National Senior Certificate Subjects

National Senior Certificate Subjects

To qualify for a  National Senior Certificate, candidates should offer a minimum of 7 subjects as follows:

  • Two official languages, at least one at Home Language level
  • Mathematical Literacy or Mathematics
  • Life Orientation
  • Minimum of 3 subjects from the NSC approved subjects
  • A candidate may not offer more than 4 languages in the package of 7

There are additional subjects that are recognized for the National Curriculum Statements. These are as follows:  Equine Studies, Nautical Science, Maritime Economics, Modern Greek (from 2009), Sports and Exercise Science (from 2010). Only one of these can be offered as part of the 7 subject programme. They may be offered in addition to the 7 subject package.

In all subjects, a portfolio of evidence will contribute 25% and final examination 75%. Practical /performance assessment components may contribute up to a further 25%, making the final examination in such cases worth 50%.

Life Orientation will be assessed through a combination of a portfolio of evidence and prescribed subject specific practical assessment i.e. no external examination.

Seven levels of competence are provided for:

Description of achievement Marks/percentage

 

Rating code
Outstanding 80 – 100 7
Meritorious 70 – 79 6
Substantial 60 – 69 5
Adequate 50 – 59 4
Moderate 40 – 49 3
Elementary 30 – 39 2
Not achieved 0 – 29 1


Pass requirements

In order to qualify for a National Senior Certificate, a learner must achieve:

  • A minimum rating of 3 i.e.  40% or more, in 3 subjects. One of the 3 subjects must be an official language at Home Language level.
  • A minimum rating of 2 i.e. 30% or more, in 3 other  subjects.

Note:

  • It is compulsory for a learner to pass an official language at home language level i.e. at 40% or above.
  • If a learner offers more than the minimum number of 7 subjects, passes in the additional subjects will be taken into account when determining whether a learner has met the minimum requirements.

In order to qualify for entry into further study at the Higher Certificate level, a learner must:

  • Pass the NSC
  • Meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution, namely, one of the two official languages offered by learner must be either English or Afrikaans. To meet the language criterion to qualify for entry to study at a tertiary education institution, the learner must pass either English or Afrikaans at least at the 1st additional level i.e. at 30% or more.

In order to qualify for entry into further study at the Diploma level, a learner must:

  • Pass the NSC as follows:
    • One official language at home language level at 40%
    • 3 other subjects at 40%
    • 2 subjects at 30%
  • Meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution, namely, one of the two official languages offered by learner must be either English or Afrikaans. To meet the language criterion to qualify for entry to study at a tertiary education institution, the learner must pass either English or Afrikaans at least at the 1st additional level i.e. at 30% or more.

The key difference between qualifying for entry to diploma study rather than higher certificate study is that the learner must achieve 40% or more in 4 subjects (incl. the official language at home language level) rather than just 3 subjects.

In order to qualify for entry into further study at the Bachelor Degree level, a learner must:

  • Pass the NSC as follows:
    • One official language at home language level at 40% or more
    • 4 subjects from the designated list of subjects at 50% or more
    • 2 subjects at a minimum of 30%
  • Meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution, namely, one of the two official languages offered by learner must be either English or Afrikaans. To meet the language criterion to qualify for entry to study at a tertiary education institution, the learner must pass either English or Afrikaans at least at the 1st additional level i.e. at 30% or more.

The list of designated subjects which will be in place for 3 years from 2008 is as follows:

  • Accounting
  • Agricultural Sciences
  • Business Studies
  • Dramatic Arts
  • Economics
  • Engineering Graphics and Design
  • Geography
  • History
  • Consumer Studies
  • Information Technology
  • Languages (one language of learning and teaching at a higher education institution and two other recognised language subjects)
  • Life Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Mathematical Literacy
  • Music
  • Physical Sciences
  • Religion Studies
  • Visual Arts

Note:

  • In respect of music, it is only the National Senior Certificate Music course that is considered a designated subject.  At this stage no other music courses are considered designated. They are recognised as NSC subjects but are not considered to be ‘designated’ for the purpose of qualification for degree studies.
  • Non-designated subjects may contribute towards the Admission Points Score (APS) and may be recognised as an institution or faculty specific entry requirement.  Learners must check their results against specific institutional requirements for the course of study they wish to follow.

Very important to note: Specific institutional and programme needs may have a specific language requirement, a specific level of performance in Life Orientation or require appropriate combinations of recognised National Senior Certificate subjects and levels of achievement. Learners must check their results against specific institutional requirements for the course of study they wish to follow.

Grade 12 National Senior Certificate Subjects and Codes

Subject Code Subject
Subject Code Subject
N12AFRH Afrikaans Home Language N12AFRF Afrikaans First Additional Language
N12ENGH English Home Language N12ENGF English First Additional Language
N12XHOF IsiXhosa First Additional Language N12ZULH IsiZulu Home Language
N12ZULF IsiZulu First Additional Language N12SEPF Sepedi First Additional Language
N12SESF Sesotho First Additional Language N12SETF Setswana First Additional Language
N12SISH SiSwati Home Language N12SISF SiSwati First Additional Language
N12MALI Mathematical Literacy N12MATH Mathematics
N12LIFO Life Orientation N12DANS Dance
N12DESN Design N12DRAM Dramatic Arts
N12MUSC Music N12VISA Visual Culture Studies / Visual Arts
N12ACCO Accounting N12BUSS Business Studies
N12ECON Economics N12ARAS Arabic Second Additional Language
N12FRES French Second Additional Language N12GERH German Home Language
N12GERS German Second Additional Language N12GUJH Gujarati Home Language
N12GUJF Gujarati First Additional Language N12GUJS Gujarati Second Additional Language
N12HEBS Hebrew Second Additional Language N12HINS Hindi Second Additional Language
N12TALS Italian Second Additional Language N12LATS Latin Second Additional Language
N12MODS Modern Greek Second Additional Language N12PORH Portuguese Home Language
N12PORF Portuguese First Additional Language N12PORS Portuguese Second Additional Language
N12SPAS Spanish Second Additional Language N12VENF Tshivenda First Additional Language
N12CIVT Civil Technology N12EGAD Engineering Graphics and Design
N12GEOG Geography N12HIST History
N12RELS Religion Studies N12COAT Computer Applications Technology
N12INTE Information Technology N12LISC Life Sciences
N12PHSC Physical Sciences N12CONS Consumer Studies
N12HOSP Hospitality Studies N12TOUR Tourism
N12EQUS Equine Studies N12SPSC Sports and Exercise Science
N12ABRS6 Royal Schools of Music Practical Grade 6 N12ABRS7 Royal Schools of Music Practical Grade 7
N12ABRS8 Royal Schools of Music Practical Grade 8 N12TCL6 Trinity College of London Practical Grade 6
N12TCL7 Trinity College of London Practical Grade 7 N12TCL8 Trinity College of London Practical Grade 8
N12TCL6 Trinity College of London Performer’s Licentiate N12UNM6 Unisa Practical Music Grade 6
N12UNM7 Unisa Practical Music Grade 7 N12UNM8 Unisa Practical Music Grade 8
N12UNML Unisa Performer’s Licentiate in Music ADPM Advanced Programme Mathematics
ADVM Advanced Mathematics