No, if you fail your June exams or your rewrite exams, you cannot rewrite in November. The November exams are only for school Matric exams.
Can I Register For Matric Rewrite In November?
No, you cannot register for a Matric Rewrite in November. Registration for the Matric Rewrite exams opens in January each year. Last year (2021) the Department of Basic Education did open exam rewrites in November. However, this was a once-off occurrence.
How Long After Matric Can You Rewrite?
You can rewrite Matric up to five years after your Matric final exams, as long as you are still under the age of 21. Once you turn 21, you can apply for a Matric Upgrade instead.
Can You Do Matric In 3 Months?
No, you cannot do Matric in three months. Any Matric course cannot be completed in less than 12 months. If you choose to distribute your subjects over more than one year, it can take up to three years to complete.
Do You Pay For Matric Rewrite?
Yes, you do pay for Matric Rewrite. It is free to register with the Department of Education to rewrite your Matric exams. However, it is not free to study for your Matric exams. You will pay fees that will cover your tuition and study materials at the school or college where you study.
Can I Go To University Without Matric?
No, you cannot go to university without Matric. All universities require you to have Matric to be able to apply. You cannot go to university with a Matric Equivalent qualification, either. You must have your Matric to be able to apply at any university.
To attend university, you must achieve a minimum of a Higher Certificate pass. This will allow you to study Higher Certificate courses. See the CEO of Matric College talk about a Higher Certificate pass here. There are four passing levels, and each determines the highest level you can study after Matric:
- Bachelor’s pass
- Diploma pass
- Higher Certificate pass
- NSC pass/Matric pass
Where Can I Rewrite My Matric For Free?
It is free to register with the Department of Education to rewrite your Matric. However, it is not free to study to rewrite your Matric. You will pay fees for the school or college where you study for your Matric Rewrite. These will cover your tuition and study materials.
There are many reputable distance learning colleges that offer Matric Rewrite programmes, such as:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
What Is The Difference Between Rewriting And Upgrading?
There are three main differences between a Matric Rewrite and a Matric Upgrade:
Matric Rewrite | Matric Upgrade |
Must be under the age of 21 | Must be over the age of 21 |
May rewrite a maximum of four subjects | May upgrade as many subjects as you like |
May not change subjects | May change any or all elective subjects |
One other difference is that when you do a Matric Rewrite, your results are automatically changed on your Matric Certificate before you receive it. When you have completed a Matric Upgrade, you must apply online to combine your results.
You will apply at the Department of Education for a Replacement Certificate: Change of Status. You can see the CEO of Matric College talk about the Matric Upgrade here.
There is also Adult Matric for those over the age of 21 who did not get to complete their high school education.
When you complete your Adult Matric, you will receive your Senior Certificate (Amended). This functions exactly the same way as a National Senior Certificate. Both are commonly known as a Matric Certificate. See the CEO of Matric College talk about Adult Matric here.
What Happens When You Fail Your Matric Rewrite?
You can apply to rewrite again the following year. There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite your Matric as long as you are still under the age of 21.
Can I Rewrite My Matric After 5 Years?
Yes, you can rewrite your Matric after five years. You can rewrite your Matric up to five years after your Matric final exams. After that, you can apply for a Matric Upgrade instead.
Can You Do Your Matric Online?
You can study for your Matric online through distance learning. However, you cannot write your exams online. You must write your Matric exams in a government-designated venue.
Can I Write My Matric At Home?
No, you cannot write your Matric exams at home. You can study from home, but you must write your exams in a government-designated venue.
How Many Times Can I Rewrite My Matric?
There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite your Matric, as long as you are under the age of 21.
Can I Buy My Matric?
No, you cannot buy your Matric. You can only get your Matric Certificate from Umalusi through the Department of Education. Umalusi has stated that participating in the buying and selling of Matric Certificates is a criminal offence.
Can I Do Matric At TVET College?
Yes, there are many TVET colleges that offer Matric programmes. Check with the TVET college you are applying to about whether they offer the Matric course you are interested in studying.
What Can I Study Without Matric?
There are still options for you to study even if you do not have Matric, such as:
ICB Courses
There are two ICB courses you can choose to study without Matric:
- Business Management
- Financial Accounting
- Office Administration
The ICB Business Management course requires you to have completed Grade 11 to apply. There are three levels in this course, going up to the Diploma level. The first level is a Matric Equivalent qualification.
The ICB Financial Accounting course requires you to have completed Grade 10 to apply. There are four levels in this course, going up to the Diploma level. The second level is a Matric Equivalent qualification.
The ICB Office Administration course requires Matric or Matric Equivalent to be able to apply. This means you can study for a Matric Equivalent qualification with the ICB, such as the first level of the Business Management course or the second level of the Financial Accounting course.
You can then use these Matric Equivalent qualifications from the ICB to apply for the Office Administration course.
ICB courses are accredited, meaning they are recognised as formal qualifications by potential employers. These courses teach you scarce skills, which are in high demand in South Africa. This means better job opportunities and more likely job stability.
Where Can I Study ICB Courses?
There are many places you can study ICB courses. Some reputable distance learning colleges that offer these ICB courses are:
- Bellview Institute of Distance Learning
- Matric College
- Skills Academy
- Ember Academy
- Learning Group
Short Courses
There are also many short courses offered at four of the above colleges.
Short Courses At Matric College
- Beauty Therapy courses
- Educare & Child Care courses
- Event & Wedding Planning courses
- Tourism & Guest House courses
Short Courses At Skills Academy
- Accounting, Bookkeeping And Finance
- Beauty
- Computer Courses
- Educare And Childcare
- Forensics And Policing
- Human Resource Management
- Insurance Courses
- Interior Decorating and Design, and Digital Photography
- Management Courses
- Marketing
- Occupational Health and Safety
- Project Management
- Tourism
- Wedding And Events Planning
Short Courses At Ember Academy
- Beauty Therapist Programmes
- Child Daycare Programme
- Child Psychology Programme
- Crèche Management Programme
- Digital Photography Programme
- Event Management Programme
- Facial Skincare Programme
- Guest House Management Programme
- Human Resource Management Programme
- Make-up Application Programme
- Nail Care Programme
- Operational Health and Safety Programme
- Personal Assistant Programme
- Project Management Programme
- Receptionist Courses
- Supply Chain Management Programme
- Tourism Management Programme
- Tourism Marketing Programme
- Wedding Planner Programme
- Short Courses At Learning Group
- Beauty Therapy
- Creative Writing
- Digital Photography
- Interior Decorating and Design
- Wedding Planning
What Have We Learned?
Matric Rewrites only happen in May/June each year. This means you cannot rewrite in November. You cannot write the November exams if you failed the June exams. You can rewrite up to five years after your Matric final exams as long as you are still under the age of 21.
You cannot complete Matric in three months. It is free to register to rewrite your Matric, but it is not free to study for your Matric Rewrite. You can rewrite again if you fail your Matric Rewrite. There is no limit to the number of times you can rewrite Matric as long as you are still under the age of 21.
You can study for your Matric online at home, but you cannot write your exams online. You must write your exams in a government-designated venue. You cannot buy your Matric. There are many study opportunities still available even if you do not have your Matric.
Author: Chloe Bydawell
Editor: Razeen Dollie
Date: June 9, 2022
If I miss my rewrite exams, am I allowed to apply again?
You would be able to apply to write again, which would be in May 2023
I want to re write my matric
What can i do now because I didn’t write now in June can i write in November
can I rewrite again in November if I failed my may/June supplementary and I’m already 21 can I rewrite again this year for Nov?