South Africa’s matric results show distinct trends in performance across various subjects, including Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Business Studies, Economics, English First Additional Language, Geography, History, Life Sciences, Mathematical Literacy, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.
Here's how provinces performed in each subject based on 2023 matric results:
Accounting Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the most candidates writing Accounting, with 28,413 learners, achieving a pass rate of 75.7%, slightly below the national average of 76.8%.
- The Free State topped performance with an 81.5% pass rate for Accounting.
- Northern Cape recorded the lowest Accounting pass rate at 72.2%, reflecting challenges in this subject.
Accounting (Grade 12) continues to be a moderately challenging subject. With a national pass rate of 76.8%, it demonstrates that while many learners succeed, the technical and analytical aspects of the subject remain a barrier for some. The Free State excelled with an 81.5% pass rate, while the Northern Cape struggled at 72.2%.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Check: Matric Results 2026 Release Dates
Agricultural Sciences Grade 12 Pass Rate
- Limpopo had the most learners writing Agricultural Sciences, with 31,608 candidates, and achieved a pass rate of 80.8%.
- KwaZulu-Natal stood out in Agricultural Sciences, achieving the highest pass rate of 86.5% among 23,585 learners.
- Northern Cape struggled in Agricultural Sciences, with only 63.4% of learners passing.
Agricultural Sciences (Grade 12) is a relatively accessible subject, achieving a national pass rate of 80.5%. Practical relevance in rural areas contributes to stronger performances, such as KwaZulu-Natal's impressive 86.5% pass rate. However, disparities like Northern Cape's 63.4% highlight unequal resources.
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Easy
Business Studies Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal led with 60,334 learners writing Business Studies and achieved an impressive pass rate of 84.6%.
- The Free State outperformed all provinces with an 88.2% pass rate in Business Studies.
- Northern Cape faced difficulties, with only 69.0% of learners passing Business Studies.
Business Studies (Grade 12) proved to be one of the more manageable subjects, with a national pass rate of 81.8%. High performance in provinces like the Free State (88.2%) and KwaZulu-Natal (84.6%) indicates that learners generally grasp the content well.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Economics Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of candidates writing Economics, with 31,046 learners, achieving a pass rate of 77.4%.
- The Free State performed well in Economics, with 75.9% of learners passing.
- Northern Cape had the lowest pass rate in Economics, at 59.2%.
Economics (Grade 12) remains a challenging subject, with a national pass rate of 74.5%. The subject’s theoretical and analytical nature poses difficulties for many learners, especially in underperforming provinces like the Northern Cape (59.2%).
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Difficult
English First Additional Language Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal led in English First Additional Language, with 135,629 candidates, achieving an outstanding pass rate of 99.4%.
- The Free State recorded the best performance with a 99.9% pass rate in English First Additional Language among 30,291 learners.
- Northern Cape also performed well, with a 99.7% pass rate in English First Additional Language.
English First Additional Language (Grade 12) is the best-performing subject, with a national pass rate of 99.6%. All provinces scored above 99%, making it the least challenging subject for Grade 12 learners.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Geography Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the most learners writing Geography, with 80,165 candidates, achieving a pass rate of 88.1%, slightly above the national average of 86.2%.
- The Free State excelled in Geography, with an impressive 93.1% pass rate, the highest nationally.
- Mpumalanga lagged behind, with 79.4% of learners passing Geography.
Geography (Grade 12) is a relatively strong subject for most provinces, with a national pass rate of 86.2%. Provinces like the Free State excelled at 93.1%, while Mpumalanga fell slightly behind with 79.4%.
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Easy
History Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of candidates for History, with 54,651 learners, achieving an excellent pass rate of 95.1%.
- Northern Cape performed well in History, with an 86.8% pass rate.
- The national average for History was 87.7%, with most provinces performing well in this subject.
History (Grade 12) was a high-performing subject, with a national pass rate of 87.7%. Provinces such as KwaZulu-Natal shone with a 95.1% pass rate, demonstrating strong teaching in this subject.
Difficulty Level: Easy
Life Sciences Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the largest group of learners writing Life Sciences, with 86,657 candidates, achieving a pass rate of 78.3%, slightly above the national average of 75.6%.
- The Free State excelled with an 85.4% pass rate in Life Sciences.
- Northern Cape struggled in Life Sciences, with only 62.0% of learners passing.
Life Sciences (Grade 12) had mixed results, with a national pass rate of 75.6%. While provinces like the Free State achieved a strong 85.4%, others, such as the Northern Cape, struggled at 62.0%.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Mathematical Literacy Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal led with 96,924 candidates writing Mathematical Literacy, achieving a pass rate of 80.2%, close to the national average of 82.3%.
- The Free State outshone other provinces with an 89.7% pass rate in Mathematical Literacy.
- Mpumalanga recorded the lowest pass rate for Mathematical Literacy, at 78.0%.
Mathematical Literacy (Grade 12) performed well, with a national pass rate of 82.3%. The Free State led with 89.7%, while Mpumalanga trailed at 78.0%, but overall, the subject remains accessible for most learners.
Difficulty Level: Moderate to Easy
Mathematics Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the most candidates writing Mathematics, with 61,162 learners, achieving a pass rate of 64.2%, slightly above the national average of 63.5%.
- The Free State performed best in Mathematics, with a 69.9% pass rate.
- Mpumalanga faced challenges in Mathematics, achieving only 58.0%.
Mathematics (Grade 12) continues to be one of the more difficult subjects, with a national pass rate of 63.5%. The Free State achieved the highest pass rate (69.9%), while Mpumalanga struggled at 58.0%.
Difficulty Level: Difficult
Physical Sciences Grade 12 Pass Rate
- KwaZulu-Natal had the largest group of learners writing Physical Sciences, with 47,231 candidates, achieving a pass rate of 77.8%, close to the national average of 76.2%.
- Gauteng showed strong results in Physical Sciences, with 77.9% of learners passing.
- Northern Cape had the lowest pass rate for Physical Sciences, at 67.2%.
Physical Sciences (Grade 12) had a national pass rate of 76.2%, reflecting a moderate level of difficulty. KwaZulu-Natal led participation with 47,231 learners, achieving a 77.8% pass rate, while the Northern Cape recorded the lowest at 67.2%.
Difficulty Level: Moderate
Key Takeaways
The Free State consistently ranked as the top-performing province in subjects like Accounting, Business Studies, Geography, Mathematical Literacy, and Mathematics, highlighting its strong academic programmes. KwaZulu-Natal led in participation across nearly all subjects and maintained competitive pass rates. However, Northern Cape and Mpumalanga showed consistent challenges, particularly in Economics, Accounting, and Physical Sciences, indicating areas for targeted intervention.