Renowned Counselling Psychologist Professor Zac Nel recently conducted a webinar for EduInc’s Grade 9 students, who have to choose subjects going into Grade 10. These will be the subjects they offer for their matric exam at the end of the FET phase and will determine the tertiary options that are available to them.

Prof. Nel, highly respected within education circles and who provides a comprehensive, research-based method of career counselling, spent time with our students, who came away from the webinar armed with valuable insights into this key life decision.

Students today are better prepared for the future

Prof Nel believes that students today are in a better position to plan their careers than their parents had been. Modern research has revealed data that can accurately predict the long-term effects that these choices are likely to have. Some of these details were presented in the webinar.

When asked whether students aged between 14 and 16 are mature enough to choose, he replied, ‘International studies have shown that this is the ideal age bracket. It follows that, once you are in Grade 10, do not change your subjects. The time for experimentation is over.’

Teachers are wiser than you think

But where to go for advice? The professor presented a range of metrics that are useful, but advised that students should spend time with their teachers who, at a premier school such as Edu Inc, are best positioned to provide relevant insights into their students’ abilities and aptitudes. 

“Psychometric testing, although useful, should not be used as the primary tool. When all else fails, go with your instincts. What interests you? What are you good at? Consult your teachers.”

University algorithms at play

Universities have advanced algorithms that take a student’s marks at the end of Grade 11 and can predict with reasonable accuracy which degree should be taken. But the important decision needs to be made at the end of Grade 9. Your marks in Grade 11 should only be used to confirm your choice,” he added.

Getting into some of the details, Prof. Nel listed several key decision areas:

• Major error number one: selecting physical science when you shouldn’t have. Unlike in our parents’ day, this is no longer the be-all and end-all subject.
• Major error number two: choosing not to take biology/life sciences when you should have;
• Mathematics choices: there is an important distinction between pure maths and maths literacy/business maths.  He suggests: ‘Add your Grade 9 English mark to your maths mark. If the total is less than 120, select maths literacy. If greater than 120, pure maths would be a good choice.
• In terms of the physical science versus biology decision, Prof. Nel has another guideline: ‘If a student’s total Grade 9 marks in English, maths and science are less than 200, drop science and choose biology.’

He concluded, ‘There are 133 different subjects that a South African student can potentially take for matric. Edu Inc offers its students an excellent array of subjects, which should be of enormous value as young people navigate Grade 9, with the key subject choice not too out of reach.”

The time to plan is now

In a future blog post, more of Professor Nel’s valuable advice will be revealed. For now, Prof Nel’s message to parents and students is clear: Begin planning now how to make the key subject choices as the end of the academic year draws near.

[Full quote] Mathematics vs maths lit – what to choose? Prof Nel recommends: ‘Add your Grade 9 English mark to your maths mark. If the total is less than 120, select maths literacy. If greater than 120, pure maths would be a good choice.’