Waiting for matric results can be stressful. Keep your examination details ready, use official result channels and check the arrangements announced for your examination board and province.
That said, getting your matric certificate is the foundation of life as an adult. Naturally, the stakes seem high. So breathe in, calm down, and get ready to receive your results, as these are the results that will help you secure enrollment in university or college.
Now that you’re prepared read on to learn how to check your matric results.
How Can You Check Your Matric Results?
You can collect an official Statement of Results from your school or examination centre. Online, SMS and publication arrangements depend on your examination board and the relevant results cycle; use the latest official announcement.
How To Get Your Matric Results In-Person
For the October/November 2026 NSC examinations, the national announcement is scheduled for 11 January 2027 and individual provincial results for 12 January 2027. Confirm your school or examination centre’s collection time; the release date is not the date a printed matric certificate becomes available.
Keep your ID and examination number ready when collecting your Statement of Results. Contact the school or examination centre if a result is missing or your personal details are incorrect.
How To Get Your 2026 Matric Results Online in 2027
Given that you probably already do everything online, why not get your matric results online?
Results are available only after release. The WCED schedule gives 12 January 2027 at 10:00 for its online results; other provinces or examination boards may publish different access instructions.
Step 1: Visit The DBE Website
Start with the Department of Basic Education or your provincial department’s official results guidance. The DBE’s results page changes by examination cycle. Check the cohort displayed and do not assume every visit or network is zero-rated.
Step 2: Enter the Required Details
Follow the result form’s instructions and enter your examination number and any identity details requested. Do not create a general DBE website account unless the particular official results service requires one.
Complete any identity-verification prompts on the official results service. Keep passwords and verification codes private.
Step 3: Navigate to Your Matric Results
Use the search or results option on the relevant portal to retrieve the result for your examination. An online result is not a substitute for collecting the official Statement of Results.
Where the official results page provides a direct examination-number search, follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit The Department’s Matric Results Portal
Step 2: Enter Your Exam Number
Enter the examination number exactly as it appears on your admission or examination documents.
Step 3: Follow The Prompts
Enter any additional information if the system prompts you.
Step 4: View Your Matric Results
How to Check Your Matric Results via SMS
SMS and USSD services are announced for each results cycle. Previous official guidance listed the services below, but confirm the 2027 activation, message format and charges with DBE, your provincial department or the service provider before using them:
Step 1: If confirmed for your results cycle, use the published SMS service and required identity or examination details. Earlier DBE-linked guidance listed 35658.
Step 2: Double-check the examination number and any required ID number before sending the message.
Note: Confirm the current charge and result-delivery arrangements first. A historic R3 registration price is not a verified fee for the January 2027 results service.
Or
Step 1: If activated for your results cycle, use the officially announced USSD service. Earlier guidance listed *120*35658#.
Step 2: Follow the current identity-verification and examination-number prompts.
Step 3: View the result supplied by the service and collect your official Statement of Results. For an improvement attempt, consult the matric rewrite guidance.
This is the most nerve-wracking part. However, viewing your matric results can be very liberating.
If you received advantageous matric results, don’t forget to update any university applications so you don’t miss out on the opportunity to complete a higher education institute.
If your marks do not meet your goals, ask about a remark, recheck or a further examination opportunity. The WCED lists May/June 2027 NSC registration from 2 November 2026 to 5 February 2027 for eligible candidates; confirm your province’s arrangements. A rewrite or remark does not guarantee university admission.
How to check Matric Results via Websites
Official online channels include the following; check that the page covers your examination and cohort:
Check the DBE website, your provincial department and your school for official release and collection notices. IEB or other assessment-body candidates should follow their own examination board’s instructions.
