Calculate your Admission Point Score (APS) from your NSC Matric results and check if you meet requirements for top South African universities.
Enter at least 6 subjects. Life Orientation is NOT counted in APS by most universities. Select your achievement level (1-7) for each subject.
The Admission Point Score (APS) is the scoring system used by most South African universities to evaluate National Senior Certificate (NSC) Matric results for admission purposes. Your APS is calculated by converting your achievement levels (1-7) in your best subjects into points. Most universities exclude Life Orientation from the calculation, using your best 6 remaining subjects.
Each achievement level directly corresponds to a point: Level 7 (80-100%) = 7 points, Level 6 (70-79%) = 6 points, and so on down to Level 1 = 1 point. A student who achieves Level 6 in all 6 subjects would have an APS of 36. The maximum possible APS (excluding LO) from 6 subjects is 42.
Different universities and programmes have different APS requirements. Competitive programmes like Medicine at UCT may require an APS of 40+, while a Bachelor of Commerce at most universities typically requires 30-34. Some universities like the University of Pretoria (UP) and Stellenbosch University also consider NBT (National Benchmark Test) scores alongside APS.
It's important to note that meeting the minimum APS doesn't guarantee admission — it's just the first hurdle. Many programmes are competitive and admit students based on ranking, starting from the highest APS down until places are filled. Some programmes also have specific subject requirements (e.g., Mathematics Level 5 for Engineering, Physical Sciences Level 5 for Medicine).
Most universities (UCT, Wits, UP, Stellenbosch, UJ) exclude Life Orientation from the APS calculation. However, a few may include it or use it as a tiebreaker. Always check the specific university's admission policy. Our calculator excludes LO by default, as this is the most common approach.
It varies by university and programme. General guidelines: Medicine/Engineering: 38-42, Actuarial Science: 38-40, Law: 32-36, Commerce: 30-34, BA/Social Sciences: 26-30, Diploma programmes: 22-26. These are approximate — check specific university requirements for accurate minimums.
Yes. You can rewrite subjects through the IEB or DBE supplementary exams. You can also register to rewrite specific subjects in the next NSC examination. Some universities also accept improved results for late applications. However, it's best to aim for your target APS in your first attempt.