The 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations officially begin today, Tuesday, 13 October, with the government expressing confidence that the Class of 2026 will achieve a pass rate exceeding that of last year's matriculants.
Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli has encouraged Grade 12 learners across South Africa to remain calm, trust their preparation and approach their final matric exams with confidence.
The examinations will run until 26 November 2026, marking the culmination of years of schooling for hundreds of thousands of learners.
“We wish the class of 2026 well as they prepare to sit for the final matric exams. We have no doubt that they will surpass the class of 2025, which did considerably well; we look forward to a pass rate that is in the 90s,” Mhlauli said.
Deputy Minister Encourages Matriculants to Stay Calm
Mhlauli acknowledged the pressure that comes with writing the final matric examinations but urged learners not to let anxiety undermine their performance.
She said the work learners had put in throughout the year should help them demonstrate their knowledge and skills during the examination period.
“We have no doubt that the work that they put in since the beginning of the year will be demonstrated when they do sit their final matric exams, and we really just want to remind them that they've got this.
“They know what they're supposed to be writing. The nerves should not make them start having anxiety. It's a very stressful period in their lives, but our message to them is that keep calm, you've got this, and we know that you'll do considerably well,” Mhlauli said.
The Class of 2025 achieved a national NSC pass rate of 88%, setting a benchmark for this year's matriculants.
Government Warns Matriculants Against Examination Cheating
The start of the 2026 matric exams follows nationwide NSC pledge-signing ceremonies held on Friday. During these ceremonies, learners committed to maintaining honesty, discipline and integrity throughout the examination period.
President Cyril Ramaphosa sent a message to Free State matriculants during the provincial pledge-signing ceremony in Qwaqwa. He urged learners to protect the years of hard work and sacrifice that had brought them to this point.
“Believe in yourselves, for we believe in you,” the President said.
Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has also warned learners against examination irregularities, including taking cellphones or crib notes into examination rooms.
“There are no shortcuts to success. A cellphone hidden in a pocket is not preparation. A leaked question paper is not intelligence. Copying another learner's work is not achievement,” the Minister said.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has encouraged all candidates to follow examination rules and consult the official matric exam timetable to confirm their subjects, dates and examination times.
Which Matric Exams Are Being Written on 13 October?
The first examination session on Tuesday includes the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Paper 1 practical examination.
The second session includes the following language examinations:
- Hindi Home Language (HL), First Additional Language (FAL) and Second Additional Language (SAL) Paper 1.
- Gujarati HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1.
- Tamil HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1.
- Telugu HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1.
- Urdu HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1.
- Hebrew SAL Paper 1.
- German HL, FAL and SAL Paper 1.
Matriculants should check the official 2026 NSC examination timetable to ensure they arrive at the correct venue and time for each paper.
Nearly One Million Candidates Registered for the 2026 Matric Exams
The Department of Basic Education has declared itself ready for the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations.
During a media briefing on Sunday, the department confirmed that a record 962,832 candidates had registered to write the October/November examinations.
As the Class of 2026 begins this important milestone, learners are encouraged to stay focused, manage examination stress and demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have developed throughout their schooling.
With the examinations continuing until 26 November, the government has wished all matriculants well as they work towards completing their final school examinations.
