For a Grade 9 student, decisions around tertiary studies and career paths may seem like a lifetime away. Your child will soon be making choices that may impact their options at tertiary level. 

Where to start? 

Know the basics 

At the end of Grade 9, your child will need to choose a minimum of 8 subjects. Four of these subjects are compulsory:

• a Home Language,
• a First Additional Language (unless your child qualifies for immigrant status),
• either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, and
• Life Orientation (LO).

 Then there are at least four elective subjects, which your child needs to choose.

There are different Matric pass levels. The level your child achieves will impact their access to tertiary study options: 

A Bachelor’s Pass (previously known as a Matric with exemption) 

• Can apply for a degree at a university 
• Obtain at least 40% for Home Language (Elkanah House offers English H.L.) 
• Obtain at least 50% in 4 subjects (excluding LO) 
• Obtain at least 30% in another 2 subjects (may include LO) 
• Home language needs to be either English or Afrikaans in order to meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution 

A Diploma Pass 

• Can apply for a Diploma at a University of Technology (UT), some Universities as well as some private institutions 
• Obtain at least 40% for Home Language (Elkanah House offers English H.L.) 
• Obtain at least 40 in 3 other subjects (excluding LO) 
• Obtain at least 30% in 2 other subjects (may include LO) 
• Home language needs to be either English or Afrikaans in order to meet the language requirement for further study at a South African institution 

Know your child 

Who your child is as an individual, their interests, and talents are key factors to consider in this momentous decision. Resist the urge to let them choose subjects just because they can easily do well in them, or because they like the teachers, or because their friends are choosing those subjects. This choice affects the rest of their lives, so consider and discuss the following questions with your child: 

• What really interests you? If, for example, your child enjoys Life Sciences, a career in something to do with human anatomy or ecology may be suitable. Someone who enjoys art or languages may be interested in pursuing something in the creative field. Knowing this general direction can help guide you and your child towards the right subject combinations for their fields of interest. 
• What are the jobs of the future? A lot of the future job market is going to deal with career options and challenges that we can’t fully plan for. So, try to keep your child’s options open for these possibilities. 
• What are the academic and time demands to consider? The subject set best suited to your child takes their abilities, interests, skills, and motivation into consideration. They must be able to thrive in their chosen field, so be realistic about what’s in their best interests. 

Know your options 

Without the right combination of subjects – and the required marks – your child may not have the minimum requirements to apply to the university or college of their choice, or to be able to pursue the career path they are interested in. 

Over and above the different pass requirements, each tertiary institution has their own minimum entry requirements – as do the courses they offer. When your child applies to university around April in Grade 12, they will have to produce their final Grade 11 promotion results, and these will be used to determine their APS (Academic Point Score). This will, in turn, determine what programme/s they can apply for. Research the requirements of each tertiary institution by visiting their websites. This will give your child a guide on what specific subjects are needed for the field of study your child is interested in. 

Find guidance 

Settling on a career choice is a big decision, especially for teenagers. Help your child through the process by keeping communication lines open and offering support and advice. Help them research different career options, tertiary institutions, and their requirements. 

Your child’s LO teacher may have already helped them explore subject choices and career aspirations. Consider consulting an educational psychologist or career guidance specialist for an assessment that may further assist you in making a decision. Attend Open days at the tertiary institutions in which your child is interested in attending or find a mentor in the field of study they are interested in and let them engage with this person.

There are many online resources you can consider: 

• GoStudy.net has a great PACE interest questionnaire, information about various career options, and other resources. 
• The Department of Education has a career guidance portal called Career Help. 
• Fundi Connect also has great resources, as well as a Career Quiz. 
• The Career Guidance Project is packed with helpful info. 
• Career Prep is another great resource.