Your Admission Point Score (APS) is one of the most important numbers in your matric year. Universities use it to decide whether you qualify for a programme. Getting it right could be the difference between acceptance and rejection.
What is an APS Score?
The APS is a number calculated from your matric results. Each subject is converted into points on a 1–7 scale, and the total gives you your APS.
How to Calculate Your APS
Step 1: Convert each subject percentage to a point value
| Percentage | Points |
|---|---|
| 80–100% | 7 |
| 70–79% | 6 |
| 60–69% | 5 |
| 50–59% | 4 |
| 40–49% | 3 |
| 30–39% | 2 |
| 0–29% | 1 |
Step 2: Add up your best 6 subjects
Most universities calculate APS from your best 6 subjects (excluding Life Orientation). Some include LO — always check the specific university's requirements.
Step 3: Check the minimum APS for your programme
Each faculty has different requirements. For example:
- Engineering at Wits: typically requires APS 30+
- Teaching at UNISA: often requires APS 20+
- Medicine at UCT: requires APS 40+ with specific subject marks
Life Orientation is worth a maximum of 2 points at most universities, so it's often excluded from APS calculations or given reduced weight.
APS by Programme (2026 Guide)
| Programme | Typical Minimum APS |
|---|---|
| Medicine / Dentistry | 38–42 |
| Engineering | 28–35 |
| Law | 28–33 |
| Commerce / BCom | 25–30 |
| Education | 20–25 |
| Nursing | 22–28 |
| IT / Computer Science | 26–32 |
These are guidelines only. Requirements vary by university and change annually.
Calculate Your APS in Seconds
Instead of doing this manually, use our free APS Calculator to get your exact score and see which universities and programmes you qualify for.
Enter your marks and instantly see your APS score + which programmes you qualify for.
Common APS Mistakes to Avoid
- Including Life Orientation — many students add LO at full weight, which inflates their score
- Using preliminary marks — always recalculate with your final matric results
- Not checking subject-specific requirements — some programmes require minimum percentages in specific subjects regardless of APS
- Using the wrong scale — some universities use a 10-point scale instead of 7
Even if your APS meets the minimum, you may still not get in during high-demand years. Always have backup options and apply to multiple institutions.
What If Your APS is Too Low?
Don't panic. You have options:
- Extended curriculum programmes — most universities offer extra-year programmes with lower APS requirements
- Foundation courses — bridge programmes that prepare you for a degree
- TVET colleges — vocational qualifications that can lead to degrees later
- Rewriting subjects — you can improve specific subjects to increase your APS
- Distance learning — UNISA accepts students with lower APS for many programmes
Next Steps
- Calculate your APS using the tool below
- Research the minimum APS for your target programmes
- Apply to at least 3–5 institutions as backups
- Look into bursaries and NSFAS funding
Free tool — calculate your APS and see matching universities.
