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By Johnathan Paoli
The Department of Basic Education has officially released the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) October/November examination timetable.
The schedule outlines a six-week examination period, beginning with Computer Applications Technology (CAT) and Information Technology (IT) practicals, before progressing to core academic subjects such as languages, mathematics, physical sciences, business studies, and the arts.
The exams are scheduled to begin on Tuesday, 21 October, and will run until Thursday, 27 November.
More than 700 000 Grade 12 learners are preparing to sit for the final exams that mark the culmination of twelve years of hard work and perseverance.
The structure has been designed to ensure a balanced and fair national examination process, giving learners enough time between major subjects to revise and recover.
According to the department, preparations for the national exams are well underway, with all provinces having submitted readiness reports confirming the finalisation of invigilation rosters, venue security measures, and logistical arrangements for rural and urban centres alike.
Umalusi, the quality assurance body, has also given the green light for this year’s NSC cycle, describing it as a “well-planned, robust and inclusive assessment season”.
For most matriculants, this period will be consumed by revision sessions, mock exams, and last-minute consultation with teachers before the real test begins.
The first paper, Computer Applications Technology Paper 1, will set the tone for the six-week marathon that follows.
From there, the timetable flows into the major language exams, mathematics, physical sciences, business studies, geography, and life sciences, concluding with practical and technical subjects in the final week.
For the department, the matric exams are not only a measure of academic performance but also a test of the education system’s ability to deliver under pressure.
Each year, the department coordinates the printing, packaging, and secure delivery of millions of examination papers to thousands of centres across the country.
This year’s exam timetable also includes several key milestones outside the main examination window.
Life Orientation’s Common Assessment Task (CAT) took place in early September, followed by rewrites in mid-October.
Visual Arts, Design and Performing Arts practical assessments was conducted in August and October, while schools nationwide are expected to host the annual Pledge Signing Ceremony on 17 October, a symbolic commitment by candidates to uphold honesty and integrity during the exams.
INSIDE EDUCATION