It’s Almost Results Day: Here’s Exactly Where to Get Your 2025 Matric Results

For more than a million South African families, January is never just another month. It’s the season of nervous laughter, sleepless nights and constant phone refreshing matric results season.

If you wrote your Grade 12 exams in 2025, the wait is nearly over. Here’s what you need to know, where to look, and how to prepare yourself for the big moment.

When Will the 2025 Matric Results Be Released?

The official announcement of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results will be made by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube on Monday, 12 January 2026.

Individual learners will be able to access their results from Tuesday, 13 January 2026.

This follows the usual pattern, where the national pass rate is revealed first, and individual marks become available the following day.

How Big Is the 2025 Matric Class?

According to Umalusi, more than one million learners wrote matric exams in 2025 across roughly 9,400 examination centres nationwide.

Most candidates, over 90% wrote the traditional National Senior Certificate, while the rest were spread across different assessment bodies and qualifications.

This year’s class will be hoping to beat or at least match the record-breaking 87.3% pass rate achieved in 2024, the highest in South Africa’s history, though debates around pass requirements continue to simmer online and in education circles.

A Year Not Without Controversy

The 2025 exam cycle wasn’t entirely smooth. Late in the process, exam markers raised alarms when answers in certain subjects closely mirrored marking guides.

An investigation uncovered a leak involving English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences, affecting around 40 learners. Two Department of Basic Education officials one of whom reportedly had a child writing matric were suspended.

While the DBE insists the breach was contained and involved a tiny fraction of candidates, the incident sparked heated discussion on social media about exam security and fairness. Still, officials maintain the integrity of the broader results remains intact.

Why These Results Matter So Much

In South Africa, a matric certificate is more than a piece of paper. It’s often the minimum requirement for employment, tertiary studies, learnerships and bursaries.

That’s why results day hits so hard, it can feel like a doorway opening, or closing, all at once.

All the Ways You Can Get Your 2025 Matric Results

To make things easier, learners have several official and widely used options to access their marks.

1. From Your School

You can collect your results from the school or institution where you wrote your exams. These are usually available after midday on 13 January.

2. Department of Basic Education Website

Results can be accessed via the DBE’s online portal.
You’ll need to register using:

• Your 13-digit ID number

• Your exam number

A two-step verification process is required before confirmation.

3. Online News Platforms

Major news websites will host results pages, including News24’s Matric Results portal, which is one of the most visited on results day.

4. SMS Option

Send your ID number and exam number to 35658.
SMS charges apply.

5. USSD Code

Dial *120*35658# and follow the prompts. Results will be accessible from 13 January.

6. Newspapers

Many of South Africa’s daily newspapers publish matric results as soon as they are officially released a tradition that still means a lot in many homes.

7. IEB Candidates

Learners who wrote through the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) can access their results directly via the IEB website.

A Final Word to the Class of 2025

Whether you’re feeling confident or terrified, remember this: your matric results do not define your worth. South Africa is full of second chances, rewrite options, bridging programmes and alternative pathways.

But for now, take a breath. Results day is coming and at least you know exactly where to look.

{Source: BusinessTech}

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