Matric Rewrite vs Working vs Studying: A Decision Guide

If your matric results didn’t come out the way you hoped, it can feel like your options have narrowed all at once. They haven’t — but the results you got do genuinely affect which of your paths forward make the most sense, and a matric rewrite is one option among several rather than an automatic next step. This page walks through how to think about the decision honestly, based on what your results are actually limiting and what you actually need right now.

What a Matric Rewrite Actually Involves

The Department of Basic Education allows candidates to rewrite specific subjects (not the whole matric) through the Second Chance Matric programme, either by improving marks in subjects you passed or attempting to pass subjects you failed. You register for the specific subjects you want to rewrite, prepare independently or through supplementary classes, and sit the exams in the next available exam cycle. A rewrite doesn’t require you to redo a full year of schooling — it’s targeted at specific subjects, which makes it a faster process than repeating the whole matric year, but it still typically takes several months of preparation and waiting for the next exam sitting and results release.

When a Rewrite Genuinely Makes Sense

• Your results are close to the threshold you need — for a specific course, bursary, or NQF level requirement — and one or two improved subject marks would unlock that option.
• You failed a specific subject that’s a hard requirement for a path you’re set on (a specific subject requirement for a particular qualification or learnership, for example).
• You have the time and stability to prepare properly — rewriting without adequate preparation often produces the same disappointing result, so this option works best when you can genuinely commit to studying for the specific subjects.

When Working or Studying Without a Rewrite Makes More Sense

• Your results, while not what you hoped for, are still enough for the entry-level jobs, learnerships, or courses you’re actually interested in — many entry-level roles and learnerships have relatively accessible NQF Level 4 (matric) requirements that don’t depend on specific subject marks.
• You need income immediately and can’t realistically dedicate months to rewrite preparation without financial strain in the meantime.
• Your goals have shifted since you wrote matric, and the specific marks you’d be rewriting aren’t actually relevant to the direction you now want to pursue.

A Practical Way to Decide

Rather than deciding on a rewrite in the abstract, work backwards from a specific goal:

1. Identify what you actually want to do next — a specific course, learnership, or job category.
2. Check the actual entry requirements for that specific path, rather than assuming you need “better” results in general. Many entry-level jobs and learnerships only require a completed matric (NQF Level 4) with no minimum aggregate or specific subject marks — see our NQF levels explained guide for how these requirements actually work.
3. Only rewrite if your current results genuinely fall short of what that specific path requires, and rewriting is realistically achievable in the time and with the resources you have.

This approach avoids the common trap of rewriting “just in case” it helps, which can cost months of time and effort without a clear payoff if your actual results were already sufficient for the direction you’re heading in.

Combining Options

These paths aren’t strictly exclusive. It’s entirely possible to start working in an entry-level role while independently preparing for a matric rewrite on the side, sitting the rewrite exams when they come around, and using improved results to open up a different opportunity later. This can be a sensible middle path if you need income now but haven’t given up on a goal that a rewrite would unlock.

If money for further study is the core issue rather than your results specifically, it’s worth reading What to Do After Matric If You Don’t Have Money to Study, which covers NSFAS, bursaries, and learnerships as funded alternatives that don’t depend on a rewrite.

A Note on Pressure and Timing

It’s worth being honest with yourself about whether a rewrite is something you actually want to pursue, or something you feel pressured into because of how the results felt in the moment. A rewrite done reluctantly, without real preparation, rarely produces a meaningfully different outcome. If you’re not sure, it’s reasonable to start working or applying for opportunities that your current results already qualify you for, and revisit the rewrite decision once you have more clarity and, ideally, more stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does a matric rewrite take?

This depends on the exam cycle and preparation time, and can span several months between registering, preparing, sitting the exams, and receiving results. Check current registration and exam dates directly through the Department of Basic Education’s Second Chance Matric programme, as these are set annually.

Do I need to rewrite the whole matric, or just specific subjects?

Just the specific subjects you want to improve or pass — you don’t need to redo subjects you’re already satisfied with.

Will a matric rewrite affect my ability to apply for jobs in the meantime?

No — you can apply for and start entry-level jobs with your existing matric certificate while independently preparing for a rewrite, since the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Many people do both at the same time.

Back to the full Entry-Level Jobs guide