Accreditation
Accredited, and clear about who does what
A recognised matric, with final exams set and marked by an independent exam body. Here is how it works.
UCT Online High School is registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), an examination body accredited by Umalusi, under accreditation number 89901. High School learners write SACAI’s exams for the National Senior Certificate (NSC). Adult Matric prepares adults for the Amended Senior Certificate, which the Department of Basic Education examines and issues.
National Senior Certificate (NSC)
We teach the South African national curriculum (CAPS) for Grades 8 to 12. Learners finish Grade 12 with the National Senior Certificate, the matric qualification recognised by universities and colleges across South Africa.
SACAI is the external exam body. It sets and marks the Grade 12 final exams, checks the marks we give during the year, and issues the certificate. Umalusi, the council that quality-assures schooling in South Africa, accredits SACAI.
See how Grade 12 works on the Grade 12 page, and what the exams cost on the fees page.
- Examination body
- South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), accredited by the Umalusi Council
- Qualification awarded
- National Senior Certificate (NSC)
- School accreditation number
- 89901
Roles and responsibilities
Who does what, from Grade 8 to your matric certificate
Five parties share the work of an NSC. This is each one’s part in our relationship with SACAI.
- UCT Online High School
- Teaches, sets and marks school-based assessments, runs the online prelims, and registers Grade 12 learners for their final exams.
- SACAI
- The exam body. Sets the Grade 12 papers and fees, moderates our marks, marks the finals, and issues results and the NSC.
- Chief Invigilator
- Runs the exam venue on the day, and handles registration and payment for NSC rewrites.
- Guardian
- Pays the SACAI exam fees, makes sure the learner sits every exam, and arranges travel and accommodation for the finals.
- Learner
- Submits assessments on time and arrives prepared for every prelim and final exam.
Grade 12 final exam registration and fees
- Set and publish the yearly Grade 12 SACAI exam feeResponsible: SACAI
- Invoice guardians for the Grade 12 SACAI exam fee (sent in February of the Grade 12 year)Responsible: UCT Online High School
- Pay the learner’s SACAI exam registration fee, by 1 March of the Grade 12 yearResponsible: Guardian
- Pay the SACAI school exam registration fee for the Grade 12 groupResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Register learners to write the Grade 12 final examsResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Allocate venues for the final examsResponsible: SACAI
- Appoint a Chief Invigilator for each exam venueResponsible: SACAI
- Apply for academic concessions for the final examsResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Approve academic concessions for the final examsResponsible: SACAI
Academic preparation through Grade 12
- Set Grade 8 to 11 school-based assessments (SBAs)Responsible: UCT Online High School
- Set Grade 12 school-based assessments (SBAs)Responsible: SACAI
- Administer Grade 8 to 12 SBAsResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Complete and submit Grade 8 to 12 SBAsResponsible: Learner
- Mark Grade 8 to 12 SBAsResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Moderate Grade 10 to 12 assessments internallyResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Moderate selected Grade 10 to 12 assessments externallyResponsible: SACAI
- Submit Grade 10 to 12 mark sheets to SACAIResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Moderate the submitted Grade 10 to 12 mark sheetsResponsible: SACAI
Grade 12 preliminary exams (prelims), written online
- Set the Grade 12 prelim examsResponsible: SACAI
- Decide the Grade 12 prelim timetableResponsible: SACAI
- Publish the Grade 12 prelim timetableResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Prepare for, and be online for, each prelim on the timetableResponsible: Learner
- Make sure the learner is present for every prelimResponsible: Guardian
- Run the prelims, including proctoringResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Mark the prelimsResponsible: UCT Online High School
- Appeal prelim resultsResponsible: Guardian
- Issue the Term 3 Grade 12 academic report (prelim results)Responsible: UCT Online High School
Grade 12 final exams, written in person
- Set and publish the Grade 12 final exam timetableResponsible: SACAI
- Manage the final exams day to day, including proctoring and handling scripts under SACAI’s exam regulationsResponsible: Chief Invigilator
- Set the Grade 12 final examsResponsible: SACAI
- Mark the Grade 12 final examsResponsible: SACAI
- Arrive on time, fully prepared, for each final exam at the allocated venueResponsible: Learner
- Arrange the learner’s accommodation and transport for the final examsResponsible: Guardian
After Grade 12: results and rewrites
- Issue Grade 12 final exam resultsResponsible: SACAI
- Provide the National Senior Certificate (NSC)Responsible: SACAI
- Collect the learner’s NSCResponsible: Guardian
- Manage NSC exam rewritesResponsible: SACAI
- Register learners for an NSC rewriteResponsible: Chief Invigilator
- Manage payments for NSC rewritesResponsible: Chief Invigilator
- Combine certificates when a guardian or learner asksResponsible: SACAI
- Replace a lost NSC certificateResponsible: SACAI
Amended Senior Certificate (ASC)
Adult Matric is our preparation programme for adults writing the Amended Senior Certificate, also called the Senior Certificate.
No school or college can be accredited to offer the ASC. The Department of Basic Education sets and marks the exams and issues the certificate, so you register and write with the DBE. We make sure you are ready.
Read how it works on the Adult Matric page.
Department of Basic Education
- Examined and issued by
- Department of Basic Education (DBE)
- Qualification awarded
- Amended Senior Certificate (ASC), also called the Senior Certificate
- What we offer
- A preparation programme for the ASC exams
Who does what for Adult Matric
What we do
- Every topic in your subjects, built for studying on your own.
- A work plan dated to the sitting you have chosen.
- Assessments with feedback, so you know whether you are ready.
- Subject specialists and a support coach when you get stuck.
What you do
- Register for the exam with the DBE. Registration is free.
- Write your papers at a DBE exam centre in May and June.
- Put in around 20 hours a week, in the hours that suit you.
- Tell us when life gets in the way, so we can move the plan.
What the DBE does
- Opens registration for each sitting, from October to early February.
- Sets and marks the ASC exams, written in May and June.
- Runs the exam centres where you write.
- Issues your results and your Amended Senior Certificate.
FAQs
Questions about accreditation
Is UCT Online High School accredited?
Yes. UCT Online High School is registered with the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI), accreditation number 89901. SACAI is an examination body accredited by Umalusi, the quality council for schooling. Grade 12 learners write SACAI’s final exams for the National Senior Certificate (NSC).
What exam will learners write in Grade 12 (matric)?
Learners who are enrolled with UCT Online High School will write the external exams for their subjects as set by the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).
Will universities accept my child’s NSC?
Yes. Learners earn the National Senior Certificate (NSC), the matric qualification recognised by universities and colleges across South Africa. It is examined by SACAI and quality-assured by Umalusi. Each institution still sets its own entry requirements, so check the pass level and subjects your child’s chosen course needs.
Are Grade 12 exam fees included in tuition?
No. SACAI, the external examination body, sets Grade 12 exam fees each year and they are paid separately, by 1 March of the Grade 12 year. They cover candidate registration, registration and exam placement for each subject, and delivery of the NSC certificate. Most learners pay about R12,000, depending on their subjects.
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