Anticipation Builds for the 2025 Matric Results
Natalie Nyathi
As the 2025 matric results approach, excitement and nerves fill the air for over one million South African learners who recently completed their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube will announce the overall results today, in the evening.
This announcement will also highlight the top-performing students and provincial results. Starting from January 13, 2026, tomorrow, students will be able to access their individual results through various methods.
Learners can collect their results directly from their schools after 12:00 PM on the release day. Students can also log onto the Department of Basic Education’s website, where they’ll need to complete a two-step verification process using their 13-digit ID number and exam number. Several news websites, including News24, will publish the results, and students can also text their 13-digit ID number and exam number to 35658 to receive their results, although charges may apply.
Additionally, by dialing *120*35658#, students can follow instructions to access their results. Most major daily newspapers will publish the matric results as soon as they become available.
The overall pass rate for the 2025 matric class is expected to be around 87%, slightly lower than the previous year’s 87.3%, which was the highest ever recorded in South Africa. The Free State province is hoping to maintain its top position for the seventh consecutive year, while other provinces are eager to dethrone it.
However, this year’s exam cycle has not been without issues, as a cheating scandal has emerged involving about 40 students. An investigation found that some exam answers in English closely matched the marking guides, leading to suspensions of two officials from the Department of Basic Education. Consequently, the students involved in this scandal will have to wait longer to receive their results.
In anticipation of the upcoming results, Minister Gwarube shared a motivational message for the matric class of 2025. She said,
“To the matric class of 2025, as we anticipate the release of the 2025 matric examination results on Monday, I want to say to you congratulations for coming this far for your discipline, for your effort, for your resilience. You ought to be so proud of yourself, and I want to remind you that South Africa is proud of you.
For those who may not have achieved the results that they are hoping for, I want to remind you this is not the end of the road or the journey. You can try again, and there are multiple opportunities for you to do that.”
As the countdown to the results begins, students, families, and teachers are filled with hope and anticipation. The next few days will be crucial for many as they learn their fate and plan their future paths.
