Matric exams in South Africa - dates and deadlines
Every matric exams date Find SA Status tracks, current and archived, with the official source, the date we last verified it and the next scheduled review.
There are 6 matric exams records here: 5 still upcoming and 1 archived. Archived records stay online because "when did that happen" is a real question, but they are clearly marked so nobody plans around a date that has passed.
Last reviewed 2026-10-13 · next scheduled review 2026-10-14
Upcoming and current
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Fri 23 Oct 2026
Confirmed In 8 days2026 NSC Mathematics Paper 1 and Mathematical Literacy Paper 1
Mathematics Paper 1, Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 and Technical Mathematics Paper 1 will be written at 09:00 on Friday 23 October 2026. These are the highest-enrolment papers in the NSC timetable, with well over half a million candidates expected to write nationally.
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Mon 26 Oct 2026
Confirmed In 11 days2026 NSC Mathematics Paper 2 and Mathematical Literacy Paper 2
Mathematics Paper 2, Mathematical Literacy Paper 2 and Technical Mathematics Paper 2 will be written at 09:00 on Monday 26 October 2026. Candidates should confirm their own paper(s) against the official DBE timetable, because Technical Mathematics follows a different paper structure.
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Wed 28 Oct 2026
Confirmed In 13 days2026 NSC English Home Language, FAL and SAL Paper 1
English Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language Paper 1 will be written at 09:00 on Wednesday 28 October 2026. English is compulsory for the NSC, so this is the single largest paper on the timetable.
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Fri 30 Oct 2026
Confirmed In 15 days2026 NSC Physical Sciences Paper 1 and Technical Sciences Paper 1
Physical Sciences Paper 1 and Technical Sciences Paper 1 will be written at 09:00 on Friday 30 October 2026. Physical Sciences Paper 2 follows on Monday 2 November 2026, after which the timetable pauses for three non-examination days.
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Thu 26 Nov 2026
Confirmed In 42 days2026 NSC examinations end
The final 2026 NSC papers - Computer Applications Technology and Information Technology Practical Paper 1 rewrites - are scheduled for 09:00 on Thursday 26 November 2026. Marking then begins nationally, followed by Umalusi standardisation before results are released.
Archive
These dates have passed. They are kept for reference - for example to check when a filing season closed in a previous year.
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Tue 13 Oct 2026
Confirmed 2 days ago2026 NSC (matric) examinations begin
The October/November 2026 National Senior Certificate examination session began on Tuesday 13 October 2026 with Computer Applications Technology Practical Paper 1 at 09:00. Practical assessments in Visual Arts, Design and Performing Arts ran earlier in September and October. Morning papers start at 09:00 and afternoon papers at 14:00.
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