Matric
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The word Matric is used in both the noun and adjectival form in some countries including India, Pakistan and South Africa to indicate a high school student's final year of school. This final year is more commonly known as grade 12, and was previously called Standard 10.
Matric is not compulsory but it is required for university application where students are required to achieve a specific (dependent upon the university and the tertiary course applied for) average in order to be accepted by a given tertiary institution. To complete and pass the Matric year, students are required to take a minimum of six subjects, including two languages, and are required to achieve 33.3% for each subject. This mark is made up from portfolio marks throughout the year, as well as preliminary and final examination marks.
Some students choose to take more than six subjects and it is not uncommon for someone to take up to 12. Once the Matric year has been passed, students are said to have 'Matriculated.' For example; "Mary Matriculated with 5 distinctions."
The word Matric can also be used as an adjective applied to such final year students. For example; "It is rumored that with his cane Mr Lategan has made even Matric boys blubber and plead for mercy and urinate in their pants and disgrace themselves." (from Boyhood by J. M. Coetzee)
