Matric Results 2027: When and How to Check Your NSC Results in South Africa

Nearly 900,000 candidates write the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams every year, and results day is one of the most-anticipated dates on South Africa’s education calendar. This page covers how the release works, every way to check your results, what to do if something looks wrong, and what comes next.

When Will Matric Results 2027 Be Released?

The Department of Basic Education hasn’t confirmed the exact 2027 date yet. Based on the established pattern, expect a two-stage release in mid-January 2027:

• National announcement: the Minister of Basic Education announces the overall national results and pass rate on live television, typically in the evening
• Individual results: available the following morning from around 6am, through the methods below

For reference, the most recent cycle (results for the Class of 2025) followed this exact pattern: national announcement on the evening of 12 January 2026, with individual results available from 6am on 13 January 2026. We’ll update this page with the confirmed 2027 dates as soon as the Department announces them.

How to Check Your Results

If you run into problems on any of these channels, the DBE’s national call centre is 0800 202 933, or email [email protected].

If your result doesn’t appear right away, don’t panic. The DBE has cautioned that a small number of results can be delayed due to outstanding verification queries. This is a normal part of the annual process and gets resolved through your school or district office.

Understanding Your Pass

Your statement of results shows one of a few outcome types, which determine what you can study next:

• Bachelor’s pass: qualifies you for degree study at university
• Diploma pass: qualifies you for diploma-level study at a university or university of technology
• Higher Certificate pass: qualifies you for higher certificate programmes, often at a TVET college
• National Senior Certificate (no further endorsement): you’ve passed matric but haven’t met the requirements above for further formal study without additional steps

Your results also determine your Admission Point Score (APS), the number universities use to assess whether you qualify for a specific course. Each university calculates APS slightly differently, usually from your best 6 or 7 subjects, so check your target university’s own APS calculation rather than assuming a single national formula.

If Something Looks Wrong

Check your name, surname and ID number on your statement of results as soon as you get it. Incorrect personal details must generally be reported to the Department by a set deadline (mid-to-late February in recent cycles), so don’t leave this until later.

If you believe a subject mark is wrong, you can apply for a remark (a full re-evaluation) or a recheck (a verification that your marks were added and transferred correctly). Apply at your school, your district office, or online at www.eservices.gov.za. In the most recent cycle, a remark cost R120 per subject and a recheck R30, with an additional fee to view your script afterwards. Fees can be adjusted annually, so confirm the current amount when you apply.

What Comes Next

If your marks fell short in one or two subjects, the supplementary NSC exams, usually written in May/June, give you a chance to improve individual subjects without repeating the whole year. If you’re heading to university or a TVET college, your results are sent directly to institutions you applied to, and firm offers are typically confirmed within a day or two of release for candidates who already applied. If you still need funding, NSFAS applications for the new academic year are usually still open or reopening around this time. See our NSFAS application guide to get funding sorted alongside your results.

Frequently Asked Questions

For the Department’s own official guidance on remarks, rechecks and rewrites, see the DBE’s Release of NSC Exam Results page. Already looking ahead to funding? See our NSFAS application status guide, browse our NSFAS section, or check other applications on our Status Check hub.