APS Calculator South Africa 2026
Calculate your Admission Points Score for university
This calculator provides estimates only. Different universities and faculties have different APS requirements. Always check with the specific institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is APS in South Africa?
APS stands for Admission Points Score. It is a scoring system used by South African universities to determine if you qualify for admission. Each subject percentage is converted to a point score (1-7).
How is APS calculated?
Your percentage in each subject is converted to an APS point: 0-29% = 1 point, 30-39% = 2, 40-49% = 3, 50-59% = 4, 60-69% = 5, 70-79% = 6, 80-100% = 7. Your best 6 subjects are summed for a maximum of 42.
What APS do I need for university?
Minimum APS requirements vary: most universities require 23-28 for a bachelor's degree, 18-22 for diplomas, and 15-17 for higher certificates. Competitive programmes like medicine require 35+.
Do all universities use the same APS system?
Most use the same 1-7 scale, but some universities like Wits use their own point system. Always check the specific university's admissions page.
Does Life Orientation count for APS?
Most universities do NOT count Life Orientation for APS, except some that count it at a reduced weight. Check with your target institution.
How many subjects count for APS?
Most universities count your best 6 subjects (excluding Life Orientation). Some allow 7 subjects. The maximum APS is 42 (6 subjects × 7 points each).
What APS do I need for medicine?
Medicine requires the highest APS, typically 34-40 depending on the university. You also need specific subjects (Maths, Physical Science) with high marks.
What APS do I need for engineering?
Engineering typically requires APS 28-34, with Mathematics and Physical Science at level 5 or higher (60%+).
This calculator provides estimates only. Different universities and faculties have different APS requirements. Always check with the specific institution.
How the APS calculator works
The Admission Point Score converts each subject percentage into points — 7 for 80–100%, 6 for 70–79%, down to 1 for 0–29% — and adds your best six subjects. Life Orientation is usually excluded or capped.
English 78% (6) + Mathematics 71% (6) + Life Sciences 65% (5) + Geography 68% (5) + History 74% (6) + Afrikaans 82% (7) = 35 points.
That score meets a bachelor’s degree requirement at most South African universities, which typically sit in the high 20s to low 30s, but the programme matters more than the institution: engineering and health sciences often ask for 35 or more, and a diploma may need only the mid-20s.
What changes the answer in South Africa
Each university calculates its own APS and may weight certain subjects — mathematics and physical sciences for engineering, for example. Some require a minimum percentage in a specific subject regardless of the total, and the National Senior Certificate’s bachelor pass requires four subjects at 50%+ including home language. Always check the faculty’s published grid, because the same score can be accepted for one programme and rejected for another at the same university.
Common questions about the APS calculator
Is Life Orientation counted in the APS?
At most institutions it is excluded, or worth a capped number of points. That is why your school's calculated APS can differ from the university's.
What APS do I need for a bachelor's degree?
Roughly 30 or more at most universities, though competitive programmes ask for 35+. This example scores 35.
Can a higher APS make up for a weak subject?
Not always. Many programmes set a subject minimum — 60% in mathematics for commerce, for example — that no total can override.