The WCED provided the following answer to a question from the Cape Argus on 30 July 2008.

A total of 25 544 candidates applied to write supplementary matric exams in May and June this year. In the end, 16 129 candidates (63%) reported to write the exams.

Umalusi has approved the release of the results. The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) posted the results to candidates last week.

Candidates wrote exams for individual subjects, and can apply to the WCED to combine these and other results from previous exams to obtain their Senior Certificate, should they qualify.

Candidates who wrote matric exams in and prior to 2007 have until 2011 to complete their Senior Certificate based on the old matric syllabus, if they failed last year and again in May/June this year.

If candidates register for matric exams for the first time in 2008, then they have to write exams based on the new curriculum.