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Subjects, assessment, term structure, what's included, and what to ask before you enrol. A practical guide for parents considering an IEB pathway for Grade 10 to 12. The IEB follows the same CAPS curriculum with examinations designed to test critical thinking and application. CambriLearn is an IEB-registered, Cognia-accredited online school.
The IEB is an examination board, not a separate curriculum. Both IEB and SACAI students follow the CAPS curriculum prescribed by the Department of Basic Education. The difference is who sets and marks the final exams — and how those exams assess understanding.
Your child studies the same national curriculum. CAPS prescribes what is taught. The IEB prescribes how it is examined. IEB exams require students to analyse unfamiliar scenarios, construct written arguments, and apply knowledge in new contexts.
Both IEB and SACAI lead to the National Senior Certificate, quality-assured by Umalusi. Every South African university accepts the IEB NSC — no exemptions needed. The IEB NSC is internationally benchmarked as comparable to UK AS-Level standard. For families considering international qualifications instead, see the International British Curriculum.
The FET phase (Grade 10–12) follows a structured academic year with set terms, scheduled assessments, and specific deadlines. This is a regulatory requirement under both IEB and SACAI. A minimum Grade 9 average of 70% is required for IEB enrolment at CambriLearn.
The IEB FET phase is structured. Here is what the teaching model looks like in practice — live teaching, not self-study. See how CambriLearn works for details across all curricula.
Scheduled live classes for each subject. Students ask questions in real time. Lessons are recorded for replay if missed.
Each term has a clear schedule: topics per week, SBA task due dates, and internal assessment dates. You don't build the timetable yourself — it's provided.
SBAs are marked by registered teachers with written feedback on what was done well and where to improve. Not auto-graded — real teacher commentary.
Students receive rubrics, model answers, and memo-style feedback. Past paper practice with worked solutions is part of exam preparation.
Track attendance, marks, SBA progress, and upcoming deadlines. Reports can be downloaded as PDFs for record-keeping, transfers, or sharing with tutors. View timetables for all curricula.
Trial exams simulate the IEB final under timed conditions. Revision packs, past paper banks, and exam technique coaching for the October/November session.
Screen time balance: Live lessons are typically 4–5 hours per day. Remaining study time includes offline work: textbook reading, written assignments, and past paper practice. The structured timetable leaves afternoons free for sport or other activities.
Students choose seven subjects: four compulsory and three electives. The combination determines which university programmes become accessible. For detailed guidance, see our Grade 10 subject choices guide.
Advanced Programme (AP) subjects: Optional AP courses in Mathematics, English, and Afrikaans provide university-level challenge. Quality-assured by Stellenbosch University and comparable to full UK A-Levels. Taken in addition to the standard seven subjects, not instead of one. Ask your consultant about AP availability →
Subject availability may vary. Not every IEB subject is available through distance learning. Practical subjects requiring specialised equipment may not be offered. View available IEB Grade 10 subjects or confirm your child's preferred subjects with a consultant before enrolling.
