2015 National Senior Certificate Update from the Independent Examinations Board

Update by Anne Oberholzer, CEO of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB)

Mon 19 October 2015 marked the start of the 2015 National Senior Certificate examinations for 10 228 fulltime candidates and 636 private candidates registered with the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).  These candidates will conduct their examinations at 200 examination centres spread across the country.  The IEB has over 25 years’ experience in offering school-leaving examinations as well as examinations at NQF Level 1 for adults in industry. 

The IEB has set examination papers in 66 NSC subjects, 14 of which are non-official languages.  The IEB also sets Advanced Programme examinations in 3 subjects, namely Mathematics, English Home Language and Afrikaans Home Language. These papers are written by learners in IEB as well as state schools. These subjects are rated by UK NARIC (UK National Recognition Information Centre) as equal in demand to A-level courses.

“Because of the diverse abilities of learners in any education system, there is a need to provide an opportunity for talented learners to be challenged at the highest level. This is the reason for the IEB’s introduction of the Advanced Programme in Mathematics and language (English and Afrikaans). More importantly to ensure that all South African learners can participate, examinations in these stand-alone courses are available to learners in public as well as independent institutions of learning.  Awards in these subjects have been benchmarked by UK NARIC as equivalent to A-levels.

“While there have been some assessments during the year to date, the main NSC examinations will continue until Friday 28 November.  Marking is centralised and will commence on 6 December in Johannesburg.  The IEB anticipates that results will be released to learners on 31 December 2014,” says Anne Oberholzer, CEO of the IEB.

Statistical details

Provincial break down