What subjects are South Africa’s high school learners opting to take to grade 12? English, maths literacy and life sciences are the three most popular choices in terms of the number of learners who wrote the final grade 12 exams.

Of the 11 ‘core’ subjects offered (see chart) in SA’s school’s, maths is ranked fifth and physical science eighth.

In 2024, close to 584,000 learners wrote English, 443,000 wrote maths literacy and 375,000 wrote life sciences.

In comparison, 251,488 wrote maths and 200,715 wrote physical science.

Maths and physical science are what the department of basic education calls ‘gateway subjects that are essential for South Africa’s socioeconomic development’, yet only about a third (36%) of the grade 12 learners wrote the maths exams and 28% wrote the physical science exams.

In both subjects, about one in five passed with 60% or more, the marks required to get into a science degree at university.