NSC October/November 2026
Matric Exam Timetable 2026
Every NSC paper by date and start time. Exams run from 13 October to 26 November 2026.
Source: the official DBE timetable, dated February 2026. Checked 4 October 2026.
Maths Paper 1 is on 23 October. Write a full paper before then.
This table copies the official DBE timetable PDF. Morning papers start at 09:00. Afternoon papers start at 14:00. Your school or exam centre has the final word on arrival times.
Add the timetable to your calendar
Download one file with every paper. It opens in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook.
Or add only your subjects:
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Technical Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- Technical Sciences
- Life Sciences
- English (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele
- Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda
- South African Sign Language
- Non-official languages
- Accounting
- Business Studies
- Economics
- Geography
- History
- Agricultural Sciences
- Agricultural Management Practices
- Agricultural Technology
- Computer Applications Technology
- Information Technology
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Civil Technology
- Electrical Technology
- Mechanical Technology
- Tourism
- Consumer Studies
- Hospitality Studies
- Religion Studies
- Dramatic Arts
- Dance Studies
- Design
- Music
- Visual Arts
- Maritime Economics
- Marine Sciences
- Nautical Science
- Sport and Exercise Science
- Equine Studies
Full timetable by date
| Start | Paper |
|---|---|
| Tuesday, 13 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Computer Applications Tech P1 Practical (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hebrew SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | German HL, FAL, SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday, 14 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Information Technology P1 Practical (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Latin SAL P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Portuguese HL, FAL, SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Thursday, 15 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | English HL P3 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | English FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | English SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2hrs), SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hebrew SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | German HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2hrs), SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| Friday, 16 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Economics P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | Mechanical Technology (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Design P1 (3hrs) |
| Monday, 19 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday, 20 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P3 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | History P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Maritime Economics (3hrs) |
| Wednesday, 21 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | South African Sign Language HL P3 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Information Technology P2 Theory (3hrs) |
| Thursday, 22 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Accounting P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Marine Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Friday, 23 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Mathematics P1 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Mathematical Literacy P1 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Technical Mathematics P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu HL P3 (2½hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Portuguese, German HL P3 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Portuguese, German FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| Monday, 26 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Mathematics P2 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Mathematical Literacy P2 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Technical Mathematics P2 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Sport and Exercise Science (3hrs) |
| Tuesday, 27 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | South African Sign Language HL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3hrs) |
| Wednesday, 28 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | English HL P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | English FAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | English SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Accounting P2 (2hrs) |
| Thursday, 29 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Geography (Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Map Work) P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Computer Applications Tech P2 Theory (3hrs) |
| Friday, 30 October 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Physical Sciences (Physics) P1 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Technical Sciences P1 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Tourism (3hrs) |
| Monday, 2 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Physical Sciences (Chemistry) P2 (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Technical Sciences P2 (1½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Religion Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Friday, 6 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Consumer Studies (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Hospitality Studies (3hrs) |
| Tuesday, 10 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Electrical Technology (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Nautical Science P1 (3hrs) |
| Wednesday, 11 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans FAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Business Studies P1 (2hrs) |
| Thursday, 12 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Geography (Rural and Urban Settlements, Economic Geography of SA and Map Work) P2 (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Religion Studies P2 (2hrs) |
| Friday, 13 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2 (2hrs), Latin SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Portuguese HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL, SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Equine Studies (3hrs) |
| Monday, 16 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Dramatic Arts (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Civil Technology (3hrs) |
| Tuesday, 17 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| 09:00 | South African Sign Language HL P2 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Nautical Science P2 (3hrs) |
| Wednesday, 18 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Business Studies P2 (2hrs) |
| 14:00 | Visual Arts P1 (3hrs) |
| Thursday, 19 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | English HL P2 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | English FAL P2 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | English SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| 14:00 | History P2 (3hrs) |
| Friday, 20 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans HL P2 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans FAL P2 (2½hrs) |
| 09:00 | Afrikaans SAL P2 (1½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Economics P2 (2hrs) |
| Monday, 23 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Agricultural Technology (3hrs) |
| 14:00 | Music P1 Theory (3hrs) |
| Tuesday, 24 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Agricultural Management Practices (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | Marine Sciences P2 (2½hrs) |
| 14:00 | Dance Studies (3hrs) |
| Wednesday, 25 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | Music P2 Comprehension (1½hrs) |
| Thursday, 26 November 2026 | |
| 09:00 | CAT P1 Rewrite Practical (3hrs) |
| 09:00 | IT P1 Rewrite Practical (3hrs) |
Non-examination days
The DBE timetable lists no papers on these weekdays: Tuesday, 3 November 2026, Wednesday, 4 November 2026, Thursday, 5 November 2026, Monday, 9 November 2026.
Other dates on the official timetable
| Date | Item |
|---|---|
| 3 August to 9 October 2026 | Performing Arts Practical |
| Tuesday 1 September 2026, 09:00 | Life Orientation (LO CAT) (2½hrs) |
| 14 September to 13 October 2026 | Visual Arts and Design Practical |
| Friday 9 October 2026, 09:00 | Pledge Signing |
| Monday 12 October 2026, 09:00 | Life Orientation (LO CAT) Rewrite (2½hrs) |
Use the timetable to plan revision
- Mathematics P1 is on Friday 23 October. P2 follows on Monday 26 October.
- Physical Sciences P1 is on Friday 30 October. P2 is on Monday 2 November.
- Life Sciences P1 and P2 are on 13 and 16 November.
- Write at least one full past paper per subject under timed conditions before its exam day.
Find every paper and memo on the Grade 12 past papers page. See which papers other learners use most on the most downloaded matric papers. After the exams, read how to get your matric results and work out your score with the APS calculator.