- 02 Sep, 2026
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The February and March Matric Supplementary Exam No Longer Exists
Matric and rewrites
The February and March Matric Supplementary Exam No Longer Exists
If you are waiting for a February or March supplementary examination, it is not coming. The Department of Basic Education has phased it out. Here is what replaced it, why one government page still lists it, and what to do instead.
For parents and matriculantsIs there still a February or March matric supplementary exam?
No. The February and March matric supplementary exam has been phased out. The Department of Basic Education states plainly that “the supplementary examination in February/March has been phased out and is therefore no longer available.” A mid-year May and June examination replaced it. If you are holding out for a supplementary paper early in the year, you are waiting for something that does not exist.
That quotation comes from the DBE’s own page on the release of National Senior Certificate results (education.gov.za, checked 2 September 2026).
Why do you still see it listed everywhere?
Because two government pages disagree and most articles copy the wrong one. The DBE’s Release of NSC Results page states the February and March supplementary has been phased out and is no longer available. The gov.za service page still lists NSC supplementary exams in March. The DBE page is the subject-matter owner and the more specific statement, so treat the March supplementary as discontinued.
| Page | What it says |
|---|---|
| DBE, Release of NSC Results | The February and March supplementary “has been phased out and is therefore no longer available” |
| gov.za service page | Still lists “NSC supplementary exams – March” as a rewrite opportunity |
The DBE page is the one to follow. It is the subject-matter owner, it is the more specific statement, and it describes the replacement examination. The gov.za service listing appears to be out of date rather than an alternative rule.
This is the part that costs people a year. A candidate who reads “supplementary in March” plans to write in March, does not apply for the May and June sitting in time, and then waits until October and November. That is nine months lost to a listing nobody updated.
What sittings actually exist now?
Two. The May and June examination is a mid-year sitting that allows candidates to improve their results; it replaced the February and March supplementary, and the 2026 closing date was 6 February 2026. The October and November examination is the final NSC, with registration closing before 15 March of that year. The 2027 dates have not been published.
| Sitting | What it is | When you apply |
|---|---|---|
| May and June | A mid-year examination that allows candidates to improve their results. This is what replaced the February and March supplementary | Early in the year. The 2026 closing date was 6 February 2026 |
| October and November | The final NSC examination | Registration closes before 15 March of that year |
The 2027 dates have not been published. The 6 February figure is the 2026 closing date and is given here as a guide to how early it falls, not as a 2027 deadline. The 15 March rule for the final examination is a standing DBE rule rather than a year-specific date.
What should you do first, before deciding to rewrite?
Ask for a re-mark. After the 2025 results were released on 13 January 2026, re-mark and re-check applications opened the same day and closed on 27 January 2026, at R120 for a re-mark and R30 per subject for a re-check, and result queries must be submitted within 30 days. If you are a few marks short of a pass or an entry requirement, that is faster and cheaper than a rewrite.
After the 2025 results were released on 13 January 2026, applications for a re-mark or re-check opened on 13 January 2026 and closed on 27 January 2026. The fees were R120 for a re-mark and R30 per subject for a re-check. Result queries must be submitted within 30 days of the release of results.
Those are the 2026 figures. The equivalent 2027 dates will follow the release of the 2026 results in January. If you are a few marks short of a pass or of a university entry requirement, a re-mark is faster and far cheaper than a rewrite, so start there.
What are your options if the marks stand?
The Department lists four routes: re-enrol as a full-time repeater at a school, register as a part-time repeater for the NSC examinations, write the Senior Certificate examination, or go to a TVET or FET college. The trap is that once a certificate has been converted to a Senior Certificate you are no longer an NSC candidate and cannot register as a part-time NSC candidate, so confirm your status first.
The Department lists four routes for candidates who were not successful.
- Re-enrol as a full-time repeater at a school.
- Register as a part-time repeater for the NSC examinations.
- Write the Senior Certificate examination.
- Go to a TVET or FET college.
The trap in that list
The DBE states that “anyone who wants to improve on their previous NSC results and who is still a NSC candidate (i.e. has not had their certificate changed to SC) may register as a part-time candidate for the NSC examinations.” Once a certificate has been converted to a Senior Certificate, you are no longer an NSC candidate and cannot register as a part-time NSC candidate. Confirm your status with your provincial education department before you plan around a rewrite.
You do not have to rewrite everything. Many candidates rewrite one or two subjects, the ones actually blocking a university programme, a bursary or a career path.
Where do you register, and where does Apex fit in?
You register with the Department of Basic Education, at a district or circuit office, a provincial education office, or online at eservices.gov.za; the Second Chance helpline is 0800 20 29 33. Registering for free Second Chance classes is not exam registration. Apex Academic Centre is a tutoring provider, not an examination centre, and prepares you to pass once you are registered.
You register with the Department of Basic Education, at a district or circuit office, a provincial education office, or online at eservices.gov.za. The DBE Second Chance helpline is 0800 20 29 33.
Registering for free Second Chance tutoring classes is not the same as registering for the examination. The Western Cape Education Department says it directly: “Registering and attending the Second Chance Matric Programme tutoring classes does not mean that the candidate is automatically registered for the examination.” Do both, separately.
Apex Academic Centre is a tutoring provider, not an examination centre. Apex cannot register you for the examination and no tutoring provider can. What Apex does is prepare you to pass the paper once you are registered: online group classes across eight NSC subjects from R700 per subject per month, in-person group classes in Midrand from Monday to Friday, and one-on-one tutoring in any subject through the MyAPEX app. See the matric rewrite classes, or read the full guide to Matric Rewrite 2027 Registration.
Prices were correct on 2 September 2026, so confirm the current figure on the page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a matric supplementary exam in February or March?
No. The Department of Basic Education states that the supplementary examination in February and March has been phased out and is no longer available. A mid-year May and June examination replaced it, and the final examination remains in October and November.
Why does the gov.za website still list a March supplementary exam?
The gov.za service page still lists NSC supplementary exams in March, while the DBE’s own results page states the sitting has been phased out. The DBE page is the subject-matter owner and the more specific statement, so treat the March supplementary as discontinued.
What replaced the supplementary exam?
A mid-year examination written in May and June, which allows candidates to improve their results. Applications close early in the year. For the 2026 sitting the closing date was 6 February 2026. The 2027 date has not been published.
Should I apply for a re-mark before rewriting?
Usually yes. After the 2025 results were released, the re-mark window ran from 13 to 27 January 2026, at R120 for a re-mark and R30 per subject for a re-check. Result queries must be submitted within 30 days of the release of results. If you are a few marks short, a re-mark is faster and cheaper than a rewrite.
Can Apex Academic Centre register me for the exam?
No. Apex Academic Centre is a tutoring provider, not an examination centre. You register with the Department of Basic Education at a district or circuit office, a provincial education office, or online at eservices.gov.za. Apex prepares you for the paper once you are registered.
Do not wait for March
The exam changed. Your plan should too.
Register with the Department of Basic Education for the sitting that actually exists, then let experienced South African teachers get you ready for the paper.