Matric exam dates 2025 – IEB and NSC timetable. The countdown has begun for the 2025 National Senior Certificate final matric examinations at South African schools. This time of the year can bring a mix of excitement and stress as learners near the end of their school journey.
With thousands of matric learners expected to participate in the exams,More than 920 000 candidates are scheduled to write their matric exams this year, according to quality assurance body Umalusi.
The Education Department has officially released the final exam timetable for senior high school phase learners getting their National Senior Certificate (NSC). The timetable indicates when learners write their National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams or their Senior Certificate (SC) exams.
To help ease the stress, The bingportal website has collated all the dates for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Exam Board (IEB) exams for 2025. NSC exams are set to start on Monday, 30 October and end on Wednesday, 6 December.
It’s crucial to buckle down and hit the books if learners are aiming to further their studies at a college or university both in South Africa or abroad.
NOTE: The Department of Basic Education has advised parents and learners to regularly check its website for any updates or changes about the National Senior Certificate (NSC).
NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) MATRIC EXAM DATES 2025 AND TIMETABLE
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
MONDAY, 30 OCTOBER
Paper 1
- English Home Language (HL, FAL)
- Hebrew Second Additional Language (SAL)
- German (HL)
- German (SAL)
TUESDAY, 31 OCTOBER
Paper 1
- Economics
- Arabic (HL, FAL, SAL)
- French (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Italian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Mandarin (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Modern Greek (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Serbian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Spanish (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Latin (SAL)
- Portuguese (HL, FAL, SAL)
WEDNESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
Paper 2
- Hindi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Gujarati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tamil (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Telegu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Urdu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Hebrew (SAL)
- German (HL, SAL)
THURSDAY, 2 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- History
- Engineering Graphics and Design
FRIDAY, 3 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Technical Mathematics
Paper 2
- Arabic (SAL)
- French (SAL)
- Italian (SAL)
- Mandarin (SAL)
- Modern Greek (SAL)
- Serbian (SAL)
- Spanish (SAL)
- Latin (SAL)
- Portuguese (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Equine Studies
MONDAY, 6 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Technical Mathematics
Paper 3
- Hindi (HL, FAL)
- Gujarati (HL, FAL)
- Tamil (HL, FAL)
- Telegu (HL, FAL)
- Urdu (HL, FAL)
- German (HL)
- Portuguese (HL, FAL)
TUESDAY, 7 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
- South African Sign Language (HL)
Paper 2
- Economics
WEDNESDAY, 8 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- History
- Information Technology
THURSDAY, 9 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
Paper 2
- Computer Applications Technology (theory)
FRIDAY, 10 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Physical Sciences
- Technical Sciences
- Business Studies
MONDAY, 13 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry)
- Technical Sciences
- Business Studies
TUESDAY, 14 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Geography (Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Mapwork)
- Dramatic Arts
WEDNESDAY, 15 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- English (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Engineering Graphics and Design
THURSDAY, 16 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Accounting
- Civil Technology
- Maritime Economics
FRIDAY, 17 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Life Sciences
- Visual Arts
MONDAY, 20 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Life Sciences
- Electrical Technology
TUESDAY, 21 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Geography (Rural and Urban Settlement, Economic Geomorphology of South Africa and Mapwork)
WEDNESDAY, 22 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Religion Studies
- Marine Sciences
Paper 2
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
- South African Sign Language (HL)
THURSDAY, 23 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tourism
- Nautical Science
FRIDAY, 24 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Agricultural Sciences
Paper 2
- Accounting
MONDAY, 27 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Agricultural Science
- Natural Science
Paper 3
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
TUESDAY, 28 NOVEMBER
Paper 1
- Mechanical Technology
- Sport and Exercise Science
Paper 3
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
- South African Sign Language (HL)
WEDNESDAY, 29 NOVEMBER
Paper 2
- Religion Studies
- Marine Science
Paper 3
- English (HL, FAL, SAL)
THURSDAY, 30 NOVEMBER
- Consumer Studies
- Hospitality Studies
- Design
FRIDAY, 1 DECEMBER
Paper 3
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Agricultural Management Practices
MONDAY, 4 DECEMBER
Paper 1
- Music Theory
Paper 2
- Music Comprehension
TUESDAY, 5 DECEMBER
- Dance Studies
- Agricultural Technology
WEDNESDAY, 6 DECEMBER
Rewrite
- Computer Application Technology (CAT) Practical
- Information Technology (IT) Practical
IEB MATRIC EXAM DATES 2024
The IEB matric exam dates 2024 differ from the NSC matric exam dates 2023 as Grade 12 students have already begun writing their final exams, having started on Tuesday, 12 September.
IEB exams will conclude on Tuesday, 28 November.
For everything you need to know regarding the IEB matric timetable, visit the IEB website or grab a copy at your school.
If you have any questions or need more information, learners are encouraged to reach out to the Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA) at (011) 648 1331.
Department of Basic Education (DBE) Contact details
If you have any questions about the National Senior Certificate or you need any assistance, you should contact the Department of Basic Education. Here are their contact details:
Hotline: 0800 202 933
Tel: 012 357 3000
Website: http://www.education.gov.za/
Twitter: DBE_SA
Facebook: Department of basic education
