Updated March 2026 | Based on official Department of Basic Education announcements
The 2025 National Senior Certificate results — known to millions of South Africans simply as the matric results — were released to learners on 13 January 2026, following the national announcement by Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube on 12 January. Whether you are checking for the first time, helping a child navigate the process, or looking for what to do next, this guide covers every official method: online portals, SMS, USSD, the MatricsMate app, school collection, and newspapers — plus exactly what your results mean and your options if things did not go to plan.
The 2025 National Senior Certificate examinations concluded on 27 November 2025. Results were officially approved by Umalusi — the quality assurance body — before being released to candidates. According to the Department of Basic Education, some results may not appear online due to technical reasons; in those cases, learners are directed to collect their Statement of Results from the school or exam centre where they wrote. Part-time NSC candidates can only access their results from their writing centre, not from the national DBE website.
How to Check Your Matric Results Online
The Department of Basic Education urges all learners to use official online platforms for faster, more private, and POPIA-compliant access to results. The national DBE portal went live at 6:00 AM on 13 January 2026. Some provincial portals opened slightly later — the Western Cape portal, for example, opened at 10:00 AM. Expect heavy traffic on release morning; if the page times out, wait a few minutes and refresh.
Open a web browser and navigate to education.gov.za/MatricResults/ExamResults.aspx. The link only becomes active once results are officially released. This is the primary national platform and works on mobile, tablet, and desktop. Do not use screenshots or unofficial websites — results published on non-DBE platforms may be inaccurate or used for phishing.
You will need your examination number (found on your exam admission letter or timetable), your 13-digit ID number, and your home language. Enter these carefully — an incorrect exam number will return no results. If you have lost your exam number, contact your school or exam centre before trying to access the portal.
Click the Search button to retrieve your subject marks, percentage per subject, and overall pass status. You will see whether you have achieved a Bachelor Pass, Diploma Pass, Higher Certificate Pass, or did not meet the minimum requirements. Take a screenshot or photograph your screen for your records — this is not your official Statement of Results, which must be collected at school.
Provincial Online Portals
Most provinces direct learners to the national DBE platform, but some operate their own dedicated portals which can be faster during peak traffic. Gauteng, in particular, operates a fully independent results system.
| Province | Official Portal | Access Time (2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gauteng | results.gauteng.gov.za | From 13 Jan 2026 | Own system; search by exam number only |
| Western Cape | westerncape.gov.za/education | From 10:00 AM, 13 Jan 2026 | Also includes remark and recheck info |
| Eastern Cape | Redirects to DBE national portal | From 6:00 AM, 13 Jan 2026 | Use education.gov.za |
| KwaZulu-Natal | Redirects to DBE national portal | From 6:00 AM, 13 Jan 2026 | Use education.gov.za |
| Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Free State, North West | Redirects to DBE national portal | From 6:00 AM, 13 Jan 2026 | Use education.gov.za |
| Northern Cape | No dedicated provincial portal | From 6:00 AM, 13 Jan 2026 | Must use national DBE platform or SMS |
How to Check Matric Results via SMS and USSD
For learners without a reliable internet connection, the SMS and USSD services remain an essential official channel. Both options work on basic mobile phones — no smartphone required. Costs apply on all networks.
Your 13-digit ID number followed by your 13-digit exam number
Your exam number only. You will receive a confirmation, then your results once available.
SMS and USSD numbers can change from year to year and sometimes differ by province or network provider. The numbers listed above were widely confirmed for the 2026 (Class of 2025) results cycle. For the 2027 results cycle (Class of 2026, releasing in January 2027), always verify the correct numbers from the official DBE website or your provincial education department before sending any SMS. Sending to an incorrect number will still cost you money.
How to Check Results on the MatricsMate App
MatricsMate is a free, DBE-endorsed application available for Android (Google Play Store) and iOS (Apple App Store). It is designed to handle the high volume of simultaneous requests on results day better than standard web browsers, making it one of the fastest and most reliable options for smartphone users. Results were available on the app from 13 January 2026.
Collecting Your Statement of Results at School
Collecting your physical Statement of Results from your school or exam centre is the most reliable option — particularly for learners whose results do not appear online due to technical exclusions. It is also the document you will need to present to universities, TVET colleges, and bursary providers. Seeing results on a website or app screen is not sufficient for official purposes.
The moment you receive your Statement of Results, verify that your full name, surname, and identity number are printed correctly. Errors are more common than most learners expect. The DBE requires that all corrections be reported before 20 February 2026. After that date, corrections become more complex, costly, and time-consuming — and any error will also carry through to your final Umalusi certificate.
Results in Newspapers
Following a December 2025 High Court ruling, accredited newspapers were permitted to publish the 2025 NSC results — but using examination numbers only, not learner names, in compliance with POPIA (the Protection of Personal Information Act). Platforms such as News24 and IOL published results under this arrangement. The DBE urged learners to prioritise official portals, noting that newspaper publication is secondary and may not include every candidate.
Results are listed by examination number — not by name. Look for your province’s section, then scan for your exam number. National newspapers such as City Press and the Sunday Times, as well as regional papers, published results in their January 2026 editions. Online news portals that are DBE-accredited also hosted searchable databases by exam number on their websites on results day.
Understanding Your Matric Results: Pass Levels Explained
Your Statement of Results shows a mark for each subject and an overall pass level. There are three levels of passing matric — and one outcome if minimum requirements are not met. All four NSC pass levels (including Higher Certificate) are classified as NQF Level 4, but they lead to very different study and career pathways.
| Pass Level | Subject Requirements | What It Qualifies You For |
|---|---|---|
|
Bachelor Pass (B)
Highest level
|
40%+ in Home Language; 50%+ in 4 subjects; 30%+ in 2 other subjects; pass 6 of 7 subjects | Apply to university for a bachelor’s degree. Still need a sufficient APS score for your chosen programme. |
|
Diploma Pass (D)
Second level
|
40%+ in Home Language; 40%+ in 4 subjects; 30%+ in 2 subjects; pass 6 of 7 subjects | Study for a diploma at a university, university of technology, or TVET college. Can upgrade to Bachelor Pass by rewriting. |
|
Higher Certificate Pass (H)
Entry level
|
30%+ in Home Language; 40%+ in 2 subjects; 30%+ in 4 other subjects; pass any 4 of 7 subjects | Enrol in Higher Certificate programmes at TVET colleges and some private institutions. Can be used as a pathway into a Diploma. |
|
Did Not Meet Requirements
Not a final outcome
|
Did not meet the minimum subject and mark thresholds for any pass level | Eligible for Second Chance Programme (free), May/June supplementary exams, or matric upgrade. Multiple pathways remain open. |
Remark, Recheck, and Script Viewing
If you believe your marks do not reflect your actual performance, you may apply for a remark or recheck within the official window. There is a meaningful difference between the two processes — and a third option to view your script if you remain dissatisfied after a remark.
| Option | What It Involves | Cost (2026) | Deadline | Results Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Recheck | A check that all questions were marked and marks added up correctly | R30 per subject | 27 Jan 2026 | 13 March 2026 |
| Remark | Script is re-marked from scratch by a different marker — full re-assessment of your answers | R120 per subject | 27 Jan 2026 | 13 March 2026 |
| Script Viewing | View your physical answer script to confirm it was marked in its entirety — only available after a remark or recheck | R230 per subject (non-refundable) | Within 7 days of remark results | By appointment at writing venue |
Applications must be submitted online at www.eservices.gov.za using a desktop computer or laptop — not a mobile phone — and only in the Google Chrome browser. Pay the applicable fee via EFT before applying, and upload your proof of payment as a PDF. Learners who attend no-fee schools qualify for free remarking and rechecking. Life Orientation cannot be remarked. The remark fee is refunded if your subject level improves as a result of the remark. Note: there is no remarking for the May/June supplementary exams.
What to Do If You Did Not Pass
Not passing matric does not close your doors. Minister Siviwe Gwarube addressed learners directly at the January 2026 results release: “Your story is not over.” The DBE offers several structured options, and most can be accessed at no cost.
The 2025 NSC matric results were released on 13 January 2026, with the national announcement made by the Minister of Basic Education on 12 January. Learners could access their results from 6:00 AM on 13 January via the DBE portal at education.gov.za/MatricResults/ExamResults.aspx, the Gauteng portal at results.gauteng.gov.za, by SMS to 35658 or 45856, by dialling USSD code *120*35658#, or via the free MatricsMate app. Statements of Results were also available at schools and exam centres from the same date.
Learners unhappy with their marks had until 27 January 2026 to apply for a remark (R120/subject) or recheck (R30/subject) via www.eservices.gov.za. Remark results were released on 13 March 2026. Those who did not pass have multiple free and accredited pathways available — including the Second Chance Matric Programme, May/June supplementary exams, and part-time NSC options. Always verify current dates and SMS numbers directly at www.education.gov.za.
