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The Senior Certificate examination is the 'old' grade 12 public examination, with Continuous Assessment (CASS) counting for 25% of the final mark.
The Senior Certificate will be replaced by the National Senior Certificate in 2008. The 2007 examination was thus the final time that this examination was conducted in November. The Department of Education has made a concession for candidates that fail in 2007 and also part-time candidates that have already registered for the Senior Certificate in 2007 to write Senior Certificate examinations in May/June until 2011.
The requirements for passing the Senior Certificate examination are as follows:
One only uses marks, and not percentages.
1. Aggregate of 720, and
2. Pass two approved languages, at least one at first language SG level, and the other at second language SG level, and
3. Pass at least three other subjects
To pass a subject, a candidate must obtain a minimum of 100 marks in the subject, irrespective of the grade on which it was written.
For a Second Language Higher Grade, a mark of between 75 and 99 is taken as a pass on Second Language Standard Grade level.
If a candidate offers an N-subject, the percentage obtained must be converted to a mark out of 300. Then proceed as above.
Condonation:
Learners are entitled to have only one result condoned, i.e. either the aggregate or one subject, should they need it to fulfill the requirements for a pass. One does therefore not condone a subject to obtain a HG pass.
· Aggregate – 710 to 719 may be condoned
· SG subject – 94 to 99 may be condoned
· HG subjects – 152 - 159 may be condoned
To obtain Matriculation Endorsement (i.e. the minimum requirements for university admission), numerous other factors are considered, such as the groupings of the subjects passed, the number of subjects on Higher or Standard Grade and the level of passing them. By obtaining the Matriculation Endorsement does not mean that a candidate will obtain entrance into university, as each university sets its own minimum requirements for entrance into different faculties. | 
