The 2026 October/November NSC examination session runs from 13 October to 25 November 2026. As of 22 October 2026, exams are already underway. Follow your subject-specific timetable and focus your preparation on your remaining papers.
How Many Days Are Left Before Matric Final Exams For 2026?
The 2026 CAT Paper 1 practical is on 13 October and the IT Paper 1 practical is on 14 October. Other practical and assessment dates depend on your subjects; use the official timetable supplied by your school.
The 2026 CAT Paper 1 practical is on 13 October and the IT Paper 1 practical is on 14 October. Other practical and assessment dates depend on your subjects; use the official timetable supplied by your school.
The 2026 October/November NSC examinations run from 13 October to 25 November 2026. As of 22 October 2026, the examination session is already underway. Use your school’s subject-specific timetable and the official DBE timetable for your own papers.
What is the period for the Matric Exams from May to June 2026?
The May/June 2026 examination session has ended. Use the DBE timetable for that session to check the historical paper dates, and follow the next published examination notice if you plan to rewrite.
There will be a similar supplementary exam period for those in the class of 2026 needing a matric rewrite, too. Typically, they start and end on very similar dates. If you need to register for this period, you will be informed accordingly when you register.
How Long Are Matric Finals?
On average, matric final sessions run 3 hours. However, some papers will only give you two and a half, or even 2, hours to complete, so pay attention to your schedule when you receive it. This will also be stated on the exam paper itself.
Matric exams run as two daily sessions- one in the morning commencing at 9 am and one in the afternoon commencing at 2 pm. You are not guaranteed to write in both sessions on a given day. They are structured so that all students writing a specific paper within each subject write on the same day.
Because there are so many subject combinations that can be taken, you may find that you have days in between each paper, that some subjects are directly consecutive, or even that you write 2 papers in one day in each session. Each subject has more than one paper to write, and many subjects will also have practical sessions. For artistic subjects, these practicals are often individually assigned, whereas Life Orientation, CAT, and science subjects will typically run en masse
For this reason, part of your final studies should be carefully studying your examination timetable, which you already have. Don’t be lazy about this! Make sure you are aware of every session you need to write in, that you have accounted for each paper and practical in the subject, and that you understand how long each session is and where you will write it.
Most written papers will take place in the hall of your school or a similar large, adjudicated space. For practicals, make sure you understand where to report on the exam day. Science subjects will typically take place in the lab, IT and CAT subjects in the computer lab, and Art subjects in a studio or classroom- but you must make sure to check this with your school.
Remember, unless your peers and friends have taken the exact subject combination you have, your exam timetables will not be the same. Don’t be lazy and rely on someone else to check these things for you! You will not be allowed to participate in an exam session if you are late, and absences will be marked on your results. You will soon be a grown adult, and now is the time to take charge of your future and show you can do it.
How Do They Calculate Matric Final?
For Grade 12 learners, matric final examination results count for 75% of your mark. The remaining 25% comes from your performance throughout the year. If you are an adult matric learner, there is no school component. 100% of your mark will come from your matric exams.
We hope you are feeling excited about this major life milestone and have your studies in hand. Good luck!
