Matric exam dates 2023: Full NSC and IEB timetable

The 2023 matric exam dates are around the corner. This time of the year can bring a mix of excitement and stress as learners near the end of their school journey.

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The exams are the last thing standing between pupils and a well deserved holiday.

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.

To help ease the stress, The South African website has collated all the dates for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Exam Board (IEB) exams for 2023.

NSC exams are set to start on Monday, 30 October and end on Wednesday, 6 December.

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More than 920 000 candidates are scheduled to write their matric exams this year, according to quality assurance body Umalusi.

Umalusi said the candidates would write at more almost 6 340 public schools and more than 550 private centres.

Good luck to ALL matriculants tackling their final exams this year!

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NOTE

The dates below are correct at the time of publishing, but may change. Keep an eye out for updates from the Department of Education or your school.

NATIONAL SENIOR CERTIFICATE (NSC) MATRIC EXAM DATES AND TIMETABLE 2023

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 2023

The IEB matric exam dates differ from the NSC matric exam dates 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.