The matric exams that begin on October 27 - the second set to be written during the Covid pandemic - are likely to further highlight educational inequality, say experts.
Brahm Fleisch, professor of education policy at Wits University, said many schools have begun to adapt to the Covid context.
"Although little research has been done in schools, it is likely that the good schools have made plans to work around the challenges of the pandemic disruptions," he said.
"Schools that are struggling to manage were also struggling before the pandemic and their learners may not be adequately prepared for the exams."
Felix Maringe, a professor of higher education, said schools have been trying to close the gap in terms of curriculum coverage because of lost teaching time, but "it is not clear that the teaching has been geared to promote deep understanding".
"I believe most teaching has been directed at achieving examination success rather than conceptual understanding.
We expect lower pass rates from girls, and from learners in schools facing multiple deprivation, including reduced performance in mathematics and other computational subjects."
137,766 - The number of matrics who failed in 2020
233,315 - The number of matrics who wrote maths last year
76,2% - The matric pass rate in 2020
Maringe said research has indicated that older girls in the final years of secondary school "tend to suffer greater cognitive losses when teaching and learning is disrupted over long periods of time".
Professor Labby Ramrathan from the University of KwaZulu-Natal's education faculty said pupils who relied heavily on schools to help them prepare for the exams would struggle.
"But the independent learners, those who really want to do well and put in the extra effort, will be prepared."
Priscilla Ogunbanjo, director for public exams in the department of basic education, told a media briefing on Friday that candidates were ready to write the exams and that the department was ready to administer it.
The Western Cape is the only province that is asking markers in some subjects to write a competency test before being considered for appointment. The subjects include accounting, business studies, economics, English home language and maths.
Spokesperson Millicent Merton said those achieving a score of 60% and above in the competency test will be considered suitable for marking.
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