Nearly 900,000 Grade 12s who wrote the 2025 NSC exams are on the edge of their seats. Minister Siviwe Gwarube will announce the results on 12 January 2026, with individual access from 13 January. Whether you pass, need a re-mark or hope to explore alternatives, here’s everything you need to know.
The scripts are marked and the tension is high for the matric Class of 2025. The release of last year’s National Senior Certificate (NSC) results is just days away. With nearly 900,000 candidates awaiting the outcomes, we’ve got your back with this helpful guide covering key dates, access methods, pass requirements, re-mark options, rewrite details and back-up paths.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube will announce the overall results on the evening of 12 January 2026. Individual results become available from the morning of 13 January 2026 via: The DBE confirmed on Wednesday, 7 January that the NSC exam results will be released to accredited newspapers for publication on 13 January 2026. They will appear in a pseudonymised format, showing only examination numbers and marks, without names, surnames or ID numbers, as has been standard in recent years.
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This approach aligns with a court order issued on 18 January 2022, which the department says legally obliges it to protect pupils’ personal information. Publishing NSC results in newspapers remains a vital, accessible way for pupils and parents to access them promptly. The department emphasised that this court-endorsed method strikes a balance between transparency and privacy protection.
The department will oppose an application for leave to appeal by the Information Regulator. It argued the appeal had “no reasonable prospects of success” due to existing court clarity, adding that its opposition to the move was in the best interests of pupils, families and the education sector. The department stressed its continued respect for the regulator’s constitutional role.
It is important to note that some online results may be unavailable initially due to technical issues – don’t panic, it’s normal. Remember to: Earning your National Senior Certificate means meeting a structured set of benchmarks across seven subjects, designed to prove readiness for further study or work. You must pass at least six subjects overall, with specific thresholds depending on your goal: bachelor degree, diploma or higher certificate.
Use this guide to see where you stand: If your matric results fall short of your hard work or seem off, take a breath – you can request a review to set things right. A candidate may apply at the prescribed fee for the re-mark (full re-evaluation) or re-check (verification of marks/totals) of their examination scripts. Registration is straightforward: do it at your school or provincial district office, oronline.Full instructions will be available on the reverse side of your statement of results.
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