Candidates who wrote the Independent Examination Board (IEB) national senior certificate exams in 2023 achieved an overall pass rate of 98.46%, a slight improvement on the previous year’s pass rate of 98.42%.
The IEB is an independent body that offers exams for IEB-registered schools, in line with the curriculum standards set by the department of basic education. In 2023 15,180 candidates wrote the IEB exams, up from 13,525 candidates the year before, it said in a statement. More than half (135) of the 248 schools registered with the IEB in 2023 were in Gauteng.
Unlike the 2023 matric exams, which were marred by cheating, printing errors and clumsy translations, the IEB said its 2023 exams were free of any irregularities that might have undermined their credibility. The IEB monitored all of its 275 exam venues with real time electronic monitoring systems and physically inspected 114 exam centres, it said.
Among the candidates who wrote the IEB exams in October and November 88.59% achieved the marks required for entry into degree study, compared with 89.2% the year before. A total of 8.3% qualified for entry to diploma study, compared with 7.52% in 2022, and 1.57% achieved entry for study at the higher certificate level, a figure unchanged on the previous year, said the IEB.
Learners who wrote IEB exams in 2023 had successfully managed the challenges thrown up by the coronavirus pandemic, including the disruption to learning and teaching, said IEB CEO Confidence Dikgole.
She drew attention to the mental health of learners, saying they were under tremendous pressure to achieve top marks.
“Mental wellbeing is directly linked to the stress society is placing on our young people to perform, to get top results and secure spots at top tertiary institutions. The competition is huge. This is a global issue, not unique to the South African context,” she said.
“We need learners to know that the world does not end after matric. On the contrary, it is only the start of myriad doors and opportunities. There are many educational routes — not all of them necessarily need to lead to a university degree — that releases their talents and ... enthusiasm,” she said.
The IEB provided accommodations and adapted papers for 10.42% of candidates for the 2023 examinations.
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