An independent school has the freedom to choose which examining body’s examinations it wants to write, as long as the examining body is recognised by Umalusi (the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training).

Most independent schools in South Africa write either the state examination or that of the Independent Examinations Board (IEB).

The assessment processes, instruments, outcomes and standards relevant to the two exit points of grades 9 and 12 are specified and regulated by the examining body a school chooses.

Independent schools are also free to write international examinations, such as the International Baccalaureate, the Cambridge examinations (O- and A-levels) from the United Kingdom, or the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SATs) from the United States.

These examinations do not fall under Umalusi’s control, but are approved by Higher Education South Africa (HESA) for admission to tertiary institutions in South Africa.