Most popular Grade 12 school subjects in South Africa RANKED

What are the most popular subjects that South Africa’s high school learners are opting to take to grade 12?

According to The Outlier website, English, maths literacy and life sciences are the three most popular choices in terms of the number of learners who wrote the final grade 12 exams.

Of the 11 ‘core’ subjects offered (see below) in SA’s school’s, maths is ranked fifth and physical science eighth.

In 2024, close to 584 000 learners wrote English, 443 000 wrote maths literacy and 375 000 wrote life sciences.

In comparison, 251 488 wrote maths and 200 715 wrote physical science.

Maths and physical science are what the department of basic education calls ‘gateway subjects that are essential for South Africa’s socioeconomic development’, yet only about one-third (36%) of the grade 12 learners wrote the maths exams and 28% wrote the physical science exams.

In both subjects, about one in five passed with 60% or more, the marks required to get into a science degree at university.

What subjects did you do in matric?

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