Celebrations as IEB reveals 2025 NSC results with 98.3% pass rate
Matriculants at Reddam House Constantia
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has announced an overall pass rate of 98.3% for the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, maintaining its strong academic performance despite a slight decline from the previous year.
The results were released on Monday morning, showing a marginal decrease from the 98.47% achieved by the 2024 cohort. Despite this dip, the majority of the 2025 candidates qualified for further study, with 89.12% achieving a bachelor’s degree pass, granting access to degree programmes at tertiary institutions. The IEB noted that this figure is slightly lower than last year’s bachelor’s pass rate.
!Khúboab Lawrence (middle) with his grandpa John Jansen and his mom Lesle Jansen-Lawrence
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
In addition, nearly 8% of candidates qualified for diploma study, while approximately 1.3% achieved entry to higher certificate programmes. A very small number of pupils obtained an endorsed National Senior Certificate.
More than 17,400 candidates from across South Africa sat for the IEB examinations in 2025. Gauteng recorded the highest participation, with candidates from 114 schools. KwaZulu-Natal contributed close to 3,000 candidates, while the Northern Cape recorded the lowest participation, with only three schools offering the IEB curriculum.
Tracy Brodziak embracing her daughter Emma Brodziak who got distinctions across all her subjects
Image: Tracy-Lynn Ruiters
The IEB also recognised 161 pupils from the 2025 cohort for outstanding academic performance. These learners ranked in the top 5% nationally across six subjects and achieved distinctions in all their subjects, reflecting exceptional consistency and academic excellence.
Candidates wishing to challenge their results have until January 30 to submit applications for remarking. The outcomes of remark applications are expected to be released on March 4, pending approval from quality assurer Umalusi.
In the Western Cape Reddam House Constantia achieved a 100% pass rate, reflecting strong academic performance across its matric class. Together with Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard, the two campuses recorded 374 subject distinctions.
Of these, 303 distinctions were achieved by learners at Reddam House Constantia, where 70% of pupils attained an A or B aggregate. At Reddam House Atlantic Seaboard, a third of the matric class achieved four or more distinctions.
The schools also recorded multiple Top 1% subject placements and two national IEB honours, highlighting subject-level excellence across sciences, humanities and creative disciplines.
In the Western Cape there were scenes of celebration and relief as matriculants from Reddam House Constantia arrived on campus to collect their 2025 IEB results, many accompanied by proud and emotional family members.
Among them was Emma Brodziak, who passed with distinctions for all her subjects . Speaking to the Weekend Argus, Brodziak said she was beyond proud of herself and has set her sights on furthering her studies in the United Kingdom. Her mother, Tracy Brodziak, said she was “super proud” of her daughter’s achievement.
For !Khúboab Lawrence, the anxious wait to collect his results was eased by an SMS he received earlier in the day confirming that he had passed. “I am just so happy, especially because I can see the improvements I’ve made since Grade 11,” he said. Lawrence plans to study law, with a focus on human rights. He was joined at the school by his mother, Lesle Jansen-Lawrence, and his grandfather, John Jansen, who were there to support him as he opened his results.
Emotions ran high for Alexia Mbombo Dibamba and her family.
Her father, Patrick Mbombo Dibamba, struggled to contain his emotions as his daughter opened the envelope containing her results. Alexia said that hours before collecting her results she had phoned her father, who reassured her that everything would be okay.
“I was so anxious,” she said. “Even though I knew I would pass, I was anxious about the percentages. Then this morning, while driving, I started praying. God just has a way as we pulled up at the school. I received the SMS saying everyone had passed, and I felt at ease. My dad just started crying,” said Alexia who dreams of becoming a diplomat.
Dibamba said he was overwhelmed with emotion. “As a parent, you do your best to give your children the best. When they deliver such beautiful results, it’s a feeling that lets you know you’re doing something right,” he said.
Friends Zoë Yates and Jordan Wilemans chose to open their results together, reflecting on their school journey and their plans to continue studying together at Stellenbosch University.