CAPS / NSC · 2026
Matric Exam Timetable 2026 (NSC Oct/Nov)
National Senior Certificate written exams start on Tuesday 13 October 2026 and finish on Thursday 26 November 2026. Morning papers at 09:00, afternoon papers at 14:00. This URL stays evergreen when next year's timetable is published.
- StartsTuesday 13 October 2026
- EndsThursday 26 November 2026
- Sessions09:00 · 14:00
- ResultsMid-January 2027Not yet confirmed
Prep with a tutor before your paper
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IEB candidates
This grid is the Department of Basic Education NSC timetable. IEB candidates follow the IEB timetable, not this one. Download the IEB 2026 examination timetable from the IEB National Senior Certificate page.
Confirm late circulars with your school. Session times and non-exam days below follow the DBE final October/November 2026 timetable.
Non-examination days
- Tue 3 Nov 2026Built-in mid-season gap
- Wed 4 Nov 2026Built-in mid-season gap
- Thu 5 Nov 2026Built-in mid-season gap
- Mon 9 Nov 2026Non-examination day
Results window
NSC results are usually released in mid-January. The 2027 date is not yet confirmed by DBE.
Week 1: 12-16 October 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 12 Oct | Life Orientation CAT rewrite (2½hrs) - see extra sittings | — |
| Tue 13 Oct | Computer Applications Technology P1 Practical (3hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL/SAL P1; Hebrew SAL P1; German HL/FAL/SAL P1 |
| Wed 14 Oct | Information Technology P1 Practical (3hrs) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1; Latin SAL P1; Portuguese HL/FAL/SAL P1 |
| Thu 15 Oct | English HL P3 (3hrs); English FAL P3 (2½hrs); English SAL P3 (2½hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL/SAL P2; Hebrew SAL P2; German HL/FAL/SAL P2 |
| Fri 16 Oct | Economics P1 (2hrs); Mechanical Technology (3hrs) | Design P1 (3hrs) |
Week 2: 19-23 October 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 19 Oct | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3hrs); FAL P3 (2½hrs); SAL P3 (2½hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Tue 20 Oct | Afrikaans HL P3 (3hrs); FAL P3 (2½hrs); SAL P3 (2½hrs) | History P1 (3hrs); Maritime Economics (3hrs) |
| Wed 21 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3hrs); FAL P3 (2½hrs); SAL P3 (2½hrs); SASL HL P3 (3hrs) | Information Technology P2 Theory (3hrs) |
| Thu 22 Oct | Accounting P1 (2hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3hrs); Marine Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Fri 23 Oct | Mathematics P1 (3hrs); Mathematical Literacy P1 (3hrs); Technical Mathematics P1 (3hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL/FAL P3; Portuguese and German HL/FAL P3 |
Week 3: 26-30 October 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 26 Oct | Mathematics P2 (3hrs); Mathematical Literacy P2 (3hrs); Technical Mathematics P2 (3hrs) | Sport and Exercise Science (3hrs) |
| Tue 27 Oct | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL/FAL/SAL P1; SASL HL P1 | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3hrs) |
| Wed 28 Oct | English HL P1 (2hrs); English FAL P1 (2hrs); English SAL P1 (2hrs) | Accounting P2 (2hrs) |
| Thu 29 Oct | Geography P1 (3hrs) | Computer Applications Technology P2 Theory (3hrs) |
| Fri 30 Oct | Physical Sciences P1 Physics (3hrs); Technical Sciences P1 (3hrs) | Tourism (3hrs) |
Week 4: 2-6 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 2 Nov | Physical Sciences P2 Chemistry (3hrs); Technical Sciences P2 (1½hrs) | Religion Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Tue 3 Nov | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| Wed 4 Nov | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| Thu 5 Nov | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| Fri 6 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL/FAL/SAL P1 | Consumer Studies (3hrs); Hospitality Studies (3hrs) |
Week 5: 9-13 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 9 Nov | Non-examination day | Non-examination day |
| Tue 10 Nov | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2 (2½hrs); FAL P2 (2½hrs); SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Electrical Technology (3hrs); Nautical Science P1 (3hrs) |
| Wed 11 Nov | Afrikaans HL P1 (2hrs); FAL P1 (2hrs); SAL P1 (2hrs) | Business Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Thu 12 Nov | Geography P2 (3hrs) | Religion Studies P2 (2hrs) |
| Fri 13 Nov | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2; Latin SAL P2; Portuguese HL/FAL/SAL P2; Equine Studies (3hrs) |
Week 6: 16-20 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 16 Nov | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Dramatic Arts (3hrs); Civil Technology (3hrs) |
| Tue 17 Nov | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2 (2½hrs); FAL P2 (2½hrs); SAL P2 (1½hrs); SASL HL P2 (2½hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½hrs); Nautical Science P2 (3hrs) |
| Wed 18 Nov | Business Studies P2 (2hrs) | Visual Arts P1 (3hrs) |
| Thu 19 Nov | English HL P2 (2½hrs); English FAL P2 (2½hrs); English SAL P2 (1½hrs) | History P2 (3hrs) |
| Fri 20 Nov | Afrikaans HL P2 (2½hrs); FAL P2 (2½hrs); SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Economics P2 (2hrs) |
Week 7: 23-27 November 2026
| Date | 09:00 | 14:00 |
|---|---|---|
| Mon 23 Nov | Agricultural Technology (3hrs) | Music P1 Theory (3hrs) |
| Tue 24 Nov | Agricultural Management Practices (3hrs); Marine Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Dance Studies (3hrs) |
| Wed 25 Nov | Music P2 Comprehension (1½hrs) | — |
| Thu 26 Nov | CAT P1 rewrite practical (3hrs); IT P1 rewrite practical (3hrs) | — |
| Fri 27 Nov | No papers scheduled | No papers scheduled |
Practicals, Life Orientation and pledge signing
- Tue 1 Sep 2026 · 09:00 - Life Orientation CAT (2½hrs)
- Fri 9 Oct 2026 - Pledge signing
- Mon 12 Oct 2026 · 09:00 - Life Orientation CAT rewrite (2½hrs)
- Performing Arts practical: 3 August 2026 to 9 October 2026
- Visual Arts and Design practical: 14 September 2026 to 13 October 2026
Source: DBE October/November 2026 NSC Examinations Timetable (final, February 2026). Confirm any late circulars with your school. Official PDF · DBE exam timetable page. APS calculator · Matric results