- 02 Sep, 2026
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Matric Exam Timetable 2026
Exam preparation
Matric Exam Timetable 2026
The October and November 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations run from 13 October to 26 November. Here is every major paper with its date, sitting time and duration, taken from the Department of Basic Education’s own timetable.
For matriculants and parentsWhen do the 2026 matric exams start and finish?
The October and November 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations run from 13 October 2026 to 26 November 2026. There are only two sitting times, 09:00 and 14:00. The first written paper is Computer Applications Technology Paper 1 Practical on 13 October, and Mathematics Paper 1 is on Friday 23 October.
Two dates sit outside that window and catch people out. Life Orientation was written on 1 September 2026, and the pledge signing takes place on 9 October 2026 at 09:00, before the written papers begin.
Every date below comes from the national Department of Basic Education timetable, October/November 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations Timetable, dated February 2026 and published at education.gov.za.
Which papers are written on which dates?
The papers most candidates write run from 15 October to 20 November 2026. Mathematics Paper 1 is Friday 23 October and Paper 2 Monday 26 October, both at 09:00. Physical Sciences Paper 1 is Friday 30 October and Paper 2 Monday 2 November. Life Sciences Paper 1 is Friday 13 November and Paper 2 Monday 16 November. The full table with times and durations follows.
These are the papers most candidates write. Durations are in brackets.
| Date | Time | Paper |
|---|---|---|
| Thu 15 Oct | 09:00 | English HL P3 (3hrs) · FAL P3 (2½hrs) · SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| Fri 16 Oct | 09:00 | Economics P1 (2hrs) |
| Tue 20 Oct | 14:00 | History P1 (3hrs) |
| Thu 22 Oct | 09:00 | Accounting P1 (2hrs) |
| Fri 23 Oct | 09:00 | Mathematics P1 · Mathematical Literacy P1 · Technical Mathematics P1 (3hrs) |
| Mon 26 Oct | 09:00 | Mathematics P2 · Mathematical Literacy P2 · Technical Mathematics P2 (3hrs) |
| Wed 28 Oct | 09:00 | English HL P1 · FAL P1 · SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Wed 28 Oct | 14:00 | Accounting P2 (2hrs) |
| Thu 29 Oct | 09:00 | Geography P1: Climate and Weather, Geomorphology, Map Work (3hrs) |
| Fri 30 Oct | 09:00 | Physical Sciences (Physics) P1 (3hrs) · Technical Sciences P1 (3hrs) |
| Mon 2 Nov | 09:00 | Physical Sciences (Chemistry) P2 (3hrs) · Technical Sciences P2 (1½hrs) |
| Wed 11 Nov | 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P1 · FAL P1 · SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Wed 11 Nov | 14:00 | Business Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Thu 12 Nov | 09:00 | Geography P2: Rural and Urban Settlements, Economic Geography, Map Work (3hrs) |
| Fri 13 Nov | 09:00 | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Mon 16 Nov | 09:00 | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) |
| Wed 18 Nov | 09:00 | Business Studies P2 (2hrs) |
| Thu 19 Nov | 09:00 | English HL P2 · FAL P2 (2½hrs) · SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| Thu 19 Nov | 14:00 | History P2 (3hrs) |
| Fri 20 Nov | 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P2 · FAL P2 (2½hrs) · SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| Fri 20 Nov | 14:00 | Economics P2 (2hrs) |
Note the gap between paper 1 and paper 2. Mathematics has one weekend between the two papers. Physical Sciences has three days. Life Sciences has one weekend. That gap is your last real revision window for that subject, and planning it now is worth more than planning it the night before.
When are the language papers written?
Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language papers sit on their own dates. isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati and isiNdebele write Paper 3 on 19 October, Paper 1 on 6 November and Paper 2 on 10 November. Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda and South African Sign Language write Paper 3 on 21 October, Paper 1 on 27 October and Paper 2 on 17 November. Afrikaans Paper 3 is 20 October.
Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language papers for the African languages, Afrikaans and South African Sign Language sit on their own dates.
| Date | Time | Papers |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 19 Oct | 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele P3 |
| Tue 20 Oct | 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 · SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| Wed 21 Oct | 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda P3 · SA Sign Language HL P3 |
| Tue 27 Oct | 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda P1 · SASL HL P1 (2hrs) |
| Fri 6 Nov | 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele P1 (2hrs) |
| Tue 10 Nov | 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele P2 |
| Tue 17 Nov | 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda P2 · SASL HL P2 |
Home Language Paper 2 runs 2½ hours, First Additional Language Paper 2 runs 2½ hours and Second Additional Language Paper 2 runs 1½ hours.
Which dates are not written papers?
Several dates on the timetable are not sit-down examinations. Life Orientation was written on 1 September 2026 with a rewrite on 12 October. Performing Arts practicals run 3 August to 9 October and Visual Arts and Design practicals 14 September to 13 October. The pledge signing is 9 October. There are no papers on 3, 4, 5 and 9 November, and the final day, 26 November, is the CAT and IT Paper 1 rewrite practicals.
Several dates on the timetable are not sit-down examinations, and candidates lose time by assuming they are free.
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 1 September 2026 | Life Orientation Common Assessment Task (2½hrs) |
| 3 August to 9 October 2026 | Performing Arts practical examinations |
| 14 September to 13 October 2026 | Visual Arts and Design practical examinations |
| 9 October 2026 | Pledge signing, 09:00 |
| 12 October 2026 | Life Orientation rewrite |
| 26 November 2026 | Final day: CAT and IT Paper 1 rewrite practicals |
Non-examination days
There are no papers on 3, 4, 5 and 9 November 2026. That is a four-day break early in November and a single day the following Monday. Used well, those are the most valuable revision days in the entire timetable.
What must you confirm yourself?
Your exact paper dates, session times and venue, on the official examination permit issued by your examination centre. The timetable here is the national one published by the Department of Basic Education; your permit governs your morning. Registration for the November 2026 sitting has closed and no late applications are accepted, so if you are not registered, the next opportunity is 2027, closing before 15 March 2027.
Always confirm your exact paper dates, session times and venue on your official examination permit, issued by your examination centre. The official timetable is published by the Department of Basic Education at education.gov.za.
The timetable above is the national one. Subject choices, centre arrangements and any provincial variation mean your permit is the document that governs your morning, not a table on a website. Check it, and check it early enough to query anything that looks wrong.
Registration for this sitting has closed
If you are reading this hoping to enter the November 2026 examination, registration for part-time candidates has already closed, and the Western Cape Education Department states that no late applications will be accepted. The next opportunity is the 2027 examination, and registration for that closes before 15 March 2027. Read the guide to Matric Rewrite 2027 Registration.
How should you use the timetable to revise?
Work backwards from your hardest paper: put its date on the wall and count the weeks. Protect the gaps between Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the same subject, because those days are your last real revision window and they are already allocated whether you plan them or not. And write past papers under timed conditions, because a three-hour paper is a physical task as much as an academic one.
A timetable is only useful if it changes what you do this week. Three things are worth doing with it now.
Work backwards from your hardest paper
Find the subject you are most worried about, put its date on a wall, and count the weeks. If Mathematics Paper 1 on 23 October is the one keeping you up, you have that many weeks, not “until exams”.
Protect the gaps between papers
The days between Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the same subject are already allocated, whether you plan them or not. Decide now what happens in them.
Write under timed conditions
Every duration is on the timetable above. A three-hour Mathematics paper is a three-hour physical task as much as an academic one, and the first time you do it should not be in the hall.
Where does Apex Academic Centre fit in?
Apex Academic Centre is a tutoring provider, not an examination centre. It does not set the timetable, register candidates or issue permits; all of that sits with the Department of Basic Education and your examination centre. What Apex does is get you ready for the paper, through one-on-one tutoring in any subject via the MyAPEX app or matric group classes taught live by South African teachers.
Apex Academic Centre is a tutoring provider, not an examination centre. Apex does not set the timetable, register candidates or issue permits. All of that sits with the Department of Basic Education and your examination centre. What Apex does is get you ready for the paper.
One-on-one tutoring in any subject
If one subject is the problem, you do not need a full programme. One-on-one tutoring is available online or in person through the MyAPEX app, matched to your subject, curriculum and grade. Book a tutor.
Matric group classes
Apex runs online group classes across eight NSC subjects, taught live by experienced South African teachers and recorded so you can revise, working through past papers and answering technique. From R700 per subject per month. In-person group classes run in Midrand, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 14:00. See the matric classes.
Prices were correct on 2 September 2026, so confirm the current figure on the page.
Frequently asked questions
When does the matric exam timetable 2026 start?
The October and November 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations begin on 13 October 2026 with Computer Applications Technology Paper 1 Practical, and end on 26 November 2026. The pledge signing is on 9 October, and Life Orientation was written on 1 September 2026.
When is the Mathematics paper in 2026?
Mathematics Paper 1, Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 and Technical Mathematics Paper 1 are written on Friday 23 October 2026 at 09:00, each three hours. The Paper 2 papers follow on Monday 26 October 2026 at 09:00, also three hours.
What time do matric exams start?
There are only two sitting times on the 2026 timetable, 09:00 and 14:00. Most papers are in the morning session. Always confirm your own session time on your official examination permit.
Are there days with no exams?
Yes. There are no papers on 3, 4, 5 and 9 November 2026. Those are the largest revision windows in the timetable, and they are easy to waste by treating them as a holiday.
Can I still register for the November 2026 exams?
No. Registration for part-time candidates for the November 2026 sitting has closed, and no late applications are accepted. The next opportunity is the 2027 examination, for which registration closes before 15 March 2027. Apex Academic Centre is not an examination centre and cannot register you; registration is done with the Department of Basic Education.
Six weeks to go
Know the dates. Now do the work.
The timetable is fixed. What changes your result is what happens between now and 13 October. Apex matches you with an experienced South African teacher in the subject you are actually worried about.