The standard NSC conversion table
Every South African university starts with the same conversion. Your matric subject percentage maps to a level from 1 to 7:
| Percentage | Level / Points | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 80-100% | 7 | Outstanding achievement |
| 70-79% | 6 | Meritorious achievement |
| 60-69% | 5 | Substantial achievement |
| 50-59% | 4 | Adequate achievement |
| 40-49% | 3 | Moderate achievement |
| 30-39% | 2 | Elementary achievement |
| 0-29% | 1 | Not achieved |
This is the National Senior Certificate (NSC) achievement scale published by the Department of Basic Education. Most universities use these levels as the starting point for APS, although a handful work directly with raw percentages instead.
How the table is used
For the standard best-6 APS (max 42), you take the level for each of your 6 main subjects (Life Orientation usually excluded), and add them up. A learner with English 72%, Afrikaans 68%, Mathematics 65%, Physical Sciences 70%, Life Sciences 75% and Geography 80% gets 6 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 6 + 7 = 35 APS.
Where the table is bent: 90%+ rewarded
Some universities push the table further at the top end. UKZN, NWU, WSU and UniZulu count a subject in which you scored 90% or higher as 8 points instead of 7. UMP, MUT and UniVen apply similar 8-point distinctions. The maximum APS rises from 42 to 48 or 49 in those systems.
Where the table is bent: Maths and English worth more
Wits and UWC give Maths and English their own ceiling.
- Wits. Maths and English at 90%+ score 10 points each. History, Geography and other subjects at 90%+ score 8. Life Orientation is on its own capped scale (max 4, only counts if you scored 60%+).
- UWC. 90%+ in Maths or English can score up to 15 points. Other subjects max out at 8. LO contributes up to 3 points.
- VUT. Maths at 90%+ = 10 points; other subjects max 9. Subjects below 30% do not count.
- SPU. Maths and Home Language score up to 10 points each, other subjects up to 8. LO 60%=1, 70%=2, capped at 4.
Where the table is replaced: raw percentages
Three universities skip the level conversion entirely.
- UCT. Sum your raw percentages across your 6 best subjects (LO and Life Sciences excluded). This is the FPS, out of 600. A separate disadvantage uplift produces the WPS used for ranking.
- Stellenbosch. Sum your 6 best raw percentages, divide by 6. The result is your TPT (Total Percentage Total), which is essentially an average out of 100.
- Rhodes. Each subject percentage is divided by 10 (so 75% becomes 7.5), and your 6 best are added.
Where the table is replaced: percentage divided by 10
UniVen and UFH use a per-subject percentage ÷ 10 calculation.
- UniVen. Every subject percentage divided by 10. So 70% is worth 7 points, 85% is worth 8.5.
- UFH. Same calculation, but only subjects in which you scored 40% or higher are counted.
CPUT and the formula switcher
CPUT picks one of three formulas based on your subject combination.
- Maths + Accounting: (2×Maths + 2×Accounting + English + 3 best others) ÷ 10.
- Maths + Physical Sciences: (2×Maths + 2×Physics + English + 1 best other) ÷ 10.
- Otherwise: (English + your 5 next best subjects) ÷ 10.
Life Orientation never counts at CPUT.
NMU's quintile bonus
NMU sums raw percentages across your 6 best subjects (max 600 AS). If your school is in Quintile 1, 2 or 3 and your Life Orientation is 50% or higher, NMU adds a flat +7 to your Applicant Score. Quintile 4 and 5 schools get the AS without the bonus.
Cutoff-based universities
MUT, CUT and UFS ignore subjects below a minimum threshold:
- MUT. Only subjects at level 3 or higher (40%+) count. 90%+ scores 8. LO included only if level 4+.
- CUT. Only subjects at level 2 or higher (30%+) count. LO contributes 1 point if level 4+.
- UFS. Standard levels for subjects scoring 30%+. LO contributes a bonus 1 point if you scored 60%+.
What the conversion table cannot tell you
Three things still gate admission even when your APS clears the line:
- Subject minimums. A degree may need Maths at level 5 (60%+), Physical Sciences at level 4 (50%+), English at level 4 or 5. The level table tells you whether you cleared each individual gate, not just whether your total is above the cut-off.
- NBT. UCT, Stellenbosch and Wits Health Sciences require the National Benchmark Test alongside APS. Some Engineering and Health Sciences faculties at other universities use it too.
- Bonus tracks and selection processes. Medicine, Architecture, Social Work, Drama and Fine Art usually involve interviews, portfolios or auditions on top of APS.
Use the calculator
NavyBlue's APS Calculator applies the right conversion automatically for every university, including the bonus tracks and cutoffs above.