UNISA Supplementary Exams 2026
UNISA Supplementary Exams 2026
Supplementary examinations at UNISA provide a second chance for students who narrowly failed their final exam. They are typically held in January-February of the following year (so January-February 2027 for 2026 modules). Eligibility is based on your combined year mark and exam mark — generally, you need a combined mark in the range of 40-49% to qualify. Not all modules offer supplementary exams.
Check myUNISA after your results are released to see if you qualify. There may be an additional fee for supplementary exams. Your supplementary exam mark replaces your original exam mark, but your year mark stays the same. Preparation for supplementary exams should focus on the areas where you lost marks in the original exam.
Review your exam script (available through the remark/review process) if possible. Supplementary exams cover the same syllabus as the original exam but are different papers. Passing a supplementary exam counts as a pass — there is no distinction on your transcript..
Additional Information
How to Prepare for Supplementary Exams
- Review your original exam — request a remark/review if available to see where you lost marks
- Focus on topics and question types where you performed poorly
- Study past exam papers — supplementary exams cover the same syllabus but with different questions
- Address any gaps in understanding rather than just re-reading notes
- Practice time management as the supplementary exam has the same time constraints
Understanding Supplementary Exams in Detail
How Final Marks Are Calculated
Understanding the mark calculation helps you strategise for supplementary exams:
- Your year mark (continuous assessment from assignments) typically counts 20-30% of your final mark
- Your exam mark counts the remaining 70-80%
- The final mark is the weighted combination of these two
- To pass, you generally need a final mark of 50% or higher
- To qualify for a supplementary exam, you typically need a final mark between 40-49%
Example: If your year mark is 55% (counting 20%) and your exam mark is 35% (counting 80%), your final mark is (55 × 0.2) + (35 × 0.8) = 11 + 28 = 39%. This is below 40%, so you would NOT qualify for a supplementary exam — you would need to repeat the module.
Another example: Year mark 60% (counting 20%) and exam mark 42% (counting 80%), final mark = (60 × 0.2) + (42 × 0.8) = 12 + 33.6 = 45.6%. This falls in the 40-49% range, so you WOULD qualify for a supplementary exam.
The Supplementary Exam Itself
The supplementary exam covers the same syllabus as the original exam but is a different paper. This means you cannot simply memorise the answers from the original exam — you need to understand the content thoroughly. The time allocation, number of questions, and mark distribution may also differ from the original exam.
When you pass the supplementary exam, your new final mark is recalculated using your original year mark and the new exam mark. The maximum final mark after a supplementary exam is capped at 50% in some modules — check your module-specific rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, students with a combined final mark of 40-49% qualify. Not all modules offer supplementary exams. Check myUNISA after results are released to confirm your eligibility.
Supplementary exams for 2026 modules are typically held in January-February 2027. Exact dates are published on the UNISA website and myUNISA.
Your supplementary exam mark replaces your original exam mark. Your year mark remains the same. The new final mark is calculated using the supplementary exam mark and your existing year mark.
There may be an additional fee for supplementary exams. Check the UNISA fee schedule for the current supplementary examination fee.
No, there is no distinction on your academic record between a regular pass and a supplementary pass. Your transcript shows the final mark regardless of how many attempts it took.
Related UNISA Guides
- UNISA Status Checker — check your application status
- UNISA Courses List — browse all qualifications
- Fees Calculator — estimate costs
- How to Apply to UNISA — application guide
- Registration Guide — step-by-step registration
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, students with a combined final mark of 40-49% qualify. Not all modules offer supplementary exams. Check myUNISA after results are released to confirm your eligibility.
Supplementary exams for 2026 modules are typically held in January-February 2027. Exact dates are published on the UNISA website and myUNISA.
Your supplementary exam mark replaces your original exam mark. Your year mark remains the same. The new final mark is calculated using the supplementary exam mark and your existing year mark.
There may be an additional fee for supplementary exams. Check the UNISA fee schedule for the current supplementary examination fee.
No, there is no distinction on your academic record between a regular pass and a supplementary pass. Your transcript shows the final mark regardless of how many attempts it took.