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So, you’re keen to study at the University of Witwatersrand (Wits)?  One of the need-to-knows before sending off your application form is the APS calculation.

APS stands for Admission Point Score.  In South Africa, universities use APS points as one of the tools to see if applicants qualify for their respective programmes. Wits have a unique APS calculation that applicants can use to work out their scores.

Wits APS Breakdown

Applicants will need to meet the minimum APS in order to be considered for a specific programme.  Generally, you’ll get points for each matric subject that you write an exam for.

The points you get for each course will depend on the percentage that you score in that particular subject. The APS score is the total points you receive from each course.

Please note meeting the bare minimum requirement is not always enough to get you into your desired degree programme, so push hard to get the highest marks you possibly can.

APS Calculation

Like most institutions, the University of Witwatersrand has a set of academic qualifications that a prospectus student should meet for them to be admitted for a course in the institution. The APS limits differ depending on the programme that one is enrolling for. If you are a Wits prospectus student who is planning on sending your application, the details on the Wits APS calculator might go a long way.

Wits APS

Before delving into the details of how to calculate Wits APS, you might want to stop to ask, what is APS. APS is the acronym for Admission Point Score, which is the academic qualification that one should attain for one to be considered for a chance in an institution. Most institutions have set up a unique way of calculating this score.

Many universities especially the universities of technology have transitioned to the APS method to ensure that there is a common way of evaluating the qualifications of applicants. This way, students from outside the country can equally be gauged with the same measure as local students.

APS score calculator

Are you a prospectus student who has just completed the National Senior Certificate matric and is looking forward to joining the University of Witwatersrand? These details on APS calculator Wits will come in handy in determining whether you should go on with the application process or not.

The Admission Point Score is calculated from the seven best-performed subjects in the matric exam. The seven subjects include Life Orientation. These are the other requirements that you ought to meet during the calculation of the Wits APS score:

• Mathematics is compulsory for the programmes in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Science, Law Management and Commerce.
• The English language should be the home language or the first additional language.

It is important to note that when calculating the score, the University of Witwatersrand does not distinguish between designated and non-designated subjects.

Step-by-step guide on how to calculate Wits APS score

Like most institutions, Wits has set aside a specified formula for calculating the APS score. The score is subject to the score that a candidate attains in their NSC exam. Referring to the APS points table, this is a breakdown of how the score is awarded for Maths and English.

• Percentages of less than 39% do not account for any mark.
• Percentages of between 40% and 49% are equivalent to 3 marks.
• Percentages of between 50% and 59% contribute to 4 marks.
• Percentages of between 60% and 69% account for 5 marks plus an additional 2 marks, which gives a cumulative score of 7 marks.
• Percentages of between 70% and 79% translate to 6 marks plus an additional two marks, which gives a cumulative score of 8 marks.
• Percentages of between 80% and 89% account for 7 marks plus an additional two marks, which gives a cumulative score of 9 marks.
• Percentages of between 90% and 100% translate to 8 marks plus an additional two, giving a cumulative score of 10 marks.

For Life Orientation, this is how the score is distributed depending on the NSC percentages:

• Percentages of between 90% and 100% translate into 4 marks.
• Percentages of between 80% and 89% account for 3 marks.
• Percentages of between 70% and 79% are equivalent to 2 marks.
• Percentages of between 60% and 69% carry a weight of 1 mark.
• Percentages of less than 60% do not account for any mark.

For the other five subjects, this is how the APS score is calculated:

• Percentages of between 90% and 100% translate into 8 marks.
• Percentages of between 80% and 89% are equivalent to 7 marks.
• Percentages of between 70% and 79% carry a weight of 6 marks.
• Percentages of between 60% and 69% account for 5 marks.
• Percentages of between 50% and 59% translate to 4 marks.
• Percentages of between 40% and 49% are equivalent to 3 marks.
• Percentages of less than 40% do not translate to any marks.

The cumulative score that you will attain from the different sections is a translation of the APS score that will be used in evaluating whether you qualify for the courses. With this data on APS score calculator Wits available, you can proceed to evaluate how many points your academic results translate to.

Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

These are some of the other questions that students who wish to study at Wits ask.

What is an APS score?

Admission Point Score refers to the set qualification that a prospectus student is required to attain for them to qualify to be admitted for a course in an institution.

How is APS calculated?

The admission Point Score is a subject of the scores that a student attains in their NSC matric exam. Different institutions have different formulae for calculating the score.

How do you calculate your APS score up?

For every subject that you sit in, you are awarded a point depending on the score that you attain. The APS is the cumulative points that you achieve from the stipulated subjects.

If you have been planning to send your application to the University of Witwatersrand, by now, you are informed on APS score calculator Wits. You do not need to submit your application before calculating your score. Taking a moment to implement the Wits APS calculator could guide you on which course to settle for.