Matric Exams: Everything the Class of 2026 Needs to Know Before 13 October

• South Africa's Class of 2026 will sit their National Senior Certificate exams from 13 October to 26 November 2026
• Grade 12 learners will gather on 9 October for a National Pledge Signing Ceremony ahead of the exam period
• Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube outlined the pledge as a commitment to honesty and ethical conduct

South Africa's matric class of 2026 is days away from one of the biggest moments of their lives. The National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations are set to begin on 13 October 2026 and will run through to 26 November 2026, drawing the curtain on 12 years of schooling for hundreds of thousands of learners across the country.

Before the first paper is written, the Class of 2026 will gather for an important ceremony. On Friday, 9 October 2026 at 10:00 AM, Grade 12 learners will attend a formal assembly for the National Pledge Signing Ceremony, where they will review examination regulations and voluntarily put their names to an integrity pledge.

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What the matric pledge means for learners

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube described the pledge as a formal commitment to honesty, ethical conduct, and fairness throughout the examination period. Candidates who sign it are declaring that they will not cheat or engage in any misconduct, affirming that their results should reflect their own hard work.

The Department of Basic Education has framed the NSC as far more than a school-leaving certificate. Officials described it as a critical doorway to higher education, skills development, and economic opportunity, making the integrity of the process all the more important.

What learners should know before 13 October

With the exam window beginning next week, learners are encouraged to familiarise themselves with the full examination timetable and ensure they understand all regulations before sitting down to write. The pledge ceremony on 9 October serves as a final moment for the class to mentally prepare and recommit to giving the exams their best effort.

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The 2026 NSC examinations represent a defining milestone not just for individual learners but for the country's education system as a whole.

More on learners in SA

• Briefly News recently reported on a Grade 11 learner who won R75,000 for a project that turns an invasive plant into a crop booster.
• A Pretoria school also mourned a Grade 12 hockey player who died at eighteen after falling ill.
• A principal had to shut down a matric dance after learners arrived intoxicated and the night descended into chaos.

Source: Briefly News