Matric 2026 · Timetable
Matric exam timetable 2026
Every October/November 2026 NSC paper, from the Department of Basic Education's final timetable. Written papers run from Tuesday 13 October to Wednesday 25 November 2026. Morning papers start at 09:00, afternoon papers at 14:00.
Add all to calendar Build a study planWeek 1
Tuesday 13 October
- 09:00 Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 practical 3 hours
- 14:00 Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P1; FAL P1; SAL P1; Hebrew SAL P1; German HL, FAL, SAL P1 2 hours
Wednesday 14 October
- 09:00 Information Technology (IT) Paper 1 practical 3 hours
- 14:00 Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1; Latin SAL P1 (3 hours); Portuguese HL, FAL, SAL P1 2 hours
Thursday 15 October
- 09:00 English FAL Paper 3 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 English Home Language Paper 3 3 hours
- 09:00 English SAL P3 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P2; FAL P2 and SAL P2 (2 hours); Hebrew SAL P2; German HL P2, FAL P2, SAL P2 2 and a half hours
Friday 16 October
- 09:00 Economics Paper 1 2 hours
- 09:00 Mechanical Technology 3 hours
- 14:00 Design P1 3 hours
Week 2
Monday 19 October
- 09:00 isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3; FAL P3 and SAL P3 (2 and a half hours) 3 hours
- 14:00 Agricultural Sciences P1 2 and a half hours
Tuesday 20 October
- 09:00 Afrikaans FAL Paper 3 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans Home Language Paper 3 3 hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans SAL P3 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 History Paper 1 3 hours
- 14:00 Maritime Economics 3 hours
Wednesday 21 October
- 09:00 Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3; FAL P3 and SAL P3 (2 and a half hours); South African Sign Language HL P3 3 hours
- 14:00 Information Technology (IT) Paper 2 theory 3 hours
Thursday 22 October
- 09:00 Accounting Paper 1 2 hours
- 14:00 Engineering Graphics Design (EGD) Paper 1 3 hours
- 14:00 Marine Sciences P1 2 and a half hours
Friday 23 October
- 09:00 Mathematics Literacy Paper 1 3 hours
- 09:00 Mathematics Paper 1 3 hours
- 09:00 Technical Mathematics P1 3 hours
- 14:00 Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P3, FAL P3; Portuguese and German HL P3, FAL P3 2 and a half hours
Week 3
Monday 26 October
- 09:00 Mathematics Literacy Paper 2 3 hours
- 09:00 Mathematics Paper 2 3 hours
- 09:00 Technical Mathematics P2 3 hours
- 14:00 Sport and Exercise Science 3 hours
Tuesday 27 October
- 09:00 Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P1, FAL P1, SAL P1; South African Sign Language HL P1 2 hours
- 14:00 Engineering Graphics Design (EGD) Paper 2 3 hours
Wednesday 28 October
- 09:00 English FAL Paper 1 2 hours
- 09:00 English Home Language Paper 1 2 hours
- 09:00 English SAL P1 2 hours
- 14:00 Accounting Paper 2 2 hours
Thursday 29 October
- 09:00 Geography Paper 1 climate and weather, geomorphology, map work 3 hours
- 14:00 Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 2 theory 3 hours
Friday 30 October
- 09:00 Physical Sciences Paper 1 physics 3 hours
- 09:00 Technical Sciences P1 3 hours
- 14:00 Tourism 3 hours
Week 4
Monday 2 November
- 09:00 Physical Sciences Paper 2 chemistry 3 hours
- 09:00 Technical Sciences P2 1 and a half hours
- 14:00 Religion Studies P1 2 hours
Tuesday 3 November
No papers
Wednesday 4 November
No papers
Thursday 5 November
No papers
Friday 6 November
- 09:00 isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P1, FAL P1, SAL P1 2 hours
- 14:00 Consumer Studies 3 hours
- 14:00 Hospitality Studies 3 hours
Week 5
Monday 9 November
No papers
Tuesday 10 November
- 09:00 isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2, FAL P2; SAL P2 (1 and a half hours) 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Electrical Technology 3 hours
- 14:00 Nautical Science P1 3 hours
Wednesday 11 November
- 09:00 Afrikaans FAL Paper 1 2 hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans Home Language Paper 1 2 hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans SAL P1 2 hours
- 14:00 Business Studies Paper 1 2 hours
Thursday 12 November
- 09:00 Geography Paper 2 rural and urban settlements, economic geography of South Africa, map work 3 hours
- 14:00 Religion Studies P2 2 hours
Friday 13 November
- 09:00 Life Sciences Paper 1 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2; Latin SAL P2; Portuguese HL P2 (2 and a half hours), FAL and SAL P2 2 hours
- 14:00 Equine Studies 3 hours
Week 6
Monday 16 November
- 09:00 Life Sciences Paper 2 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Civil Technology 3 hours
- 14:00 Dramatic Arts 3 hours
Tuesday 17 November
- 09:00 Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2, FAL P2; SAL P2 (1 and a half hours); South African Sign Language HL P2 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Agricultural Sciences P2 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Nautical Science P2 3 hours
Wednesday 18 November
- 09:00 Business Studies Paper 2 2 hours
- 14:00 Art Paper 1 3 hours
Thursday 19 November
- 09:00 English FAL Paper 2 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 English Home Language Paper 2 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 English SAL P2 1 and a half hours
- 14:00 History Paper 2 3 hours
Friday 20 November
- 09:00 Afrikaans FAL Paper 2 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans Home Language Paper 2 2 and a half hours
- 09:00 Afrikaans SAL P2 1 and a half hours
- 14:00 Economics Paper 2 2 hours
Week 7
Monday 23 November
- 09:00 Agricultural Technology 3 hours
- 14:00 Music Paper 1 theory 3 hours
Tuesday 24 November
- 09:00 Agricultural Management Practices 3 hours
- 09:00 Marine Sciences P2 2 and a half hours
- 14:00 Dance Studies 3 hours
Wednesday 25 November
- 09:00 Music Paper 2 comprehension 1 and a half hours
Thursday 26 November
- 09:00 Computer Applications Technology P1 rewrite (practical) 3 hours
- 09:00 Information Technology P1 rewrite (practical) 3 hours
Also on the timetable
Outside the written weeks
- Tuesday 1 September, 09:00 Life Orientation (LO CAT), 2 and a half hours
- Friday 9 October Pledge signing
- Monday 12 October, 09:00 Life Orientation (LO CAT) rewrite, 2 and a half hours
- Monday 3 August Performing Arts practical, 3 August to 9 October
- Monday 14 September Visual Arts and Design practical, 14 September to 13 October
Source: Department of Basic Education, final timetable, February 2026. If the department amends it, this page follows.
Per subject
Dates, papers and tutors by subject
Mathematics
Mathematics Literacy
Physical Sciences
Life Sciences
Accounting
Economics
Business Studies
History
Geography
English Home Language
English FAL
Afrikaans Home Language
Afrikaans FAL
Information Technology (IT)
Computer Applications Technology (CAT)
Engineering Graphics Design (EGD)
Music
Art
Six weeks is enough, with the right person
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