
Subject Selection
Which Subjects do I Choose?
To help facilitate this extremely important process, choose one of the links that best suits your requirements.
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I have completed grades 7 or 8 and wish to start my secondary (high) school education.
I have completed grades 8 or 9, and wish to progress to grade 10 or 11.
I have completed grade 11 and wish to complete my matric. ( AS-Levels)
I am 23 years or older and need a matric to obtain a Higher Education diploma or degree.
Foundation / Checkpoint grades 8 or 9
Our Foundation course is designed to give students a firm grounding in the concepts of the Cambridge syllabus and ensure a smooth transition into grade 10.
The foundation level is designed for students who have either completed grade 7 or 8 and can be taken over 1 or 2 years.
Foundation Subject Choices
We require a total of 7 subjects to be completed. Although not compulsory, checkpoint exams for English, Maths and Co-Ordinated Science may be written with Cambridge. Other subject exams are written internally by the academy.Your Subjects are:
Group I:
English 1st LanguageGroup II:
Afrikaans 2nd LanguageGroup III:
Co-ordinated Science - (includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics)Mathematics
Group IV
GeographyHistory
Group V
Computer Studies
Grades 10 or 11
International General Certificate of Secondary Education is the equivalent of grades 10 and 11. In order to enrol for this course, students must have completed either Cambridge Checkpoint (also known as Foundation) or Grade 9.
In order to choose the right subjects you have to ask yourself what type of degree you wish to study at University. From this, one works backwards to determine which AS-Level subjects you require and therefore which subjects you must choose.
Basic subject choices, even with exemption, do not guarantee entrance into university. Students and parents, should contact the university faculty to establish their subject requirements to gain entry. For additional advice and guidance regarding subject choices and future career plans, please feel free to contact us directly.
Subject Choices
The following guidelines are important and should be fully understood to avoid any confusion going forward.
A minimum of five subjects are required, but it is recommended that 6-8 are taken because...
One subject (not including English) must receive a pass symbol of C or higher (for South African matric exemption this subject must be a 2nd language) and the remaining four subjects must receive a pass symbol of D or higher.
One never knows which subjects a student will excel at and taking a few extra, will provide a psychological buffer should they ever find themselves in a difficult position, they can then focus on the subjects they can comfortably pass, after all only the top 5 subject symbols are chosen.
Your choices are
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Subject 1. English (Compulsory)
Subject 2. Second language (Compulsory) -Choose from Group II
Subject 3. One subject from Group III (Compulsory)
Subject 4. Choose from Group III or IV or V
Subject 5. Choose from Group III or IV or V
Subject 6. You can choose from any grouping.
Subject 7. You can choose from any grouping.
Subject 8. You can choose from any grouping.
Subject 9. You can choose from any grouping.
Group I:
English First LanguageGroup II:
Afrikaans Second LanguageFrench Second Language
Group III:
Co-ordinated Science*Mathematics (Highly recommended subject choice)
Group IV
EconomicsGeography
Group V *
AccountingBusiness Studies
Computer Studies
*Co-ordinated science includes Biology, Chemistry and Physics, this subject must be taken by students planning to take Biology, Chemistry or Physics at AS- Level.
** For group V subjects to be taken at AS-Level, mathematics must be passed with a grade C or higher.
I have completed my grade 11 and need my matric to study at University
AS Level subject choices.
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The AS level is the equivalent of a grade 12, senior certificate. In order to enrol for AS Level, students must have completed the equivalent of a grade 11. The AS level course consists of English First Language (this is compulsory) and any three other subjects, of which at least one must be from group III. Students who have not passed grade 11 Afrikaans with a grade of C or higher, will be required to re-take this subject.
Subjects chosen from Group-V can only be made if Maths at grade 11 was passed with a grade C or higher, alternatively you must complete AS-Level maths for Group V to be recognized.
In order to achieve the equivalent of a matric exemption or school leaving certificate, you will be required to pass all subjects with a grade D or higher.Your choices are
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Subject 1. English (Compulsory)
- View the HESA Conditions and requirements to gain exemption
for entry to South African public universities.
Go to page 21 (Section 14) and/or - View the Cambridge Conditions and requirements to gain exemption for entry to South African public universities.
Subject 2. Second language (Compulsory) - Choose from Group II
Subject 3. One subject from Group III (Compulsory)
Subject 4. Choose from Group III or IV or V
Subject 5. Choose from Group III or IV or V
Subject 6. You can choose from any grouping.
Group I:
English First LanguageGroup II:
Afrikaans Second LanguageFrench Second Language
Group III:
ChemistryPhysics
Biology
Mathematics
Group IV
EconomicsGeography
Group V
AccountingBusiness Studies
Computer Studies
Mature Age Exemption Matric Certificate
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Students who wish to further their studies for employment, promotion or job opportunity purposes, whether it be a diploma or degree will require a National Senior Certificate, with exemption.
Before you decide on your Cambridge subject choices it is imperative that you contact the tertiary faculty where you will be studying your diploma/degree, to determine the subjects and grades they require for the particular diploma/degree you wish to study.
Each institution and faculty have differing requirements, but as a general rule you will require the following:
Be 23 years of age or older
You are competant in English
You are able to study and write exams in English
Pass three grade 11 subjects with a grade C or higher
Pass two AS-Level subjects with a grade E or higher
Pass at least one language subject
Pass at least three subjects in one session.
Your subject choices are
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English First Language
Afrikaans Second language
French Second language
Co-ordinated Science *
Biology (AS-Level only)
Chemistry (AS-Level only)
Physics (AS-Level only)
Mathematics
Economics
Geography
Accounting
Business Studies
Computer Studies
* A combination of Chemistry, Biology and Physics.