Number of Candidates That Rewrites Matric Rewrites in 2027 – A Detailed Guide

The exact number of candidates who will rewrite their Matric exams in 2027 is not something that can be predicted with certainty, as it depends on various factors, such as how many students initially fail or do not meet the required standards for passing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams in the current year (2024).

However, there are trends and available data that give us an idea of how many students typically rewrite their Matric exams in a given year:

Key Points to Consider:

1. Matric Pass Rates:
   • The Matric pass rate in South Africa tends to vary each year. In 2024, for example, the national pass rate was around 80%, which means that approximately 20% of students may not have passed and would be eligible for Matric rewrites.
   • Some students may have failed individual subjects and need to rewrite them, while others may have failed the entire exam and need to repeat it.
2. Matric Rewrite Statistics:
   • The Department of Basic Education (DBE) usually provides figures on the number of students who rewrite their Matric exams each year. In recent years, about 150,000 to 200,000 students have typically rewritten the Matric exams after failing to meet the pass requirements in their first attempt.
3. Factors Affecting the Number of Rewrites:
   • Subject Failures: Some students may only fail one or two subjects, meaning they will only need to rewrite those specific subjects rather than the entire exam.
   • NSC Rewrites for Full Failure: If a candidate does not pass the required number of subjects for the NSC, they will need to rewrite the full set of exams.
   • Alternative Pathways: Some students who fail may choose to pursue alternative educational pathways, such as enrolling in vocational courses, doing online learning, or pursuing other qualifications like National Certificate (Vocational) courses.
4. Matric Rewrite Opportunities:
   • Supplementary Exams: Students who fail Matric may have the opportunity to sit for supplementary exams. These are usually offered in February or March, providing a chance for students to improve their marks in specific subjects.
   • Full Rewrite in November: For those who don’t pass or perform poorly on the supplementary exams, a full Matric rewrite may be done in the following November exam session.

Example from Recent Years:

In 2024, about 10% – 15% of Matric candidates (from the total number of Matric exam candidates) usually take the rewrite exams or supplementary exams. For example, if about 900,000 students sat for their Matric exams in 2024, it’s likely that 90,000 to 135,000 students may need to rewrite some or all of their exams in 2027.

Where to Find Data for 2027?

1. Department of Basic Education (DBE): The DBE often releases detailed statistics after the Matric exams are marked and the results are published. They provide reports on the number of candidates who passed, the number who failed, and how many are eligible for rewriting exams.
2. Media Reports: Leading South African news outlets like News24, SABC, and EWN typically report on the final number of Matric rewrites shortly after the results are released.
3. Education Reports: Universities, educational bodies, and other research institutions may also publish reports detailing the numbers of students involved in Matric rewrites as part of their annual reviews.

While the exact number of candidates who will rewrite their Matric exams in 2027 won’t be available until after the 2024 results are released, trends suggest that a significant portion of students typically rewrite or take supplementary exams. It is expected that somewhere between 90,000 and 150,000 students may need to rewrite part or all of their Matric exams based on the national failure rates from previous years.

Once the 2024 results are out, we will have more concrete numbers for the rewrite candidates in 2027.

Let me know if you’d like help with finding specific statistics after the results are published!