The short answer
Seven subjects: four compulsory — a home language, a second language, Life Orientation, and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy — plus three electives of your choosing. You cannot take both Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy, and you cannot take both Hospitality Studies and Consumer Studies.
Grade 10 is where a learner’s options for after school start narrowing or staying open. It is worth an evening of proper thought.
The four compulsory subjects
- A home language — English or Afrikaans.
- A second language, at Home Language or First Additional Language level.
- Life Orientation.
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy — one or the other, never both.
The three electives
Chosen from: Accounting, Business Studies, Geography, History, Economics, Tourism, Computer Applications Technology, Visual Arts, Hospitality Studies, Consumer Studies, Life Science, Physical Science, Information Technology, Agricultural Science.
One restriction: a learner may not take both Hospitality Studies and Consumer Studies, because the content overlaps too heavily.
The Mathematics decision
This is the choice that closes doors quietly. Many university programmes — engineering, the sciences, most commerce degrees, and a good number of others — require Mathematics, not Mathematical Literacy. If your child has any thought of a degree in those directions, take Mathematics in Grade 10 even if it is harder, because moving from Mathematics to Mathematical Literacy later is far easier than moving the other way.
If you are unsure, look up the actual admission requirements of two or three courses your child has mentioned before deciding. Ask in the forums too — other Saving Grace families have made this call already.
Deadlines that matter
For Grade 12, all SACAI fees — registration, subject and examination venue — must be paid in full by the end of May. Subject changes become difficult once SACAI registration has been submitted, so settle the choice early.
This article was written from the Grade 10–12 page on the Saving Grace website in August 2026. Figures and dates change — check the Grade 10–12 page before you rely on them, or ask in the forums and a member of the team will confirm.