South Africa – Matric candidates across South Africa are preparing for their final examinations, with the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams set to begin on Tuesday, 13 October.
The weekend presents an important opportunity for learners to revise their work, practise past examination papers and familiarise themselves with the official timetable before the examinations begin.
The exams will run until 26 November, with morning sessions scheduled to start at 09:00 and afternoon papers at 14:00.
The first day includes Computer Applications Technology practical examinations, alongside several language papers. Information Technology practical examinations follow on Wednesday, 14 October, while English Paper 3 is scheduled for Thursday, 15 October.
The Department of Basic Education has published the examination timetable and urged candidates to prepare carefully for the final stage of their schooling.
Experts warn against last-minute cramming
Education experts have cautioned learners against relying on last-minute cramming, particularly in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Tracey Clayton, phase head at Teneo Online School, advised learners to use their remaining preparation time strategically, according to The Citizen.
“The instinct in the final weeks is often to try and give every subject the same amount of attention, but that isn’t always the best use of your time,” Clayton said.
She encouraged candidates to prioritise areas where additional effort could improve their marks, practise past papers under timed conditions and get enough sleep.
Education expert Hendrick Makaneta also advised learners to work through examination questions and understand their mistakes instead of simply memorising answers.
“Learners should work through problems and understand their mistakes rather than simply memorising solutions,” h said.
Umalusi confirms examination readiness
Meanwhile, Umalusi, the body responsible for quality assurance in general and further education, has confirmed that the examination system is broadly ready for the 2026 year-end examinations.
The council reported that 1,079,879 candidates are registered across the National Senior Certificate, National Certificate (Vocational) Level 4 and General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training examinations.
Of these, 989,141 are registered for the NSC examinations across the Department of Basic Education, the Independent Examinations Board and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute.
Umalusi said it had approved the submitted examination papers after assessing their validity, fairness and reliability, while remaining concerns were being monitored and addressed.
With the first papers days away, candidates are encouraged to follow the official timetable, prepare their examination materials in advance and use the remaining time productively as they approach the end of their school careers.
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