APS Score calculation involves your matric score. In this article, we will cover extensively how to calculate your APS score manually and with APS score calculator.
We can see the Admission Points Score (APS) as a measure of your performance in your National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination as it relates to the requirements for a particular programme to which you may apply.
The way the APS is calculated across various universities and colleges in South Africa varies, but the flow is the same. For instance, UCT will add your percentage marks excluding the mark for Life Orientation, Advanced Programme (‘AP’) subjects or any other subject that is not an official NSC subject to get your APS score. Others may allocate points to percentage brackets and add them together to get your APS.
However, we will cover in this article the basic principle that should apply to every scenario.
Subjects that influence APS score
It may interest you to know that not every subject counts in calculating APS. The subjects that count towards 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 |
You will notice that Life Orientation is not among the subjects that count. So, in calculating, do not add Life Orientation. Home Language and First Additional Language will also count towards your APS.
Minimum APS Requirement
Now that you know the subjects that count, the next thing to consider is the minimum APS score you need.
The APS greatly depends on what and where you want to study. However, The minimum APS requirements for the four passing levels if calculated according to points are as follows:
- Bachelor’s Degree pass – minimum APS 23
- Diploma pass – minimum APS 19
- Higher Certificate pass – minimum APS 15
- NSC pass – minimum APS 14
You will not want to settle for minimum scores, your admission may not depend solely on having a good APS score
Some universities like the University of Cape Town may use percentages instead of points in which case the minimum percentages will be
- Bachelor’s Degree pass – minimum APS 328.57
- Diploma pass – minimum APS 271.42
- Higher Certificate pass – minimum APS 214.29
- NSC pass – minimum APS 200
Additionally, Universities have their own requirements for certain courses, so you may want to check the requirements for the university of your choice.
How to Calculate your APS Score
The highest APS you can get is 42. This is because Life Orientation does not count, and so you will be calculating your APS using six subjects with 7 points for each subject.
Here is how to calculate your APS score. As earlier stated, APS is calculated using your Matric marks. While some universities use the percentage for APS scores, some separate the marks into percentage brackets and give each bracket a number of points.
Whether it is by point or percentage, to get your APS score you will have to add the points/percentage for each subject together but many institutions do not add the points for Life Orientation, Advanced Programme (‘AP’) subjects or any other subject that is not an official NSC subject.
Life orientation , Advanced Programme (‘AP’) subjects or any other subject that is not an official NSC subject does not count!
The point allocation is as follows:
| Percentage Bracket | Point Allocation |
| 80% – 100% | 7 |
| 70% – 79% | 6 |
| 60% – 69% | 5 |
| 50% – 59% | 4 |
| 40% – 49% | 3 |
| 30% – 39% | 2 |
| 0% – 29% | 1 |
Illustration
| Subject (%) | APS |
| Mathematics: 69% | 5 |
| English Home Language: 80% | 7 |
| Afrikaans First Additional Language: 70% | 6 |
| Life Orientation: 80% | 7 (excluded) |
| Dramatic Arts: 90% | 7 |
| Economics: 80% | 7 |
| Geography: 90% | 7 |
| Total APS | 39 (excluding points for Life Orientation) |
If your University uses the percentage system, then you will just have to add up all the percentage marks for matric instead.
APS Score Calculator
Thanks to www.applicationsa.com, there is an online calculator that can calculate your APS score. Whether it is calculated based on points or percentages, select your subject and enter the percentage into the form and watch it calculate.
Use APS Calculator now – https://www.applicationsa.com/aps-calculator/
List of Universities that use APS Score for Admission
- University of Cape Town (APS)
- Stellenbosch University (APS)
- University of Pretoria (APS)
- University of the Witwatersrand (APS)
- University of Kwazulu Natal (APS)
- University of Cape (APS)
- University of the Western Cape (APS)
- Rhodes University (APS)
- University of Johannesburg (APS)
- North West University (APS)
- University of the Free State (APS)
- Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (APS)
- Cape Peninsula University of Technology (APS)
- Durban University of Technology (APS)
- University of Zululand (APS)
- Central University of Technology (APS)
- Walter Sisulu University (APS)
- University of Limpopo (APS)
- Tshwane University of Technology (APS)
- University of Fort Hare (APS)
- Mangosuthu University of Technology (APS)
- University of Venda (APS)
Credit: https://whatcanistudy.co.za/aps/
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