The National Senior Certificate (NSC) is a school-leaving qualification. Admission to higher education also depends on the required pass category, subjects, marks and institution-specific selection criteria. The Department of Basic Education administers the public NSC examination system; accredited independent assessment bodies have their own timetables.
NSC candidates normally offer at least seven subjects, including two official languages, Life Orientation and Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy or, in the relevant approved programme, Technical Mathematics. Check the subject-combination and assessment requirements for your qualification.
Assessment requirements differ by subject and can include written papers, school-based assessment, oral work and practical assessment. The following broad groups have different requirements:
- General subjects
- Language subjects
- Practical Subjects
Students are graded in levels according to percentages. Students with higher grades stand better chances of getting scholarships and admission into outstanding universities in South Africa and other countries. Here is how the grading is done.
- Level 1: 0 to 29% (Not Achieved)
- Level 2: 30 to 39% (Elementary Achievement)
- Level 3: 40 to 49% (Moderate Achievement)
- Level 4: 50 to 59% (Adequate Achievement)
- Level 5: 60 to 69% (Substantial Achievement)
- Level 6: 70 to 79% (Meritorious Achievement)
- Level 7: 80 to 100% (Outstanding Achievement)
Use your assessment body’s latest official timetable and your school’s candidate timetable. A published correction can supersede an earlier timetable. The DBE schedule below incorporates the revised South African Sign Language Home Language Paper 1 date of 19 October 2026.
2026 Matric Preliminary Exam Dates
The matric preliminary exam prepares Grade 12 learners for the final matric exam at the end of the year. It is a mock setting of the final exam with students writing in a similar setting. It helps put students on track as they can focus on their weaknesses and improve their grades at the matric exam.
Preliminary examination dates are set by the relevant province, school or assessment body. They often fall in the third term, but there is no single national preliminary timetable; obtain the exact dates from your school.
2026 National Matric Exam Dates
The 2026 DBE final NSC examinations run from 13 October to 26 November. The tables summarise the published schedule; confirm every paper and any amendment in the official DBE timetable and your candidate timetable. IEB and SACAI schedules differ.
| Date | Subject |
| 1 September 2026; rewrite 12 October, 09:00 | Life Orientation Common Assessment Task (2½ hours) |
| 13 October 2026, 09:00 | Computer Applications Technology P1 practical (3 hours) |
| 14 October 2026, 09:00 | Information Technology P1 practical (3 hours) |
| 3 August–9 October 2026 | Performing Arts practical assessments |
| 14 September–13 October 2026 | Visual Arts and Design practical assessments |
The six weekly tables below cover 19 October–26 November 2026. Papers on 13–16 October are: CAT practical on 13 October; IT practical on 14 October; English HL/FAL/SAL P3 on 15 October at 09:00; Economics P1 and Mechanical Technology on 16 October at 09:00, with Design P1 at 14:00. Other language papers also occur in that first week; consult the complete official timetable.
Week 2: 19–23 October 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 19/10/2026 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½h); South African Sign Language HL P1 (2h), revised date | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½h) |
| 20/10/2026 | Afrikaans HL P3 (3h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½h) | History P1 (3h); Maritime Economics (3h) |
| 21/10/2026 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3h), FAL/SAL P3 (2½h); South African Sign Language HL P3 (3h) | Information Technology P2 theory (3h) |
| 22/10/2026 | Accounting P1 (2h) | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3h); Marine Sciences P1 (2½h) |
| 23/10/2026 | Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Technical Mathematics P1 (3h) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL P3; Portuguese and German HL/FAL P3 (2½h) |
Week 3: 26–30 October 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 26/10/2026 | Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Technical Mathematics P2 (3h) | Sport and Exercise Science (3h) |
| 27/10/2026 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2h). SASL HL P1 moved to 19 October. | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3h) |
| 28/10/2026 | English HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2h) | Accounting P2 (2h) |
| 29/10/2026 | Geography P1 (3h) | Computer Applications Technology P2 theory (3h) |
| 30/10/2026 | Physical Sciences P1 Physics (3h); Technical Sciences P1 (3h) | Tourism (3h) |
Week 4: 2–6 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 02/11/2026 | Physical Sciences P2 Chemistry (3h); Technical Sciences P2 (1½h) | Religion Studies P1 (2h) |
| 03/11/2026 | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| 04/11/2026 | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| 05/11/2026 | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| 06/11/2026 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2h) | Consumer Studies (3h); Hospitality Studies (3h) |
Week 5: 9–13 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 09/11/2026 | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| 10/11/2026 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL/FAL P2 (2½h), SAL P2 (1½h) | Electrical Technology (3h); Nautical Science P1 (3h) |
| 11/11/2026 | Afrikaans HL/FAL/SAL P1 (2h) | Business Studies P1 (2h) |
| 12/11/2026 | Geography P2 (3h) | Religion Studies P2 (2h) |
| 13/11/2026 | Life Sciences P1 (2½h) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2 (2h); Latin SAL P2 (2h); Portuguese HL P2 (2½h), FAL/SAL P2 (2h); Equine Studies (3h) |
Week 6: 16–20 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 16/11/2026 | Life Sciences P2 (2½h) | Dramatic Arts (3h); Civil Technology (3h) |
| 17/11/2026 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL/FAL P2 (2½h), SAL P2 (1½h); South African Sign Language HL P2 (2½h) | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½h); Nautical Science P2 (3h) |
| 18/11/2026 | Business Studies P2 (2h) | Visual Arts P1 (3h) |
| 19/11/2026 | English HL/FAL P2 (2½h), SAL P2 (1½h) | History P2 (3h) |
| 20/11/2026 | Afrikaans HL/FAL P2 (2½h), SAL P2 (1½h) | Economics P2 (2h) |
Week 7: 23–26 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| 23–24/11/2026 | 23 Nov: Agricultural Technology (3h). 24 Nov: Agricultural Management Practices (3h); Marine Sciences P2 (2½h). | 23 Nov: Music P1 theory (3h). 24 Nov: Dance Studies (3h). |
| 25–26/11/2026 | 25 Nov: Music P2 comprehension (1½h). 26 Nov: CAT P1 and IT P1 practical rewrites (3h), for eligible candidates only. | No afternoon paper shown for these dates. |
Also Read: Matric Results – How to Check Matric Results
2026 IEB Matric Exam Dates
The Independent Examinations Board (IEB) has a separate 2026 timetable. Its published schedule includes September assessments, October papers and final papers through 27 November 2026. Obtain the latest official IEB timetable and confirm your personal papers with your school. IEB enquiries: 011 483 9700.
The following are selected IEB dates, checked against its 2026 final timetable (NSC Circular 38). Further Studies subjects are extracurricular and are not included in NSC certification; this is not a complete IEB schedule.
| Date | Subjects |
| 15 October 2026, 09:00–12:00 | Information Technology P1 practical |
| 19 October 2026 | Further Studies Mathematics P1 Standard, 09:00–11:00; P2 Elective, 13:00–14:00 |
| 22 October 2026, 14:00–17:00 | Further Studies English |
| 16 October 2026, 14:00–17:00 | Further Studies Physics |
