Low APS Courses

If you have completed Matric, received your results and calculated your APS only to find it is not what you had hoped for, it can feel disheartening. However, there are still study options available no matter your APS.

Courses For APS 13 And Below

There are courses you can study even if you have failed Matric, such as:

ICB courses
CIMA courses
Short courses

ICB Courses

ICB courses are designed by the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) and accredited by the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO). This means they are recognised as formal qualifications.

They are also highly regarded in South Africa because they teach scarce skills, which gives you more job opportunities and better job security if you work well. ICB courses are also recognised internationally, so you can apply for work all over the world with an ICB qualification.

There are three ICB streams of study:

Business Management (requires Grade 11 or equivalent to apply)
Financial Accounting (requires Grade 10 to apply)
Office Administration (requires Matric or a Matric Equivalent qualification to apply)

The entry requirement for the ICB Business Management Programme is that you have completed Grade 11, or a Grade 11 equivalent qualification. This course has three levels, and the first level of this course is a Matric Equivalent Qualification.

Apply with a Grade 11 Certificate/Report
ICB National Certificate: Small Business Financial Management – NQF Level 4	This is the first level
ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration – Business Management – NQF Level 5	This is the second level
ICB National Diploma: Financial Accounting – Business Management – NQF Level 6	This is the third level

The entry requirement for the ICB Financial Accounting Programme is that you have completed Grade 10. This course has four levels, and the first level of this course is a Grade 11 equivalent.

Apply with a Grade 10 Certificate/Report
ICB National Certificate: Bookkeeping – NQF Level 3	This is the first level
ICB FET Certificate: Bookkeeping – NQF Level 4	This is the second level
ICB National Diploma: Technical Financial Accounting – NQF Level 5	This is the third level
National Diploma: Financial Accounting – NQF Level 6	This is the fourth level

The entry requirement for the ICB Office Administration programme is that you have Matric or a Matric Equivalent Certificate. This course has three levels, and the first level of this course is a Higher Certificate level.

Apply with a Matric Certificate or Matric Equivalent Certificate
ICB Certificate: Office Administration – NQF Level 5	This is the first level
ICB Higher Certificate: Office Administration – NQF Level 5	This is the second level
Diploma: Office Administration – NQF Level 6	This is the third level

All of these courses go up to the Diploma level, which is just one level below a Degree.

Where Can I Study ICB Courses?

Many reputable colleges offer ICB courses through distance learning, such as:

CIMA Courses

CIMA courses are designed by the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, and have been accredited by QCTO. These courses are also recognised both locally and internationally. CIMA courses go up to the Degree level.

There are four CIMA course levels:

Business Accounting: CIMA Strategic Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Certificate Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Operational Level
Business Accounting: CIMA Managerial Level

Where Can I Study CIMA Courses?

Many reputable distance learning colleges offer CIMA courses, such as:

Short Courses

Short courses are created to teach you the skills you will need to begin your career as quickly and efficiently as possible. Many reputable colleges that offer distance learning short courses. Our colleges each offer different sets of short courses.

Short Courses At Matric College

Short Courses At Skills Academy

Short Courses At Ember Academy

Short Courses At Learning Group

Courses For APS 14

APS 14 means you have passed Matric, but this passing level does not enable you to apply to study at university. However, you could study courses such as:

NATED courses

National Accredited Technical Education Diploma (NATED) courses only require that you have passed Matric. You can apply to study for a NATED qualification as long as you passed Matric at any passing level.

NATED courses are designed by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and have been accredited by QCTO. This means they are recognised as formal qualifications. NATED courses are also recognised both locally and internationally.

There are seven NATED streams of study:

Where Can I Study NATED Courses?

There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer NATED courses, such as:

Courses For APS 15 To 18

If you have achieved an APS between 15 and 18, you have achieved a Higher Certificate pass.

You can choose to apply to study a Higher Certificate course, or you can choose to study an ICB course or NATED course. These courses go up to the Diploma level, which is one level higher than a Higher Certificate.

Courses For APS 19 To 22

If you have achieved an APS between 19 and 22, you qualify to apply to further your studies with a Diploma course at a university.

You can choose to apply to study a Diploma course at a university, or you can choose to study an accredited ICB or NATED course, which go up to the Diploma level.

What Is The Minimum APS?

The minimum APS to pass Matric is 14. The additional requirements you must meet are the requirements for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass. This is the minimum requirement to pass Matric. If you do not meet the requirements for an NSC pass, you will not pass Matric.

There are four passing levels in Matric. The requirements for each passing level are shown below:

Passing Level	Subject Requirements	APS Requirement
Bachelor’s Degree pass	40% or above for your Home Language subject 50% or above for four subjects 30% or above for two other subjects	23
Diploma pass	40% or above for your Home Language subject 40% or above for four other subjects 30% or above for two other subjects	19
Higher Certificate pass	40% or above for your Home Language subject 40% or above for two other subjects 30% or above for four other subjects	15
National Senior Certificate (NSC) pass/Matric pass	40% or above for your Home Language subject 40% or above for two other subjects 30% for the remaining subjects You can fail one subject	14

However, note that these requirements are only the minimum requirements. This means that achieving these marks does not guarantee your admission into any universities.

Which Subjects Count For APS?

The subjects that count for your APS are as follows:

Accounting	Agricultural Management Practices
Agricultural Sciences	Agricultural Technology
Business Studies	Civil Technology
Computer Applications Technology	Consumer Studies
Dance Studies	Dramatic Arts
Economics	Electrical Technology
Engineering Graphics and Design	Geography
History	Hospitality Studies
Information Technology	Life Sciences
Mathematics	Mathematical Literacy
Mechanical Technology	Music
Physical Sciences	Religion studies
Tourism	Visual Arts

Your Home Language subject and your First Additional Language subject will also count for your APS.

What Have We Learned?

There are study options available to you no matter your APS
There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer courses you can study with a low APS
There are still study options available if you failed Matric
There are four passing levels
Each passing level has its own subject and APS requirements
The minimum APS to pass Matric is 14
Life Orientation does not count for your APS

Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: July 13, 2022

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