NECO GCE Timetable 2026 – SSCE External (November 2026) Exam Dates
Quick answer: The NECO GCE timetable 2026 (Senior School Certificate Examination, External) runs from Wednesday 4 November to Saturday 21 November 2026. English Language is on Saturday 14 November and General Mathematics on Wednesday 18 November. Morning papers start at 10:00am and afternoon practical papers at 2:00pm (Nigeria time, WAT). There are no papers on Sundays (8 and 15 November).
Which NECO timetable is this?
This is the National Examinations Council (NECO) timetable for the 2026 SSCE External – the November/December exam for private candidates that most students call “NECO GCE”. It is not the June/July SSCE Internal for school candidates. The timetable is signed by NECO’s Director of Registration and published on neco.gov.ng.
Each subject is written on a single day: an objective paper (Paper III) first, then the essay paper (Paper II), and for science subjects and Geography a practical or Alternative to Practical paper in the afternoon.
NECO GCE timetable 2026: full schedule
| Date | Subject and paper | Code | Time (WAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed 4 Nov 2026 | Marketing III (Objective) Marketing II (Essay) | 3033 3032 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:40pm |
| Thu 5 Nov 2026 | Agricultural Science III (Objective) Agricultural Science II (Essay) Agricultural Science I (Alternative to Practical) | 2003 2002 2001 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:30pm 2:00pm – 3:30pm |
| Fri 6 Nov 2026 | Commerce III (Objective) Commerce II (Essay) | 3013 3012 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:40pm |
| Sat 7 Nov 2026 | Civic Education III (Objective) Civic Education II (Essay) | 1003 1002 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 1:00pm |
| Mon 9 Nov 2026 | Accounting III (Objective) Accounting II (Theory & Practice) | 3003 3002 | 10:00am – 11:20am 11:20am – 1:50pm |
| Tue 10 Nov 2026 | Geography III (Objective) Geography I (Practical) Geography II (Essay) | 2063 2061 2062 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:30pm 2:00pm – 4:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov 2026 | Literature in English III (Objective) Literature in English IV (Prose) Literature in English II (Drama & Poetry) | 4093 4094 4092 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 1:00pm 2:00pm – 3:15pm |
| Thu 12 Nov 2026 | Chemistry III (Objective) Chemistry II (Essay) Chemistry I (Alternative to Practical) | 2023 2022 2021 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 1:00pm 2:00pm – 4:00pm |
| Fri 13 Nov 2026 | Islamic Studies III (Objective) Islamic Studies II (Essay) | 4083 4082 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:30pm |
| Sat 14 Nov 2026 | English Language III (Objective) English Language II (Essay) English Language IV (Test of Orals) | 1013 1012 1014 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:15am – 1:00pm 1:15pm – 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov 2026 | Physics III (Objective) Physics II (Essay) Physics I (Alternative to Practical) | 2093 2092 2091 | 10:00am – 11:15am 11:15am – 1:00pm 2:00pm – 4:45pm |
| Tue 17 Nov 2026 | Economics III (Objective) Economics II (Essay) | 3023 3022 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 1:00pm |
| Wed 18 Nov 2026 | General Mathematics III (Objective) General Mathematics II (Essay) | 1023 1022 | 10:00am – 11:45am 12:00 noon – 2:30pm |
| Thu 19 Nov 2026 | Biology III (Objective) Biology II (Essay) Biology I (Alternative to Practical) | 2013 2012 2011 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:30pm 2:00pm – 4:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov 2026 | Christian Religious Studies III (Objective) Christian Religious Studies II (Essay) | 4023 4022 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:30pm |
| Sat 21 Nov 2026 | Government III (Objective) Government II (Essay) | 4043 4042 | 10:00am – 11:00am 11:00am – 12:40pm |
Further Mathematics and Data Processing are not listed in the published 2026 SSCE External timetable. Candidates registered for other subjects should confirm their dates with NECO.
Key NECO GCE 2026 dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| First paper (Marketing) | Wednesday 4 November 2026 |
| English Language | Saturday 14 November 2026 |
| General Mathematics | Wednesday 18 November 2026 |
| Last paper (Government) | Saturday 21 November 2026 |
NECO exam day rules printed on the timetable
- Bring your photocard – it is required for identification.
- Be seated 30 minutes before each paper starts.
- If the time on the (virtual) question paper differs from the timetable, follow the question paper.
- Albino and blind candidates get 30 minutes extra on every paper.
- Scientific calculators are allowed; phones, programmable calculators, tablets and smart watches, glasses or pens are banned from the hall.
Related timetables
All Nigerian exams are on our Nigeria exam timetable hub. Writing WAEC as well? See the WAEC timetable 2026 (WASSCE private candidates, second series) and the WAEC timetable 2027. Other African exams this season: WASSCE & BECE timetable (Ghana), KCSE timetable 2026 and UNEB timetable 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When does the NECO GCE 2026 start and end?
The 2026 NECO SSCE External (GCE) starts on Wednesday 4 November 2026 with Marketing and ends on Saturday 21 November 2026 with Government.
When is the NECO GCE English Language paper in 2026?
English Language is on Saturday 14 November 2026: Paper III (Objective) 10:00am–11:00am, Paper II (Essay) 11:15am–1:00pm and Paper IV (Test of Orals) 1:15pm–2:00pm.
When is NECO GCE Mathematics 2026?
General Mathematics is on Wednesday 18 November 2026: Paper III (Objective) 10:00am–11:45am and Paper II (Essay) 12:00 noon–2:30pm.
What is the NECO GCE timetable 2026 for science students?
Chemistry is on Thursday 12 November, Physics on Monday 16 November and Biology on Thursday 19 November 2026. Each has an objective paper, an essay paper and an afternoon Alternative to Practical paper. Agricultural Science is on Thursday 5 November.
What is the NECO GCE timetable 2026 for art students?
Civic Education is on 7 November, Literature in English on 11 November, Islamic Studies on 13 November, Christian Religious Studies on 20 November and Government on 21 November 2026. Commercial students write Commerce on 6 November, Accounting on 9 November and Economics on 17 November.
What time do NECO GCE papers start?
Every morning paper starts at 10:00am Nigeria time (WAT), and afternoon practical or Alternative to Practical papers start at 2:00pm. Be seated 30 minutes before each paper.
Is Further Mathematics in the NECO GCE 2026 timetable?
Further Mathematics does not appear in the 2026 SSCE External timetable PDF published by NECO. If you registered for it, ask NECO or your centre for its date before exam week.
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Download official NECO GCE timetable 2026 (PDF)
Datesheets.com is an independent website and is not linked to the National Examinations Council. The schedule above is taken from NECO’s official 2026 SSCE External timetable. NECO can amend dates, so always confirm on neco.gov.ng and with your centre.