Question 1

What is APS?

Accepted Answer

APS stands for Admission Point Score. It is the points total most South African universities use to decide whether you meet the minimum requirement for a programme. A higher APS means you qualify for more competitive courses.

Question 2

How is APS calculated?

Accepted Answer

Your APS is the sum of your best six NSC subjects, scored by percentage band: 80%+ earns 7 points, 70% earns 6, 60% earns 5, 50% earns 4, 40% earns 3, and 30% earns 2. This calculator adds the points for you as you enter each mark.

Question 3

Does Life Orientation count?

Accepted Answer

No. Life Orientation is excluded from the standard APS calculation, so it is not one of your best six counted subjects. This calculator automatically leaves it out of your score.

Question 4

What APS do I need for a degree?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the programme and institution, but a bachelor degree pass and an APS of roughly 30 or more is a common minimum, with competitive degrees needing much higher. Each programme page shows the specific APS or requirements, so check the exact course you want.

Question 5

Do all universities use APS?

Accepted Answer

Most do, but not all. A few universities, such as UCT, use their own scoring method instead of the standard APS. AskSmarty flags those institutions and matches you against their own requirements where they differ.

Question 6

Are my marks stored anywhere?

Accepted Answer

No. Your marks stay on your own device in your browser and are never sent to a server or stored by us. You can clear them at any time by removing the subjects or clearing your browser data.