Jordao High School

Planning for Grade 10: Your Path to the National Senior Certificate

The transition from Grade 9 to Grade 10 is a significant step in your child’s educational journey, marking the beginning of the three-year Further Education and Training (FET) band that leads to the National Senior Certificate (NSC). This page provides a clear guide to the requirements, subject choices, and future opportunities to help you and your child make informed decisions.

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The NSC is South Africa’s nationally recognised school-leaving qualification, undertaken in Grades 10-12. At Jordao High, we offer the general academic pathway, designed to provide a strong foundation for higher education and future careers.

To earn an NSC, a learner must select a minimum of seven subjects. The breakdown is as follows:

  • Four Compulsory Subjects:
    • English (Home Language)
    • Afrikaans (First Additional Language)
    • Mathematics OR Mathematical Literacy
    • Life Orientation
  • Three Elective Subjects: A minimum of three additional subjects, with at least two chosen from the same group to ensure a focused learning pathway.

Use the table below to see the full range of subjects offered at Jordao High for Grades 10-12. This will help you understand the combinations available.

Subject Group
Subjects Offered
Languages
English Home Language, Afrikaans First Additional Language
Arts & Culture
Design, Dramatic Arts, Visual Arts
Business & Management
Accounting, Business Studies
Human & Social Studies
Geography, History
Maths, Computer & Life Sciences
Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Computer Applications Technology, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences
Services
Tourism

Please note the following critical requirements for specific subjects:

  • Mathematics: A minimum of 50% in Grade 9 Mathematics is required to continue with this subject in Grade 10.
  • Physical Sciences: This subject is only available to learners who have qualified for and are taking Mathematics.
  • Mathematical Literacy: Learners who choose Mathematical Literacy in Grade 10 will not be able to switch to Mathematics in a later grade.

Your subject choices and performance in Grades 10-12 directly impact post-school opportunities. The minimum NSC requirements for different levels of higher education are summarised below.

Qualification
Minimum NSC Requirements
Bachelor's Degree
4 subjects with a rating of 4 (50-59%) or better
Diploma
4 subjects with a rating of 3 (40-49%) or better
Higher Certificate
2 subjects with a rating of 3 (40-49%) + 4 subjects with a rating of 2 (30-39%)
We strongly encourage you to read the full, detailed policy document to understand all promotion, assessment, and certification requirements.

This downloadable PDF contains the complete official document, including the full achievement level scale and detailed promotion requirements for each grade.