- Apply for Re-marking or Re-checking: If you are within 1% to 3% of passing a subject or reaching a level threshold, apply at your school or provincial education department within 21 days of results release.
- Register for the May/June Rewrite Exams: Registration closes in early February. You can rewrite up to two subjects to achieve your NSC or upgrade your APS points.
- Enroll in the DBE Second Chance Matric Programme: Free state-funded Saturday classes, digital lessons, and study guides across 70+ education districts.
- Pivot to a TVET College (Vocational Training): Register for National Certificate Vocational (NCV) or NATED engineering/business courses without needing a Bachelor pass.
Mental Health & Emotional Support
Receiving poor results is intensely stressful. If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, hopeless, or anxious, reach out to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) free suicide crisis helpline: 0800 567 567 or SMS 31393. Confidential support is available 24 hours a day.
Option 1: Apply for Re-checking and Re-marking
If you genuinely believe your performance was higher than your statement of results reflects, you have the legal right under DBE policy to request a re-check or re-mark.
| Service | What It Entails | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Re-checking | An administrative clerk recalculates the addition of all marks across every page of your answer script to ensure no questions were missed or added incorrectly. | ~R30 per subject |
| Re-marking | A senior marker completely re-evaluates and marks your entire answer script from scratch according to the official marking memorandum. | ~R120 per paper |
| Viewing of Script | Available only after a re-mark has been concluded, if you wish to see the marked script in person. | ~R230 per paper |
Refund Policy on Re-marks
If your re-mark results in an increase that moves you to a higher achievement level (e.g. from Level 3 to Level 4) or turns a fail into a pass, the Department of Basic Education will fully refund your application fee and issue a revised official statement of results.
Option 2: The DBE Second Chance Matric Programme (Free)
The Department of Basic Education operates the Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) to support learners who did not meet the requirements of the NSC or who wish to upgrade their marks for university entrance.
What the Second Chance Programme Provides:
- Free Face-to-Face Tuition: Dedicated Saturday and after-hours classes at accredited municipal high school centres throughout South Africa.
- Free Learning Materials: Hardcopy and digital copies of DBE "Mind the Gap" study guides, past examination question papers, and worked memoranda.
- Broadcast Lessons: Daily television broadcasts on DBE TV (OpenView Channel 122) and radio broadcasts on community radio stations.
- Digital Access: Free online lessons and video tutorials via the DBE website (education.gov.za/SecondChance).
Option 3: Register for the May/June Rewrite Cycle
Full-time NSC candidates from the previous October/November sitting can register to rewrite up to two subjects during the May/June examination cycle.
- Registration Window: Opens immediately upon release of results in January and closes in early February.
- Where to Register: At the school or examination centre where you wrote your exams, or online through the e-Services portal of the Department of Basic Education.
- Umalusi Certificate Combination: When you pass the rewritten subjects, Umalusi combines your highest marks across both sittings to award an updated National Senior Certificate.
Option 4: Vocational Education via Public TVET Colleges
Universities are not the only route to a well-paying, dignified career. South Africa faces a massive shortage of skilled artisans, electricians, welders, IT technicians, and early childhood educators. Public Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges offer two major pathways:
National Certificate Vocational (NCV)
A 3-year vocational qualification (NCV Level 2, 3, and 4) equivalent to Grade 10, 11, and 12. Covers practical fields like Mechatronics, Civil Construction, Electrical Infrastructure, and Hospitality.
NATED / Report 191 Programmes
Engineering and Business Studies tracks (N4, N5, N6). Completing N4–N6 plus 18 months of practical work experience leads to a prestigious National Diploma (NQF Level 6).
NSFAS Funding for TVET Colleges
Public TVET college tuition is fully funded by NSFAS for qualifying South African citizens from households with an annual income below R350,000, including transport, accommodation, and personal allowances.