How to Calculate Your APS Score: Step-by-Step with Examples

Learn exactly how to calculate your APS score from your matric results. Includes the conversion table, three worked examples, common mistakes, and why Life Orientation is treated differently.

By Milah Galant in Exam Preparation · 5 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Your APS is the sum of points for your best 6 qualifying subjects — each scored on a scale of 1 to 7 based on your percentage
  • Life Orientation is excluded from APS calculations at most universities, so don't count on it to boost your score
  • The maximum possible APS is 42 (7 points x 6 subjects) — you'd need 80%+ in every qualifying subject
  • A single subject improvement of 10 percentage points (e.g., 49% to 59%) can add a full APS point and change your admission outcome
  • Different universities may calculate APS slightly differently — always verify with your target institution's admissions office
Your APS score is the single number that determines whether you get into your chosen university programme — or not. Yet most matric students don't know how to calculate it until after they've received their results. That's too late. If you understand your APS now, while you're still writing exams or preparing for them, you can make strategic decisions about where to focus your study time. A 5% improvement in the right subject could add a full point to your APS and unlock a programme you thought was out of reach. Here's exactly how the calculation works. ## The APS Conversion Table Every matric subject you pass is converted from a percentage to an APS point value using this standard scale: | Matric Percentage | Achievement Level | APS Points | |-------------------|-------------------|------------| | 80-100% | Level 7 (Outstanding) | 7 | | 70-79% | Level 6 (Meritorious) | 6 | | 60-69% | Level 5 (Substantial) | 5 | | 50-59% | Level 4 (Adequate) | 4 | | 40-49% | Level 3 (Moderate) | 3 | | 30-39% | Level 2 (Elementary) | 2 | | 0-29% | Level 1 (Not Achieved) | 1 | ## How to Calculate Your APS: The 3-Step Method ### Step 1: List your subjects and percentages Write down all your matric subjects and your final percentage for each. Include everything — home language, first additional language, maths, and your electives. ### Step 2: Convert each percentage to APS points Use the table above. For example, 65% = 5 points, 72% = 6 points, 45% = 3 points. ### Step 3: Add up your best 6 subjects (excluding Life Orientation) Your APS is the total. Most universities require your best 6 qualifying subjects, and Life Orientation is excluded at nearly all institutions. ## Worked Example 1: Bachelor Pass Student (Ambitious Achiever) Sipho is aiming for a BCom Accounting at the University of Pretoria (minimum APS: 34). | Subject | Percentage | APS Points | |---------|-----------|------------| | English Home Language | 72% | 6 | | Afrikaans FAL | 65% | 5 | | Mathematics | 68% | 5 | | Accounting | 75% | 6 | | Business Studies | 62% | 5 | | Economics | 58% | 4 | | Life Orientation | 82% | *Excluded* | **Sipho's APS: 6 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 5 + 4 = 31** Sipho is 3 points short of UP's minimum of 34. But if he can push Maths from 68% to 70% (gaining 1 point) and Economics from 58% to 60% (gaining 1 point), his APS jumps to 33 — almost there. One more subject improvement and he qualifies. This is why knowing your APS *before* final exams matters. Sipho can focus his study time on the subjects closest to the next threshold. ## Worked Example 2: Diploma Pass Student Thandi wants to study a National Diploma in Marketing at a university of technology. Diploma programmes typically require an APS of 22-28. | Subject | Percentage | APS Points | |---------|-----------|------------| | English Home Language | 55% | 4 | | isiZulu Home Language | 68% | 5 | | Mathematical Literacy | 62% | 5 | | Tourism | 58% | 4 | | Consumer Studies | 45% | 3 | | Life Sciences | 42% | 3 | | Life Orientation | 70% | *Excluded* | **Thandi's APS: 4 + 5 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 3 = 24** Thandi qualifies for most diploma programmes. However, if she wants a degree programme (minimum APS typically 26+), she'd need to improve Consumer Studies or Life Sciences by one level each. **Note:** Thandi has Mathematical Literacy, not Mathematics. This qualifies her for many BCom and BA programmes, but it disqualifies her from Engineering, Medicine, BSc, and most Actuarial Science programmes. Check our [APS score requirements](/blog/aps-score-requirements-every-sa-university-2026) guide to see which programmes accept Maths Lit. ## Worked Example 3: The Borderline Student Kagiso is sitting on the edge. He needs an APS of 28 for his chosen BA programme at UJ but isn't sure where he stands. | Subject | Percentage | APS Points | |---------|-----------|------------| | English FAL | 52% | 4 | | Sesotho Home Language | 61% | 5 | | Mathematics | 39% | 2 | | Geography | 55% | 4 | | History | 48% | 3 | | Visual Arts | 64% | 5 | | Life Orientation | 75% | *Excluded* | **Kagiso's APS: 4 + 5 + 2 + 4 + 3 + 5 = 23** Kagiso is 5 points short. His biggest problem is Mathematics at 39% — that's only 2 APS points. If he can push it to 40%, he gains a point. But realistically, his best strategy might be focusing on History (48% to 50% = +1 point) and English (52% to 60% = +1 point) as well. If improving these marks isn't possible before final exams, Kagiso could consider the [supplementary exams 2026](/blog/supplementary-exams-2026-dates-rules-how-to-register) to rewrite his weakest subjects and boost his APS after results are released. ## The Life Orientation Question This confuses everyone, so let's be clear: **Most universities exclude Life Orientation from your APS calculation entirely.** Some universities (like NWU) include it but weight it at 50% — meaning a Level 6 in Life Orientation only counts as 3 points. The safest approach: **calculate your APS without Life Orientation.** If a university does include it, that's a bonus — but don't rely on it. This matters because Life Orientation is typically students' highest mark. Losing it from your calculation often drops your APS by 5-7 points compared to what you'd expect. ## Common APS Mistakes to Avoid | Mistake | Impact | Solution | |---------|--------|----------| | Counting Life Orientation as a full subject | Inflates APS by 5-7 points | Always exclude it from your base calculation | | Using term marks instead of final exam marks | Different result | Use your final NSC percentage only | | Including more than 6 subjects | Overestimates score | Count only your best 6 qualifying subjects | | Forgetting specific subject requirements | Meet APS but get rejected | Check both the minimum APS and the required subjects/levels | | Assuming APS alone guarantees admission | False confidence | Competitive programmes admit from highest APS down, not just anyone who meets the minimum | ## What Can You Do With Your APS? Once you know your score, the next step is matching it to programmes and universities. Our comprehensive [APS score requirements](/blog/aps-score-requirements-every-sa-university-2026) guide compares minimum APS for popular programmes across all 10 major SA universities. You'll also want to understand: - [Matric pass requirements 2026](/blog/matric-pass-requirements-2026-bachelor-diploma-higher-certificate) — what marks you need for a Bachelor, Diploma, or Higher Certificate pass - [Best courses after matric](/blog/best-courses-to-study-after-matric-south-africa) — which programmes lead to the highest-demand careers - [University application 2026](/blog/university-application-deadlines-2026) — deadlines for every SA university so you don't miss your chance ## Raise Your APS: Start Practising Now Every APS point matters. The most effective way to improve your marks is targeted past paper practice — it's free, it's proven, and it shows you exactly what the examiners are looking for. Use [grade 12 past papers](/past-papers) to practise under exam conditions. Focus on subjects where you're closest to the next APS threshold — that's where a small improvement makes the biggest difference. [Start practising with free matric past papers with answers -->](/past-papers)