Wits APS Calculator 2026 | Check If You Qualify for Wits
Calculate your APS for Wits University 2026. Minimum APS 35. Free calculator — enter your Grade 12 marks and instantly see if you qualify. Life Orientation excluded.
Wits APS Calculator 2026
Want to know if your Grade 12 marks are good enough for the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)? This guide shows you exactly how to calculate your APS for Wits, and links to our free online APS calculator.
Use our free APS Calculator — enter your marks and instantly see your Wits APS and whether you qualify.
How Wits Calculates APS
Wits uses the standard NSC APS system with one key difference: Life Orientation is excluded from the APS calculation. Your APS is the sum of your six best subjects (not including Life Orientation).
APS Conversion Table
| Percentage (%) | APS Points |
|---|---|
| 80–100% | 7 (Outstanding) |
| 70–79% | 6 (Meritorious) |
| 60–69% | 5 (Substantial) |
| 50–59% | 4 (Adequate) |
| 40–49% | 3 (Moderate) |
| 30–39% | 2 (Elementary) |
| 0–29% | 1 (Not Achieved) |
Worked APS Calculation for Wits
Here's an example of how to calculate your APS for Wits:
| Subject | Mark (%) | APS Points | Counted for Wits? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 75% | 6 | ✅ Yes |
| English Home Language | 68% | 5 | ✅ Yes |
| Physical Sciences | 72% | 6 | ✅ Yes |
| Life Sciences | 65% | 5 | ✅ Yes |
| Geography | 58% | 4 | ✅ Yes |
| History | 55% | 4 | ✅ Yes |
| Life Orientation | 70% | 6 | ❌ NOT counted |
| Wits APS Total | 30 | ||
In this example, the student has an APS of 30 — which is below the Wits minimum of 35 for most programmes.
APS Required by Wits Programme
| Programme | Minimum Wits APS |
|---|---|
| Medicine (MBChB) | 44 |
| Law (LLB) | 38 |
| Engineering (all) | 37 |
| Architecture | 37 |
| BCom Accounting | 35 |
| BCom (General) | 35 |
| BSc (Computer Science) | 35 |
| BSc (Sciences) | 35 |
| BA (Humanities) | 35 |
| BEd (Education) | 30 |
What Marks Do I Need for Wits APS 35?
To achieve Wits APS 35, you need an average of approximately 5.83 points per subject across your six best subjects (excluding Life Orientation). In percentage terms, this means averaging roughly 60–70% across all six subjects.
Example combination for APS 35:
| Subject | Mark Needed | APS Points |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 70% | 6 |
| English | 62% | 5 |
| Physical Sciences | 70% | 6 |
| Life Sciences | 62% | 5 |
| Geography | 80% | 7 |
| History | 70% | 6 |
| Total | 35 — meets requirement |
As you can see, you need very solid marks across all subjects to reach APS 35. Improving even one subject from 60% to 70% adds an extra point.
How to Improve Your Wits APS
- Focus on your weakest subject: A 10% improvement in one subject adds 1 APS point
- Don't neglect your sixth subject: Many students focus only on 4–5 subjects and lose easy APS points from a neglected sixth subject
- Use AI tutoring: StudyBuddy provides 24/7 help across all CAPS subjects — free to start
- Past papers practice: Past NSC papers are the best exam preparation available
- Apply for NBT early: Wits uses NBT results alongside APS — book your NBT test at www.nbt.ac.za
Struggling to reach APS 35 for Wits? StudyBuddy's AI tutor helps Grade 10–12 students improve in all subjects. Start free — no credit card required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my APS for Wits University?
To calculate your Wits APS: (1) Convert each of your six best Grade 12 subject marks to APS points using the 7-point scale (80-100%=7, 70-79%=6, 60-69%=5, etc.). (2) Add the six points together. (3) Do NOT include Life Orientation — Wits excludes it. Use the free APS Calculator at /aps-calculator for instant results.
Does Wits count Life Orientation in APS?
No. Wits University does NOT include Life Orientation in its APS calculation. Your Wits APS is calculated from your six best subjects, excluding Life Orientation entirely.
What is the minimum APS for Wits University in 2026?
The minimum Wits APS is 35 for most programmes. Higher-demand programmes require more: Medicine needs APS 44, Law needs 38, Engineering needs 37. Apply online at wits.ac.za by September 30.
What marks do I need for APS 35 at Wits?
For Wits APS 35, you need your six best subjects to total 35 points. This means averaging about Level 5-6 (60-70%+) across all six subjects. For example: three subjects at 70% (6 points each) plus three at 65% (5 points each) = 33 — just below 35. You need consistent performance across all subjects.