National Senior Certificate requirements – University Of Cape Town
Introduction
This document provides essential information, for holders of a National Senior Certificate (NSC), pertaining to admission in . It must be read in conjunction with the Undergraduate Prospectus.
Minimum requirements for admission for holders of a National Senior Certificate
The minimum admission requirement for the Bachelors degree is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with an achievement rating of 4 ( Adequate Achievement, 50 – 59% )
or better in four subjects chosen from a designated list of subjects. These subjects are: Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Business Studies, Dramatic Arts, Economics, Engineering Graphics and Design, Geography, History, Consumer Studies, Information Technology, Languages (one language of learning and teaching at a higher education institution and two other recognized language subjects), Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mathe- matical Literacy, Music, Physical Sciences, Religion Studies,Visual Arts.
Calculation of the Admission Points Score (APS), Faculty Points Score (FPS) and Weighted Points Score (WPS) for applicants writing the National Senior Certificate (NSC)
For applicants writing the National Senior Certificate we use an Admission Points Score (APS), a Faculty Points Score (FPS), Medical Points Score (MPS) and a Weighted Points Score (WPS) to assess your performance at school. The 3 scores are described in detail below.
National Senior Certificate requirements – University Of Cape Town
Calculation of scores for the National Senior Certificate
The percentages achieved in National Senior Certificate examinations (preliminary and final examinations) will be allocated an admissions score equal to that percentage.
To calculate your APS, add the six best subject percentages, excluding Life Orientation and scores for “Advanced Programme” (AP) subjects, but including English and any other required subject(s) for the relevant programme. (In other words, for a programme where Mathematics and Physical Sciences are required, take the scores for English, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and the next best three subjects other than Life Orientation to compute your APS.) Results below 40% for any subject do not attract a score.
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To calculate your FPS, the APS will be |
Faculty of Health Sciences, the NBT score, |
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adjusted as described below. Three faculties |
as well as bonus points for a pass in a third |
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at UCT adjust the APS when calculating the |
official South African language, are added |
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FPS. For the rest (Commerce, Humanities |
to the FPS; for the MBChB programme, |
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and Law), the APS equals the FPS. |
further points will be added if you submit a |
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Personal Report. |
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In order to calculate the FPS for the Faculty |
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of Science, double the scores achieved for |
In order to calculate the WPS, adjust the |
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Mathematics and Physical Sciences (for |
FPS by the disadvantage factor applicable to |
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certain majors, Life Sciences or Information |
you. This is a percentage between 0% and |
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Technology will be doubled if you have not |
10%, except for applications for admission |
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taken Physical Sciences). In the Faculty of |
to the MBChB programme, where the range |
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Engineering & the Built Environment, and |
is between 0% and 20%. |
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the NBT score forms part of the FPS. In the |
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National Senior Certificate requirements – University Of Cape Town
Examples of points score calculations for NSC applicants
1. Faculties of Commerce, Humanities and Law
In these faculties the FPS is a score out of 600.The six best subjects, including compulsory subjects count.
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English Home Language |
75% |
= |
75 pts |
|
|
isiXhosa First Additional Language |
70% |
= |
70 pts |
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Mathematics |
84% |
= |
84 pts |
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Life Sciences |
86% |
= |
86 pts |
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Geography |
79% |
= |
79 pts |
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Accounting |
69% |
= |
69 pts |
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Life Orientation |
80% |
= |
0 pts |
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Total |
= |
463/600 |
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Use the disadvantage factor to derive the weighted score. |
FPS |
= |
463 |
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Disadvantage factor |
= |
10% |
(46) |
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WPS |
= |
509 |
(463+46) |
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2. Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
The EBE FPS is a score out of 100, with the NSC and NBT results making equal contributions. To calculate the EBE FPS score, first calculate the APS and divide the result by 12. Second, add the percentages obtained for the three NBTs and divide the result by 6. Add the two results together.
EBE FPS = (APS / 12) + (NBT total / 6)
Where:
APS = sum of the percentages obtained for the six qualifying subjects (600 maximum) NBT total = sum of the percentages obtained for the three NBT (300 maximum)
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English Home Language |
75% |
= |
75 pts |
|
isiXhosa First Additional Language |
70% |
= |
70 pts |
|
Mathematics |
84% |
= |
84 pts |
|
Physical Sciences |
86% |
= |
86 pts |
|
Geography |
79% |
= |
79 pts |
|
Accounting |
69% |
= |
69 pts |
|
Life Orientation |
80% |
= |
0 pts |
|
APS = |
Total |
= |
463/600 |
|
NBT Scores of: |
Al: |
55% |
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QL: |
60% |
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MAT: |
50% |
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Therefore, NSC score is 38.6 (463/12 = 38.6), NBT score is 27.5 (165/6), and |
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FPS |
= |
66.1 |
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Use the disadvantage factor to derive the weighted score. |
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Disadvantage factor |
= |
6% (4.0) |
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WPS |
= |
70.1 (66.1+4.0) |
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National Senior Certificate requirements – University Of Cape Town
3. Faculty of Health Sciences
3.1 MBChB applications only:
The MBChB is scored out of 1000 – this is called the Medical Points Score (MPS). It includes the FPS (900) and the Personal Report (100).
|
English Home Language |
75% |
= |
75 pts |
|
|
isiXhosa First Additional Language |
70% |
= |
70 pts |
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Mathematics |
84% |
= |
84 pts |
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Life Sciences |
86% |
= |
86 pts |
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Physical Sciences |
79% |
= |
79 pts |
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Accounting |
69% |
= |
69 pts |
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Life Orientation |
80% |
= |
0 pts |
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APS = Total |
= |
463/600 |
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NBT Scores of: |
AL: |
55% |
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QL: |
60% |
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Make a total 165/300, added to 463 |
MAT: |
50% |
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FPS |
= |
628 |
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The score for the Personal Report is 65 / 100, added to the FPS |
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Total MPS |
= |
693 |
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Use the disadvantage factor to derive the weighted score. |
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Disadvantage factor |
= |
20% (138) |
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WPS |
= |
831 (693+138) |
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3.2 Health and Rehabilitation Sciences applications only: the qualifications are scored using a FPS out of 900.
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English Home Language |
75% |
= |
75 pts |
|
isiXhosa First Additional Language |
70% |
= |
70 pts |
|
Mathematics |
84% |
= |
84 pts |
|
Life Sciences |
86% |
= |
86 pts |
|
Physical Sciences |
79% |
= |
79 pts |
|
Accounting |
69% |
= |
69 pts |
|
Life Orientation |
80% |
= |
0 pts |
|
APS = Total |
= |
463 |
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NBT Scores of: |
AL: |
55% |
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|
QL: |
60% |
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MAT: |
50% |
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Make a total 165/300, added to 463 |
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FPS |
= |
628 |
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Use the disadvantage factor to derive the weighted score. |
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Disadvantage factor |
= |
20% |
(135.6) |
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WPS |
= |
764 |
(628+135.6) |
An additional 10 points are added if you have passed a third official South African language at Home or First Additional Language level.
4. Faculty of Science
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The FPS is a score out of 800. |
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English Home Language |
75% |
= |
75 pts |
|
isiXhosa First Additional Language |
70% |
= |
70 pts |
|
Mathematics |
84% |
= |
84 pts |
|
Physical Sciences |
86% |
= |
86 pts |
|
Geography |
79% |
= |
79 pts |
|
Accounting |
69% |
= |
69 pts |
|
Life Orientation |
80% |
= |
0 pts |
|
APS |
= |
463 |
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Scores for Mathematics and Physical Sciences are doubled*; therefore, 170 |
(84+86) is added to the APS: |
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FPS |
= |
633 |
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Use the disadvantage factor to derive the weighted score. |
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Disadvantage factor |
= |
0% |
(0) |
|
WPS |
= |
633 |
(633+0) |
*For certain majors, the scores for subjects other than Physical Sciences may be doubled. Please consult the Undergraduate Prospectus.
National Benchmark Tests (NBTs)
All first-time entering undergraduate applicants normally resident in South Africa are required to write the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) prior to admission. All Health Sciences applicants must write NBTs, wherever they reside. Applicants are required to meet the costs of writing the NBTs.
There are two NBTs:
The Academic and Quantitative Literacy test (AQL) consists of two components, namely, academic literacy and quantitative literacy. An applicant will be awarded separate scores for each component, even though they are written as one test. Applicants to all faculties write the AQL. Applicants who wish to enter a programme with mathematics-based coursework are required to write the Mathematics Test.
Note: You must
•register for the NBTs before you apply online (or before you submit a paper application form);
•include your NBT registration number in your application;
•have written the NBTs by 11 October 2015.
For further information about the NBTs, dates and venues, please visit www.nbt.uct.ac.za or tel: 021 650-3523.