What is a good APS score in South Africa?
A good APS depends on the university, because they do not score out of the same total. Twelve universities score out of 42, Wits out of 54, Rhodes out of 60, Stellenbosch out of 100, and UCT and NMU out of 600. An APS of 30 is a solid score out of 42 and almost nothing out of 600.
As a rough guide at a university scoring out of 42: below 20 points to a higher certificate or a TVET route, the low to mid 20s opens diplomas, around 30 is the usual level for a general degree, and the high 30s and up is what competitive programmes like medicine and engineering ask for. Always check the programme, not just the university.
The same marks give you different APS scores
This is the part most guides leave out. Universities count different numbers of subjects, treat Life Orientation differently, and score out of different totals. Your seven subjects can produce several different APS scores depending on who is doing the counting.
| Scored out of | Universities |
|---|---|
| 42 | CPUT, CUT, DUT, NWU, TUT, UJ, UL, UNISA, UP, UniZulu, VUT, WSU |
| 43 | UFS |
| 45 | Fort Hare, SPU, UMP |
| 48 | MUT, UKZN |
| 49 | SMU, UWC, Univen |
| 54 | Wits |
| 60 | Rhodes |
| 100 | Stellenbosch |
| 600 | NMU, UCT |
Life Orientation is the other reason two universities disagree about your score. See how each university treats Life Orientation, or calculate your APS at all 26 at once.
Where most students actually land
Advice pages talk about aiming for 30 without saying how common that is. These are real scores from students using this calculator, so you can see where a number sits rather than guessing.
How an APS of 26 compares
of students scored lower than 26
is the middle score, so 26 sits exactly at it
programmes the typical student with APS 26 qualified for
Based on 9 917 students who used the NavyBlue APS calculator between June 2026 to July 2026, including 699 with an APS of exactly 26. Marks are entered by students and are not verified. This shows how you compare to other people using this calculator, not to all South African matrics: students who look up an APS calculator are more likely to be unsure whether they qualify.
Questions students ask about APS scores
Related
Work out your own score
Calculate your APS, then see what it qualifies you for.
How to calculate your APS score | Step by step guide for SA universities
Step by step guide to calculating your APS for any of the 26 South African public universities. Worked examples, the conversion table, and per-university quirks all in one place.
Read guideAPS GuideThe APS conversion table | NSC levels for all SA universities
The standard APS conversion table (80-100% = 7 down to 0-29% = 1) plus how the 42 point scale is bent or replaced at each of the 26 South African universities.
Read guideAPS GuideThe 42 point APS scale explained | Universities, formula and what it unlocks
What the 42 point APS scale is, which South African universities use it (UJ, UP, UNISA, UL, DUT, TUT and 4 more with bonus tracks), and the typical course brackets it unlocks for 2026 admissions.
Read guide