Matric Rewrite 2027: How to Register for the Second Chance Matric Programme
If you didn’t pass matric, or want to improve specific subjects, you can rewrite through the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP), completely free of charge. Based on the established pattern (the 2026 cycle ran 1 October 2025 to 6 February 2026), registration for the 2027 cycle is expected to open around October 2026. You register at your school, your district office, or online at www.eservices.gov.za. Be careful of private companies charging a fee and claiming to be part of this programme, the DBE has publicly stated it does not endorse any paid service.
A disappointing matric result isn’t the end of the road. The Second Chance Matric Programme exists specifically to help you improve on it, rewrite subjects you failed, or finish outstanding requirements for a full National Senior Certificate, without paying for it.
What Is the Second Chance Matric Programme?
The Second Chance Matric Programme (SCMP) is a Department of Basic Education initiative, running since 2016, that gives candidates structured academic and psychosocial support to rewrite subjects or complete outstanding requirements for either the National Senior Certificate (NSC) or the older Senior Certificate (SC). It exists specifically to improve retention and reduce dropout among learners who didn’t get the result they needed the first time.
Who Qualifies?
The programme covers two groups:
- NSC candidates who wrote matric from 2008 onward can rewrite failed subjects, improve marks they already passed, or complete outstanding subjects needed for a full certificate
- Senior Certificate (SC) candidates, generally adult learners aged 18 and older, can improve their results through the older SC route
One detail worth knowing if you’re an SC candidate: that route is generally only available for the May/June examination sitting, not the main November sitting that NSC candidates use.
You don’t need to rewrite every subject. You choose only the ones you want to improve or complete, and your best mark from any attempt is what counts when your final certificate is put together, so rewriting doesn’t put your existing good marks at risk.
When Does Registration Open?
The exact 2027 dates haven’t been officially announced yet. Going by the established pattern, the most recent cycle opened on 1 October 2025 and closed on 6 February 2026 for the May/June 2026 examination sitting, so expect the 2027 cycle to open around October 2026. There are no late registrations, missing the deadline means waiting for the next cycle, so it’s worth registering as soon as the window opens rather than leaving it until the last week.
How to Register
- Gather your South African ID and your previous statement of matric results
- Register either online at www.eservices.gov.za, at your school, or at your provincial district office
- Select which subjects you want to rewrite or complete
- Submit your application before the closing date, there’s no grace period for late applications
If you’re unsure which route applies to you (NSC or SC), your nearest district office can confirm this based on when and what you originally wrote.
Support While You Study
The programme isn’t just a registration process, it includes structured academic support and psychosocial support aimed at candidates who may be studying part-time or juggling work alongside their rewrite. Ask at your district office about SCMP support centres in your area, which offer tutoring and study resources for the subjects most commonly rewritten.
The Department of Basic Education has publicly stated that the Second Chance Matric Programme is provided free of charge, and has specifically warned learners and parents to be cautious of private or commercial services that charge a fee while claiming affiliation with the programme. The department does not endorse any paid service for participation. Register only through your school, your district office, or www.eservices.gov.za.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Second Chance Matric Programme cost anything?
No, registration and academic support through the DBE are free. Be wary of any private company charging a fee and claiming to be affiliated with the programme.
Do I have to rewrite all my subjects?
No, you choose only the specific subjects you want to rewrite, improve, or complete. Your other results stand as they are.
Will rewriting a subject affect my existing good marks?
No. Your best mark from any attempt is what’s used on your final certificate, so a rewrite can only help, not hurt, your existing results.
What if I miss the registration deadline?
Late registrations aren’t accepted for this cycle. You’d need to wait for the next registration window to open, roughly a year later.
If you’re waiting on this year’s results first, see our Matric Results 2027 guide. If funding is part of your plan either way, see our NSFAS application guide or browse the NSFAS section.