Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa is out. This year’s timetable is more structured and spaced out than 2024. On this page you will find the latest and final Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 for South Africa Grade 12 students, as released by the Department of Basic Education.
You can use this timetable if:
- You are currently in Grade 12 and writing the 2025 NSC November exams
- You are a teacher or parent helping learners prepare for final exams
- You are planning your study timetable for Term 4
- You want to print the official exam dates and make a countdown calendar
- You are repeating matric and need to check which subjects clash
You can not use this Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa if:
- You are in Grade 10 or Grade 11 (this timetable is only for Grade 12 final exams)
- You are an IEB learner (this is for public schools under DBE)
- You are writing supplementary exams in 2026 (there will be a separate timetable for that)
The Department of Basic Education is trying to improve planning and reduce exam stress for learners and schools. That is why this Grade 12 Exam Time Table for 2025 is released earlier and more spread out. Unlike in 2024, the practical exams and languages are clearly separated from core content subjects like Mathematics, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Business Studies.
Check: School Calendar 2026
👉 Check Matric 2025 Results Release Dates Here
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Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa – Week-by-Week Guide for Grade 12 Learners
Below is your week-by-week breakdown of the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 with tips on how to manage your study load for each week.
Check: Matric Results 2026 Release Dates
Week 1: Practical Subjects and Language Papers
According to the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa, the first week kicks off with CAT and IT practical exams, followed by Home Languages and Second Additional Languages. This is a light start for most learners unless you are writing specific language subjects:
- Tuesday, 21 Oct: CAT P1 Practical, Hindi/Tamil/Urdu HL/FAL/SAL P1
- Wednesday, 22 Oct: IT P1 Practical, Arabic/French/Portuguese/Spanish SAL P1
- Thursday, 23 Oct: English HL/FAL/SAL P3, Equine Studies, Foreign Languages P2
- Friday, 24 Oct: Afrikaans HL/FAL/SAL P3, Foreign Languages P2
- Saturday, 25 Oct: Non-exam day
Use this week to: Start revising core papers that appear in Week 2 and 3 of the final exam time table, such as Mathematics and Business Studies.
Week 2: Languages, Accounting, and First Core Papers
Week 2 marks the real start of exams for most learners. It includes African languages, Accounting P1, and the first core paper: Mathematics P1:
- Monday, 27 Oct: isiZulu/isiXhosa/siSwati HL/FAL/SAL P3, Accounting P1
- Tuesday, 28 Oct: Sepedi/Setswana/Xitsonga HL/FAL/SAL P3, Civil Tech, Sport Science
- Wednesday, 29 Oct: English HL/FAL/SAL P1
- Thursday, 30 Oct: History P1, EGD P1
- Friday, 31 Oct: Maths P1, Math Lit P1, Technical Maths P1, Religion Studies P1
Use this week to: Finalise past papers and summaries for subjects that continue into the next week, including Accounting and History P2.
Week 3: Maths P2, Business Studies, Physical Sciences P1
This is one of the busiest weeks in the Matric Final Exam Time Table of 2025, with back-to-back core subjects. You will write Maths P2, Business Studies P1, and Physical Sciences P1, among others:
- Monday, 3 Nov: Maths P2, Math Lit P2, Technical Maths P2, Agricultural Sciences P1
- Tuesday, 4 Nov: isiZulu/isiXhosa HL/FAL/SAL P1, Accounting P2, Maritime Economics
- Wednesday, 5 Nov: Sepedi/Setswana/Xitsonga HL/FAL/SAL P1, Religion P2, Mechanical Tech
- Thursday, 6 Nov: African HL/FAL/SAL P2, Business Studies P1
- Friday, 7 Nov: Physical Sciences P1, Technical Sciences P1, History P2
Use this week to: Focus revision time on practical application — use past papers.
Week 4: English Paper 2, Chemistry, Geography, CAT Theory
The fourth week of the Time Table includes papers with heavy reading and writing requirements. Expect longer papers like English P2, Geography P1, and Physical Sciences P2 (Chemistry):
- Monday, 10 Nov: Physical Sciences P2, Tech Sciences P2, Visual Arts P1, Nautical Science P1
- Tuesday, 11 Nov: Afrikaans HL/FAL/SAL P1, Business Studies P2
- Wednesday, 12 Nov: Geography P1, CAT P2, Nautical Science P2
- Thursday, 13 Nov: English HL/FAL/SAL P2, IT P2, Marine Sciences P1
- Friday, 14 Nov: Life Sciences P1, Electrical Technology
Use this week to: Work on diagrams, definitions, and essays.
Week 5: Life Sciences, Tourism, and Economics
Week 5 of the Time Table is a theory-heavy week that includes Life Sciences P2, Economics P1 & P2, and Geography P2:
- Monday, 17 Nov: Life Sciences P2, Dramatic Arts
- Tuesday, 18 Nov: Geography P2, EGD P2
- Wednesday, 19 Nov: Economics P1, Tourism
- Thursday, 20 Nov: Sepedi/Setswana/Xitsonga HL/FAL/SAL P2, Agricultural Sciences P2
- Friday, 21 Nov: Afrikaans HL/FAL/SAL P2, Economics P2
Week 6: Last Grade 12 Exams and CAT/IT Practical Rewrites
The final stretch of the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa includes creative and practical subjects. If you are still writing at this stage, stay disciplined. CAT and IT rewrites are also scheduled here.
- Monday, 24 Nov: Agricultural Technology, Music P1, Design
- Tuesday, 25 Nov: Consumer Studies, Hospitality Studies, Dance P1
- Wednesday, 26 Nov: Agricultural Management Practices, Marine Sciences P2, Music P2
- Thursday, 27 Nov: CAT P1 Rewrite, IT P1 Rewrite
FAQs
When are the Grade 12 Final Exams for October/November 2025 Starting?
The Grade 12 final exams for October/November 2025 will officially begin on Tuesday, 21 October 2025, with Computer Applications Technology Paper 1 (Practical). This is the first subject on the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa.
Which dates are Grade 12 students writing Mathematics Final Exams 2025?
According to the November Grade 12 final exam time table, learners will write:
- Mathematics Paper 1 on Friday, 31 October 2025
- Mathematics Paper 2 on Monday, 3 November 2025
When will Grade 12 learners write English Final Exams in 2025?
English exams fall across three different dates:
- English Paper 1: Wednesday, 29 October 2025
- English Paper 2: Thursday, 13 November 2025
- English Paper 3: Thursday, 23 October 2025
These dates apply to English Home Language, First Additional Language, and Second Additional Language.
When is Physical Sciences being written in 2025?
Learners will write:
- Physical Sciences Paper 1 (Physics) on Friday, 7 November 2025
- Physical Sciences Paper 2 (Chemistry) on Monday, 10 November 2025
Both papers are listed in the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa under Week 3 and Week 4.
What is the last exam in the Grade 12 final exam timetable 2025?
The final exams in the Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa are the CAT P1 Rewrite and IT P1 Rewrite, scheduled for Thursday, 27 November 2025. These are practical rewrite sessions.
When will Life Sciences exams take place for Grade 12 in 2025?
Life Sciences is split into two papers:
- Life Sciences Paper 1: Friday, 14 November 2025
- Life Sciences Paper 2: Monday, 17 November 2025
These fall under Week 4 and Week 5 of the November Grade 12 final exam time table.
When are Grade 12 learners writing Business Studies in 2025?
Learners will write:
- Business Studies Paper 1 on Thursday, 6 November 2025
- Business Studies Paper 2 on Tuesday, 11 November 2025
Both dates are listed in Week 3 and Week 4 of the 2025 matric timetable.
What date is Geography being written in the 2025 final exams?
Geography has two separate papers:
- Geography Paper 1 (Climate, Geomorphology, Map Work): Wednesday, 12 November 2025
- Geography Paper 2 (Urban/Rural Settlements, Economic Geography): Tuesday, 18 November 2025
These fall under the official Matric Final Exam Time Table 2025 South Africa.
When are Economics final exams scheduled for 2025?
According to the timetable:
- Economics Paper 1: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
- Economics Paper 2: Friday, 21 November 2025
These are in Week 5 of the November Grade 12 final exam time table.
When is the final exam date for Grade 12 in 2025?
The last day of the Grade 12 final exams 2025 is Thursday, 27 November 2025. This is the date for learners who are rewriting CAT P1 and IT P1 practicals. After this, the exam season is officially closed.