Many students in South Africa finish matric but do not get the APS they need for college or university. Some miss the mark by just a few points. Others want to improve their marks to get into better courses. There are two main ways to do this – a matric rewrite or a matric upgrade. Both options can help improve your APS, but they work in different ways. In this article, we will explain how APS works, what makes rewrites and upgrades different, and which one can help you increase your APS faster.
Understanding the difference between a matric rewrite and a matric upgrade can help you improve your APS in the smartest way. Our course test helps you assess whether rewriting, upgrading, or starting a recognised course is the best option based on your age, subjects, and APS gap. Use it to choose a path that improves your chances of qualifying for further study faster and with confidence.
What is an APS and why does it matter?
Your APS stands for Admission Points Score. It is a number used by colleges and universities to see if you qualify for a course. Each subject in your matric certificate gives you points. These points are added together to get your APS.
A higher APS gives you more choices when applying for further studies. If your APS is too low, you may not qualify for the course you want. This is why many people choose to improve their marks after matric to increase their APS.
How APS is calculated
Your APS is calculated by looking at your seven matric subjects. For each subject, the percentage you get is turned into a point. For example:
- 80% to 100% = 7 points
- 70% to 79% = 6 points
- 60% to 69% = 5 points
- 50% to 59% = 4 points
- 40% to 49% = 3 points
- 30% to 39% = 2 points
- 0% to 29% = 1 point
The total points from your best six subjects are used to calculate your APS. The seventh subject is often Life Orientation, and most universities do not count it towards your APS.
Subjects that usually count towards APS
Most institutions count the following subjects when working out your APS:
- English
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy
- Life Sciences
- Physical Sciences
- Geography
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Accounting
They usually only include your best six subjects. This means if you do badly in one subject, it might not affect your APS if the other six are better.
How improving one subject can change your APS
Changing one low mark to a higher one can increase your APS quickly. For example, if you go from 39% (2 points) to 59% (4 points), you gain two APS points. If you do this in more than one subject, your total score can increase even more. That is why many students choose to rewrite or upgrade their matric to improve their marks and raise their APS.
What is the difference between a matric rewrite and a matric upgrade?
Both a matric rewrite and a matric upgrade are ways to improve your marks after you get your results. But they are not the same. Each has different rules, timelines, and results. Choosing the right one can help you improve your APS faster.
What a matric rewrite is
A matric rewrite is also called the Second Chance Programme. It is offered by the Department of Basic Education. You can rewrite a subject if you wrote matric in the last few years and want to improve your marks.
To rewrite, you must meet the following:
- You are under the age of 21
- You wrote NSC (National Senior Certificate) in the last few years
- You want to improve your marks in one or more subjects
You cannot change your subjects in a rewrite. You can only rewrite the ones you wrote before.
What a matric upgrade is
A matric upgrade is for people who are 21 or older. You write as an adult candidate. This option allows you to:
- Improve old subjects
- Change subjects if needed
- Combine old and new results to get a better Senior Certificate
You can study part-time or full-time through colleges that offer matric upgrade programmes. You write your exams with the Department of Education.
Key differences in subjects, age limits, and exam sittings
Here are the main differences between a rewrite and an upgrade:
- Age: Rewrite is for people under 21; Upgrade is for people 21 and older
- Subject changes: Rewriting does not allow subject changes; Upgrading does
- Exam sittings: Rewrites usually happen in May/June; Upgrades take place in October/November
- Certificate type: Rewrites give you a better NSC; Upgrades give you a combined Senior Certificate
Is it better to upgrade or rewrite matric to increase your APS?
The best choice depends on your age, the marks you got, and how many subjects you want to improve. Both options can raise your APS, but one might be faster or better for your situation.
When a matric rewrite is the faster option
A matric rewrite is faster if:
- You only need to fix one or two subjects
- You still qualify for the rewrite based on your age
- You do not need to change any subjects
Rewriting takes place earlier in the year, so you can get your results sooner. This helps if you want to apply for a course that starts the next year.
When a matric upgrade makes more sense
A matric upgrade is better if:
- You are 21 or older
- You need to change your subjects
- You want to improve more than two subjects
- Your marks are very low and need big improvement
Upgrading gives you more time to study. You also have the choice to study in a way that suits you, such as through distance learning or attending classes.
Choosing based on time, subjects, and APS gap
You should choose based on:
- How quickly you need results
- How many subjects you must improve
- Whether you want to change subjects
- How many APS points you need to gain
If you are just a few points short, a rewrite may be enough. If your gap is big, or you need new subjects, then a full upgrade is the better option.
Which option improves your APS faster in common situations?
The speed of your APS improvement depends on your subjects, how far you are from your goal, and how many marks you need to increase. In this section, we look at common situations to help you decide which option may work best for you.
If you are close to the APS target
If you missed the required APS by only one or two points, a rewrite is often the fastest way to fix this. You can focus on just one subject and write the exam as soon as possible. If your marks improve enough, your APS will go up quickly.
If maths or maths literacy is lowering your APS
Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy are subjects that can affect your APS more than others. If you got very low marks in either one, your total APS might be too low for many courses.
- If you need to improve this subject and are still under 21, a rewrite is the quicker option.
- If you are over 21 or want to switch from maths to maths literacy (or the other way), you must do a matric upgrade.
This change can make a big difference in your APS if you choose the subject that fits your strengths.
If you need to improve multiple subjects
If you want to raise your marks in three or more subjects, an upgrade may be better. While it takes more time, it gives you more study support and flexibility. A rewrite only allows you to write the same subjects, and it is harder to manage if you need many changes.
Upgrading allows you to:
- Spread your subjects over more time
- Study in a way that suits your learning pace
- Focus on improving many marks at once
If you need different subjects for your goals
Some students discover they need specific subjects for the course they want to study. For example, they may need Life Sciences or Physical Sciences, but did not take these in school. In this case, a rewrite will not help, because you cannot add new subjects.
A matric upgrade allows you to change your subjects. This makes it possible to apply for new study or career paths that were not open to you before.
Can you change subjects when upgrading or rewriting matric?
Being able to change subjects can affect your APS and what study options are available to you. This is why many students ask if they can change subjects during a matric upgrade or rewrite.
Subjects you can usually change
When doing a matric upgrade, you can choose new subjects. Some of the most common changes are:
- Replacing Mathematics with Mathematical Literacy
- Adding Life Sciences, Business Studies, or Geography
- Dropping a subject you failed and choosing one you are better at
You can choose up to six subjects when upgrading, but most students only improve or change three or four.
Subjects that are compulsory
Even when upgrading, there are some rules. You must still meet the basic subject requirements for a matric certificate. This means:
- Home Language (usually English) is compulsory
- One of the following is needed: Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, or Technical Mathematics
- At least one official South African language must be included
You must also pass at least six subjects in total to get a valid Senior Certificate.
How subject changes affect your APS
Changing to subjects where you perform better can help you raise your APS faster. For example, if you struggled in Physical Sciences but do better in Business Studies, switching can lead to a higher mark and more points. This choice can also help you qualify for courses that have different subject requirements.
How many subjects should you rewrite or upgrade to raise your APS?
You do not always need to change all your subjects to improve your APS. In most cases, just one or two changes can make a big difference. But choosing the right subjects is very important.
Minimum subjects needed for an APS increase
In some cases, improving only one subject can increase your APS by two or three points. This is enough to qualify for a course you missed before. If you are close to your target APS, then working on just one subject may be enough.
If you are far from your goal, you may need to improve two or more subjects. You can check your marks and see where your lowest points are. These are the subjects that affect your APS the most.
Focusing on high-impact subjects
Subjects like English, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, and Life Sciences often carry more weight in course applications. If you improve in these subjects, your APS can go up quickly.
Focus on the subjects that:
- You scored the lowest in
- Count toward the course you want to study
- Can give you the most points if improved
Common mistakes that slow APS improvement
Here are some mistakes students make:
- Rewriting a subject they already passed well
- Choosing too many subjects and feeling overwhelmed
- Not checking which subjects count towards the course they want
To avoid this, plan carefully. Choose subjects that will have the biggest effect on your APS, and make sure they match the entry requirements of your chosen course.
How long does it take to improve your APS through a rewrite or upgrade?
The time it takes to raise your APS depends on the exam dates, how many subjects you need to improve, and how prepared you are. Planning ahead can help you reach your goal faster.
Exam timelines and result release dates
- Matric rewrites take place in May/June. Results are released a few weeks later, usually in August.
- Matric upgrades are written in October/November. Results are available in January of the next year.
This means a rewrite can give you faster results, which helps if you want to apply to a course in the same year. An upgrade takes longer but allows for more preparation and subject changes.
Fastest routes to an APS improvement
To improve your APS quickly:
- Choose the rewrite option if you qualify and only need to fix one or two subjects
- Focus on subjects that can give you the most points
- Study through a college or programme that gives good support
- Plan your exam timeline so your results are ready before course applications close
Some students also prepare during the year and write in the next exam season to improve their chances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. If you are 21 or older, you can upgrade your matric even if you failed. You can combine your old results with new ones and rewrite or change subjects to meet the pass requirements.
A matric upgrade usually takes one year. You can study part-time or full-time and write your exams in October or November. Your results will be released in January the next year.
A rewrite is simpler if you only need to improve one or two subjects and you are under 21. An upgrade is better if you need to change subjects or improve many marks.
Yes. Universities and colleges accept both upgrade and rewrite results, as long as you meet the course requirements and have the correct APS.
NSC stands for National Senior Certificate and is given after the standard school matric exams. SC stands for Senior Certificate and is given to adult learners who complete a matric upgrade after 21.