What is the 42-point APS scale?
The 42-point Admission Point Score is the most common APS calculation used by South African universities. It is the sum of the levels (1 to 7) for your 6 best matric subjects, with Life Orientation excluded. Six subjects times the maximum level of 7 gives 42, hence the name.
It is the default at the universities most learners apply to: UJ, UP, UNISA, UL, DUT and TUT all use it directly. UKZN, NWU, WSU and UniZulu use a slight variation that adds an 8-point bonus for 90%+ subjects, capping their version at 48.
How the 42-point scale works step by step
- Take your matric percentage in each subject.
- Convert each percentage to a level using the NSC achievement scale: 80-100% = 7, 70-79% = 6, 60-69% = 5, 50-59% = 4, 40-49% = 3, 30-39% = 2, 0-29% = 1.
- Drop your Life Orientation level.
- Pick your 6 best remaining subjects.
- Add the levels together.
That number, between 0 and 42, is your APS at any university in this group.
Worked example
A learner with English 72%, Afrikaans 68%, Mathematics 65%, Physical Sciences 70%, Life Sciences 75%, Geography 80% and Life Orientation 85%.
- English 72% = level 6
- Afrikaans 68% = level 5
- Mathematics 65% = level 5
- Physical Sciences 70% = level 6
- Life Sciences 75% = level 6
- Geography 80% = level 7
- Life Orientation 85% = level 7 (excluded)
APS at UJ, UP, UNISA, UL, DUT or TUT = 6 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 35.
Which universities use the 42-point scale exactly
| University | Calculation |
|---|---|
| UJ | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
| UP | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
| UNISA | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
| UL | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
| DUT | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
| TUT | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. Max 42. |
Which universities extend it to 48
These universities use the same best-6, LO-excluded base but add an 8-point bonus for 90%+ subjects.
| University | Calculation |
|---|---|
| UKZN | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. 90%+ = 8 points. Max 48. |
| NWU | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. 90%+ = 8 points. Max 48. |
| WSU | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. 90%+ = 8 points. Max 48. |
| UniZulu | Best 6 levels, LO excluded. 90%+ = 8 points. Max 48. |
Which universities do NOT use the 42-point scale
A handful of universities deliberately do not use the standard scale, because they want either a finer grain (raw percentages) or to weight specific subjects.
- UCT uses the Faculty Points Score (FPS) out of 600. You add raw percentages of your 6 best subjects (LO and Life Sciences excluded). UCT then applies a Weighted Points Score (WPS), which adds a disadvantage uplift of up to 10% (or 20% for Health Sciences).
- Stellenbosch uses the TPT, an average percentage across your 6 best subjects (LO excluded). Result is roughly out of 100.
- Rhodes divides each subject percentage by 10 and sums. Result is roughly out of 60.
- Wits uses a custom 7-subject points table that goes up to 54. Maths and English at 90%+ score 10 each; LO has its own scale up to 4.
- UWC uses a 7-subject table where Maths and English at 90%+ can score up to 15. LO contributes up to 3.
- VUT uses the standard scale but caps non-Maths at 9 and excludes subjects below 30%.
- SPU uses a custom table where Maths and Home Language max at 10 and LO contributes up to 4.
- CPUT uses one of three formulas (depending on your subject combination), each dividing by 10.
- NMU uses the Applicant Score, which sums raw percentages out of 600 and adds a +7 bonus for Quintile 1-3 schools at 50%+ LO.
- SMU uses a 7-subject best total including LO, max 49.
- UniVen divides each subject percentage by 10.
- UFH divides each subject percentage by 10, but only counts subjects scoring 40%+.
- MUT uses the standard scale but only counts subjects at level 3+, with LO at 1 point if level 4+.
- CUT uses the standard scale but only counts subjects at level 2+, with LO at 1 point if level 4+.
- UFS uses the standard scale but only for subjects at 30%+, with a 1-point LO bonus at 60%+.
- UMP counts LO with reduced weight (rule depends on programme).
What different APS levels typically unlock on the 42-point scale
| APS | Typical pathway |
|---|---|
| 20-22 | Higher Certificate at most universities |
| 23-25 | Diploma at Universities of Technology |
| 26-29 | General BA, BCom, BEd Foundation Phase |
| 30-32 | Named BCom streams (Finance, Economics), BSc General, LLB at some universities |
| 33-35 | BEng, BCom Accounting, LLB at top universities, BSc competitive streams |
| 36-39 | BCom Chartered Accountancy, advanced BEng, BSc Actuarial Sciences |
| 40-42 | Medicine (MBChB at most universities), Actuarial Sciences at top universities |
These bands assume the standard 42-point scale. Universities that use a different system (UCT FPS, Stellenbosch TPT, Wits 54-point, etc.) have their own equivalent thresholds. The Courses by APS Score guide breaks down what each band typically unlocks.
What the 42-point scale will not tell you
Three caveats apply at every university, even when your APS clears the cut-off:
- Subject minimums still apply. A 35 APS is not enough for Engineering if your Maths is below 60%, or for Accounting Sciences if your English is below level 5.
- NBT and other selection. UCT, Stellenbosch, Wits Health Sciences and SMU require the National Benchmark Test on top of APS. Medicine, Social Work, Architecture and Fine Art also use interviews, portfolios or auditions.
- Programme cut-offs change by year. Cut-offs published in 2026 are the latest target, but they shift depending on applicant numbers and intake capacity.
Calculate your APS
NavyBlue's APS Calculator applies the correct rule for every university, including the 42-point scale and the 13 variants used by the rest. For per-university calculators, pick your university from the APS hub.