NSC Exam Timetable 2026 – Matric (Grade 12) Final Exams, October–November
Quick answer: The 2026 matric (NSC) final exams started on Tuesday 13 October 2026 and the last regular paper is on Wednesday 25 November 2026, with CAT and IT practical rewrites on 26 November. Key papers: Maths P1 on 23 October and P2 on 26 October, English P1 on 28 October, Physical Sciences on 30 October and 2 November, Life Sciences on 13 and 16 November. Papers start at 09:00 or 14:00 (SAST).
- The DBE’s 2026 NSC final exams began on Tuesday 13 October with the CAT practical and run until Wednesday 25 November 2026.
- Mathematics, Maths Literacy and Technical Maths Paper 1 is on 23 October and Paper 2 on 26 October, both at 09:00.
- There are no papers on 3, 4 and 5 November or on 9 November 2026 – useful revision days.
- Public schools in every province follow this national timetable; check your admission letter and education.gov.za for changes.
Which matric timetable is this?
This is the Department of Basic Education (DBE) timetable for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) October/November 2026 examination – the final Grade 12 exams written in all public schools in South Africa. Provincial education departments (Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape, North West and others) use the same national timetable. It is not the IEB timetable, which independent schools follow separately, and not the May/June 2026 SC/NSC timetable for part-time and repeat candidates.
The Western Cape Education Department confirmed on 6 October 2026 that the exams would begin on 13 October with the CAT practical paper and end on 25 November 2026.
Matric exam timetable 2026: full paper-by-paper schedule
HL = Home Language, FAL = First Additional Language, SAL = Second Additional Language. Durations are those printed by the DBE.
| Date (2026) | 09:00 session | 14:00 session |
|---|---|---|
| Tue 13 Oct | Computer Applications Technology P1 – Practical (3 h) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL/SAL P1; Hebrew SAL P1; German HL/FAL/SAL P1 |
| Wed 14 Oct | Information Technology P1 – Practical (3 h) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1; Latin SAL P1; Portuguese HL/FAL/SAL P1 |
| Thu 15 Oct | English HL P3 (3 h), FAL P3 and SAL P3 (2½ h) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL/SAL P2; Hebrew SAL P2; German HL/FAL/SAL P2 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Economics P1 (2 h); Mechanical Technology (3 h) | Design P1 (3 h) |
| Mon 19 Oct | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3 h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½ h) | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½ h) |
| Tue 20 Oct | Afrikaans HL P3 (3 h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½ h) | History P1 (3 h); Maritime Economics (3 h) |
| Wed 21 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3 h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½ h); South African Sign Language HL P3 | Information Technology P2 – Theory (3 h) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Accounting P1 (2 h) | Engineering Graphics & Design P1 (3 h); Marine Sciences P1 (2½ h) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Mathematics P1, Mathematical Literacy P1, Technical Mathematics P1 (3 h) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL P3; Portuguese and German HL/FAL P3 |
| Mon 26 Oct | Mathematics P2, Mathematical Literacy P2, Technical Mathematics P2 (3 h) | Sport and Exercise Science (3 h) |
| Tue 27 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2 h); South African Sign Language HL P1 | Engineering Graphics & Design P2 (3 h) |
| Wed 28 Oct | English HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2 h) | Accounting P2 (2 h) |
| Thu 29 Oct | Geography P1 (3 h) | Computer Applications Technology P2 – Theory (3 h) |
| Fri 30 Oct | Physical Sciences P1 – Physics (3 h); Technical Sciences P1 (3 h) | Tourism (3 h) |
| Mon 2 Nov | Physical Sciences P2 – Chemistry (3 h); Technical Sciences P2 | Religion Studies P1 (2 h) |
| Tue 3 – Thu 5 Nov | No exams | No exams |
| Fri 6 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2 h) | Consumer Studies (3 h); Hospitality Studies (3 h) |
| Mon 9 Nov | No exams | No exams |
| Tue 10 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL/FAL P2 (2½ h), SAL P2 (1½ h) | Electrical Technology (3 h); Nautical Science P1 (3 h) |
| Wed 11 Nov | Afrikaans HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2 h) | Business Studies P1 (2 h) |
| Thu 12 Nov | Geography P2 (3 h) | Religion Studies P2 (2 h) |
| Fri 13 Nov | Life Sciences P1 (2½ h) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2; Latin SAL P2; Portuguese HL/FAL/SAL P2; Equine Studies (3 h) |
| Mon 16 Nov | Life Sciences P2 (2½ h) | Dramatic Arts (3 h); Civil Technology (3 h) |
| Tue 17 Nov | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL/FAL P2 (2½ h), SAL P2 (1½ h); South African Sign Language HL P2 | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½ h); Nautical Science P2 (3 h) |
| Wed 18 Nov | Business Studies P2 (2 h) | Visual Arts P1 (3 h) |
| Thu 19 Nov | English HL/FAL P2 (2½ h), SAL P2 (1½ h) | History P2 (3 h) |
| Fri 20 Nov | Afrikaans HL/FAL P2 (2½ h), SAL P2 (1½ h) | Economics P2 (2 h) |
| Mon 23 Nov | Agricultural Technology (3 h) | Music P1 – Theory (3 h) |
| Tue 24 Nov | Agricultural Management Practices (3 h); Marine Sciences P2 (2½ h) | Dance Studies (3 h) |
| Wed 25 Nov | Music P2 – Comprehension (1½ h) | – |
| Thu 26 Nov | CAT P1 and IT P1 rewrite practicals (3 h) – only for candidates told to rewrite | – |
Session times for each paper are shown as on the DBE timetable layout. Your admission letter and your school’s exam timetable are final – check them for your exact session and centre.
Practical and school-based dates before the written exams
- Performing Arts practicals: 3 August – 9 October 2026.
- Visual Arts and Design practicals: 14 September – 13 October 2026.
- Life Orientation common assessment task (CAT): 1 September 2026, with a rewrite on 12 October 2026.
- Pledge signing: 9 October 2026.
Related timetables
See all South African exam dates on our South Africa exam timetable hub. Other exams running now: KCSE timetable 2026 (Kenya), NSW HSC exam timetable 2026 and Cambridge O & A level November 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When do the 2026 matric (NSC) final exams start?
The 2026 NSC final exams started on Tuesday 13 October 2026 with Computer Applications Technology Paper 1 (practical) and Information Technology Paper 1 (practical) on 14 October.
When do the 2026 matric exams end?
The last regular paper, Music Paper 2, is on Wednesday 25 November 2026. CAT and IT practical rewrites, for candidates who are told to rewrite, are on Thursday 26 November 2026.
When is Maths Paper 1 in the 2026 NSC exams?
Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy and Technical Mathematics Paper 1 are on Friday 23 October 2026, and Paper 2 on Monday 26 October 2026, both in the morning (09:00) session.
When is English Paper 1 for matric 2026?
English Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language Paper 1 are on Wednesday 28 October 2026 at 09:00. Paper 3 was on 15 October and Paper 2 is on 19 November.
When are Physical Sciences and Life Sciences in the 2026 NSC timetable?
Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) is on Friday 30 October and Paper 2 (Chemistry) on Monday 2 November 2026. Life Sciences Paper 1 is on Friday 13 November and Paper 2 on Monday 16 November 2026.
What time do matric exam papers start?
Morning papers start at 09:00 and afternoon papers at 14:00, South African Standard Time. Arrive at your centre at least 30 minutes early.
Are there any days with no exams?
Yes. The DBE timetable has no papers on Tuesday 3, Wednesday 4 and Thursday 5 November, and Monday 9 November 2026.
Where can I download the official NSC timetable 2026 PDF?
The Department of Basic Education publishes it on education.gov.za. Use the download button on this page, and check with your school for any later changes.
When is the 2026 matric Accounting exam?
Accounting Paper 1 is on Thursday 22 October 2026 in the 09:00 session and Paper 2 is on Wednesday 28 October 2026 in the 14:00 session. Each paper is 2 hours.
When are the 2026 matric Geography papers?
Geography Paper 1 is on Thursday 29 October and Paper 2 on Thursday 12 November 2026, both 3-hour papers in the 09:00 session.
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Download official NSC timetable 2026 (DBE PDF)
Datesheets.com is an independent website and is not linked to the Department of Basic Education. The schedule above is taken from the DBE’s official October/November 2026 NSC timetable. The DBE can amend dates; always confirm with your school, your admission letter and education.gov.za.