2023 Matric Exams Countdown Begins!

8 min readSep 21, 2023

The countdown has begun for the 2023 National Senior Certificate final matric examinations at South African schools. With thousands of matric learners expected to participate in the exams, the Education Department has released the final exam timetable.

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has released the 2023 October/ November final matric exam timetable for senior high school phase learners getting their National Senior Certificate (NSC). The timetable indicates when learners write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams or their Senior Certificate (SC) exams.

Learners participating in the final examinations have just over a month left to prepare for their first exam for their National Senior Certificate. The final matric examination period is set to commence on Monday, 30 October 2023 and will conclude during the first week of December 2023.

Here’s the 2023 Final Matric Exam Timetable

DOWNLOAD THE 2023 FINAL MATRIC TIMETABLE HERE

The Department of Basic Education has advised parents and learners to regularly check its website for any updates or changes about the National Senior Certificate (NSC). Learners are also encouraged to make the most of their time preparing for the important exams and take advantage of resources which are helping learners find guidance.

Why is the National Senior Certificate Important?

Having your matric certificate is what unlocks the doors to future opportunities, it is important for you to have certain certification if you are eager to venture into your future employment or academic career.

They allow for your future employees to recognise that you are competent in the things they might require, from the different skills to the knowledge required to get the job done best.

This is why working hard during your matric year and doing all you can to prepare for your National senior certificate (NSC) final examination is important.

Exam Study Tips

Here are some study tips to help you prepare for the exams:

Have all your materials ready before you begin studying — pencils, pens, highlighters, paper, etc.
Be positive. Make sure your brain holds onto the information you are learning by reminding yourself how important it is to remember the work and get the marks.
Take a walk outside. A change of scenery will stimulate your learning. You’ll be surprised at how much more you take in after being outside in the fresh air.
Break up your learning sections into manageable parts. Trying to learn too much at one time will only result in a tired, unfocused and anxious brain.
Keep your study sessions short but effective and reward yourself with short, constructive breaks.
Teach your concepts to anyone who will listen. It might feel strange at first, but it is definitely worth reading your revision notes aloud.
Your brain learns well with colours and pictures. Try to use them whenever you can.
Be confident with the learning areas you know well and focus your brain energy on the sections that you find more difficult to take in.
Repetition is the key to retaining information you have to learn. Keep going — don’t give up!
Sleeping at least 8 hours every night, eating properly and drinking plenty of water are all important things you need to do for your brain. Studying for exams is like strenuous exercise, so you must be physically prepared.

Using Matric Past Papers

Being a matric learner means that you are under pressure. Finding ways to study smart and effectively will help you pass your exams. One of the best methods used by learners to prepare for matric exams is to practice answering past exam question papers.

Past papers for all Grade 12 subjects can be found on the Careers Portal website. You can find past papers for Life Sciences, Life Orientation, home language, Mathematical Literacy, Business Studies and other general subjects to prepare for your end of year examination.

There are typically at least seven subjects that you will be tested on, depending on

These few tips will help you use your resources effectively:

Prepare to write the past papers like you are writing your actual exam papers to get an outstanding achievement rating
Work through past papers with the help of your notes if necessary
Set the time to work through past papers
If the exam is 1 hour 30 minutes, then you should also work through it using that time frame
Check your answers to the questions

What To Do On Exam Day

Make sure you have all the necessary stationery for your exam, i.e. pens, pencils, eraser and calculator (with new batteries). Make sure you bring your ID document and examination admission letter.
Arrive on time, at least one hour before the start of the exam.
Go to the toilet before entering the exam room. You don’t want to waste valuable time going to the toilet during the exam.
Use the 10 minutes reading time to read the instructions carefully. This helps to ‘open’ the information in your brain. All questions are compulsory, unless indicated otherwise, but you do not have to answer them in order. Start with the question you think is the easiest to get the flow going.
Break the questions down to make sure you understand what is being asked. If you don’t answer the question properly you won’t get any marks for it. Look for the key words in the question to know how to answer it.
Try all the questions. Each question has some easy marks in it so make sure that you do all the questions in the exam.
Never panic, even if the question seems difficult at first. It will be linked to something you have covered. Find the connection.
Manage your time properly. Don’t waste time on questions you are unsure of. Move on and come back if time allows.
Check weighting — how many marks have been allocated for your answer? Do not give more or less information than is required.
Write big and bold and clearly. You will get more marks if the marker can read your answer clearly.

Learners can also access a wealth of resources to prepare for their final examination on the DBE’s website. These resources include study guides, audio lessons, video tutorials and past exam question papers and memorandums.

How To Replace Lost Or Damaged Certificates

Umalusi, the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training in South Africa has made it possible to apply online for a re-issue of your replacement certificates to assist matric graduates who lost or damaged their matric certificates while completing their National Senior Certificate.

Here’s how to replace your matric certificate:

Register an account on the Umalusi website
Create a request to replace your matric certificate and be sure to include the personal details rwquired
Submit the required documents, including a certified copy of your ID
Collect your replacement certificate or receive your new matric certificate via courier service

How To Contact The Department of Basic Education

Should you have any questions about the National Senior Certificate or you need assistance, you should contact the Department of Basic Education. Here are their contact details:

Hotline: 0800 202 933

Tel: 012 357 3000

Website: http://www.education.gov.za/

Twitter: DBE_SA

Facebook: Department of basic education

What Is Needed For A Bachelor’s Degree?

To attain a Bachelor’s Pass, the student must achieve at least 40% for a Home Language subject, at least 50% for four other High Credit subjects (i.e. languages, history, business studies, accounting, visual arts, etc), and at least 30% for two other subjects.

A student that decides to pursue further education with a Bachelor’s Pass would be granted the opportunity to pursue a full-time or part-time undergraduate degree, which upon completion would allow for the student to pursue postgraduate studies if they met the necessary requirements.

What Can I Study With A Bachelor’s Pass In Matric?

Obtaining a Bachelor’s Pass in matric indicates that you are qualified to pursue a bachelor’s degree course at a university or college, provided that you meet all the other admissions standards for the university.

In order to enroll in a varsity you must still fulfil the university’s other entry requirements, such as a high APS score and the relevant subjects.

What is the Second Chance Matric Programme?

The second chance programme affords you an opportunity to gain your matric certificate if you were unsuccessful but to also achieve better marks in your matric subjects if you were unhappy with that you originally achieved.

The second chance matric programme is a support mechanism which gives you access to your matric rewrite as well as classes and resources to prepare.

What is the minimum requirement for a Higher Certificate?

To achieve a Higher Certificate Pass, the learner should meet the following requirements:

The learner must achieve at least 40% for their Home Language subject.
The learner must achieve at least 40% in two other subjects excluding Life Orientation.
The learner must achieve at least 30% in any other three subjects.
The learner can only fail one subject.

If the student is able to meet all of these requirements, their final matric mark will be awarded a Higher Certificate Pass, which will open up a path for the student to study in a selection of Higher Certificate education options.

What are the pass levels you can get on your matric certificate?

With the National Senior Certificate, there are the following types of passes available depending on what marks you get for your subjects:

The Higher Certificate Pass which allows the student to attain a Higher Certificate. Study programmes for a Higher Certificate are predominantly vocational, meaning that they relate to a particular occupation or set of skills, with the course material being industry-oriented. At a later stage, the student would be able to apply for a higher qualification such as an Advanced Diploma.

The Diploma Pass which allows the student to pursue further studies in diploma courses at schools for technology (also known as technikons) and TVET Colleges .There are various diploma options, including an advanced diploma and a national diploma.

The final pass option is the Bachelor’s Pass. This grants the student the opportunity to complete a degree at an institution of their choice, ranging from technikons to colleges and universities.

Is a National Certificate Vocational the same as a National Senior Certificate?

The National Certificate (Vocational) is a qualification obtained at a TVET college. The NC(V) has different levels to it:

NCV Qualification on NQF Level 2: Equivalent to grade 10.
NCV Qualification on NQF Level 3: Equivalent to grade 11.
NCV Qualification on NQF Level 4: Equivalent to grade 12.

This means that the National Senior Certificate and the NC(V) NQF Level 4 would be equivalent qualifications.

Where To Study

Careers Portal provides access to all the higher education institution options you have. Head to our where to study section to find a list of universities, TVET Colleges, private colleges and private institutions as well as any information you need about them.

BEST OF LUCK MATRIC CLASS OF 2023!!!

*** This article was first published on www.careersportal.co.za ***