Your Admission Point Score (APS) is one of the most important numbers when applying to South African universities. It translates your matric percentages into a single score that institutions use to decide whether you qualify for a course.
What is APS?
APS stands for Admission Point Score. It is calculated by converting each of your final NSC subject marks into a point value from 1 to 7, then adding the points for your best six subjects (excluding Life Orientation).
The APS Scale
| Mark Range | APS Points |
|---|---|
| 90–100% | 7 |
| 80–89% | 6 |
| 70–79% | 5 |
| 60–69% | 4 |
| 50–59% | 3 |
| 40–49% | 2 |
| 30–39% | 1 |
| 0–29% | 0 |
Step-by-Step Calculation
- List your final NSC subjects and percentages.
- Remove Life Orientation.
- Convert each remaining subject to APS points using the table above.
- Pick the six highest point values.
- Add them together. The maximum is 42.
What APS Do You Need?
- 36–42: Excellent — top universities such as UCT, Wits and Stellenbosch.
- 30–35: Good — most traditional universities.
- 24–29: Average — universities of technology and some universities.
- 15–23: TVET colleges and diploma programs.
Use our free APS Calculator to get your score instantly.