Your Admission Point Score (APS) helps you plan applications using your school subject marks. Institutions use different scoring and selection methods. Always compare your results with the current prospectus for your chosen programme.
Under a common NSC-level method, each subject percentage converts to a points level and the best six subjects (usually excluding Life Orientation) are added. 42 points (6 × 7) is the maximum under this method, not a universal maximum; universities may count or weight subjects differently.
| Percentage Range | NSC Achievement Level | APS Points |
|---|---|---|
| 80 – 100% | Level 7 — Outstanding Achievement | 7 pts |
| 70 – 79% | Level 6 — Meritorious Achievement | 6 pts |
| 60 – 69% | Level 5 — Substantial Achievement | 5 pts |
| 50 – 59% | Level 4 — Adequate Achievement | 4 pts |
| 40 – 49% | Level 3 — Moderate Achievement | 3 pts |
| 30 – 39% | Level 2 — Elementary Achievement | 2 pts |
| 0 – 29% | Level 1 — Not Achieved | 1 pt |
Quick example: English 68% (5 pts) + Maths 74% (6 pts) + Physical Sciences 62% (5 pts) + Life Sciences 71% (6 pts) + History 55% (4 pts) + Geography 58% (4 pts) = APS 30. Life Orientation excluded.
Medicine, engineering, law and diploma programmes set different thresholds for each intake. We have not verified universal 2026 entry ranges: consult the latest institution-specific prospectus for the APS method, subject minimums, tests and selection rules. A calculator score alone does not establish admission eligibility.
While all institutions use the NSC 7-level system as a starting point, important variations apply:
Use Career Helper's free APS Calculator to see your institution-specific score at all 26 SA universities simultaneously — including UNISA's unique calculation.
There is no single score that qualifies you for every programme. Use the current course prospectus to check eligibility, and consider multiple training routes if your marks fall short.