 75.8%. In all the provinces more females than males wrote the NSC examination. However, in relative terms, as indicated in Table 12 and Figure 13, the national pass rate of male candidates (77.5%) was higher than the national pass rate of female candidates (74.4%). A similar trend was seen in all nine provinces. In all the provinces, more female than male candidates passed. Furthermore, Table 12 shows that the overall pass rate, by province, varied from 84.7% in Gauteng to 65.4% in the Eastern Cape.
45
Tabl
e 13
.1.3
NSC
pas
ses
by ty
pe o
f qua
lifica
tion,
201
5
Prov
ince
Tota
l W
rote
Bac
helo
rD
iplo
ma
Hig
her C
ertifi
cate
NSC
Tota
l A
chie
ved
%
Ach
ieve
dA
chie
ved
%
Ach
ieve
dA
chie
ved
%
Ach
ieve
dA
chie
ved
%
Ach
ieve
dA
chie
ved
%
Ach
ieve
d
Eas
tern
Cap
e87
090
15 2
9117
.620
055
23.0
14 1
1916
.210
0.0
49 4
7556
.8
Free
Sta
te31
161
9 27
729
.811
026
35.4
5 10
216
.411
0.0
25 4
1681
.6
Gau
teng
108
442
38 7
6035
.737
375
34.5
15 1
9114
.01
0.0
91 3
2784
.2
Kw
azul
u-N
atal
162
658
34 7
5121
.439
799
24.5
24 1
8014
.931
0.0
98 7
6160
.7
Lim
popo
101
575
20 9
9220
.725
434
25.0
20 5
1320
.27
0.0
66 9
4665
.9
Mpu
mal
anga
54 9
8013
497
24.5
18 6
7534
.011
046
20.1
110.
043
229
78.6
Nor
th W
est
33 2
868
865
26.6
11 5
5434
.76
699
20.1
00.
027
118
81.5
Nor
ther
n C
ape
11 6
232
451
21.1
3 30
628
.42
306
19.8
10.
08
064
69.4
Wes
tern
Cap
e53
721
22 3
7941
.716
496
30.7
6 61
412
.30
0.0
45 4
8984
.7
Nat
iona
l64
4 53
616
6 26
325
.818
3 72
028
.510
5 77
016
.472
0.0
455
825
70.7
Of t
he 6
44 5
36 le
arne
rs w
ho w
rote
the
NS
C e
xam
inat
ion
in 2
015,
166
263
(25.
8%) q
ualifi
ed fo
r adm
issi
on to
Bac
helo
r stu
dies
.
