Celebrations as IEB Reveals 2025 NSC Results with 98.3% Pass Rate
IEB's 2025 matric cohort grew to over 17,000 candidates with 89.12% qualifying for degree study despite a slight dip in the overall 98.31% pass rate, officials said.
- On January 12, 2026, the Independent Examination Board announced a 98.31% overall pass rate for the National Senior Certificate , down slightly from 98.47% with just over 17 000 candidates.
- Growth in online schooling and new schools caused the IEB candidate base to include 65% distance education providers and 35% independent schools, which Dikgole said explains minor result variations.
- Of those who passed, 89.12% qualified for degree study, 7.83% for diploma entry, with 161 outstanding achievers, 125 commendable achievers, 91 distinctions, and two students scoring 100% in Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy.
- Individual results will be released on Tuesday, with matriculants receiving results at schools today, and remark applicants must submit requests by 30 January 2026 before final results on 4 March pending Umalusi approval.
- Experts caution against oversimplifying matric success, noting the Independent Examination Board's 98.31% pass rate is lowest since 2020, while the national NSC pass rate could near 90%.
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South Africa: Private School Matric Pass Rate Stays High At 98 Percent
IEB matric class of 2025 records a 98.31 percent pass rate with most learners qualifying for university study. Nearly 17,500 pupils wrote the exams with top achievers recognised across schools mainly in Gauteng.
IEB records 98.31% pass rate in 2025 matric exams – The Mail & Guardian
Some 98.31% of Grade 12 learners passed the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations administered by the Independent Examinations Board (IEB). The IEB said 89.12% of candidates achieved entry to bachelor degree study, slightly down from 89.37% in 2024. A further 7.83% qualified for diploma study, up from 7.56% in 2024, while 1.34% achieved entry to higher certificate study, compared with 1.53% the previous year. An additional 0.02% ac…
The South African
insideeducation.co.zaIEB class of 2025 achieves 98.31% pass rate
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has announced a 98.31% pass rate for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. The board revealed that 17,000 candidates wrote the examinations with 89.12% achieving entry to study for a degree, which is slightly down from 2024. RESULTS FOR 2025 ACADEMIC YEAR According to the IEB, about 7.83% qualified for diploma study, compared to 7.56% in 2024 and 1.34% achieved entry to Higher Certifica…
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