IEB announces impressive results for Class of 2025 with a 98.31% pass rate

The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has announced commendable results for the Class of 2025, achieving an overall pass rate of 98.31%.

While this marks a slight decrease from the previous year's pass rate of 98.47%, the high percentage highlights the continued success and stability of the IEB examination system amidst significant growth in candidate numbers.

Announced by IEB CEO Confidence Dikgole, the results reflect not only the quality of education provided at IEB schools but also the board's commitment to expanding its reach across South Africa.

The number of candidates who sat for the exams increased substantially to 17,413 from 16,304 in 2024 and 15,180 in 2023, demonstrating the IEB’s growing influence within the educational landscape.

The increase in participation can be observed across all nine provinces, with Gauteng leading the charge with 10,421 candidates.

The Western Cape and KwaZulu-Natal followed, boasting 2,108 and 2,448 candidates, respectively. Notably, the North West province showed significant growth, climbing from 299 candidates in 2024 to 363 in 2025.

This upward trend clearly indicates how the IEB is widening its scope to embrace a more diverse student body.

The quality of the results is further emphasised by the degree pass rate, which stands at an impressive 89.12%. Although this number represents a slight dip from 89.37% in 2024, it surpasses the 2023 figure of 88.59%

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This consistency in academic performance amid growing student numbers suggests that the IEB is effectively maintaining its rigorous standards while also making higher education accessible to an increasing cohort of learners.

In reflecting on the results, Dikgole stated, “In a context of sustained growth and changing learning environments, the consistency of these results is, in fact, reassuring.”

This sentiment resonates strongly as the IEB continues to cater to a larger and more diverse student population, ensuring that all candidates are equipped with qualifications that allow for seamless transitions into further education.