The Matric is one of the most important exams in a South African student’s life. It is a standardised test that is the final step before completing high school. This exam is formally known as the National Senior Certificate (NSC). Students who complete the exam are awarded the National Senior Certificate.
This exam is equivalent to grade 12 final exams in other countries. Students who pass it are awarded a Matriculation Certificate.
The Matric is an important exam in the life of every South African student. Passing this exam allows them to apply for higher education. On average, over 800,000 students sit for these exams annually to earn a high score that guarantees provisional admission to higher education.
If you are currently in high school in South Africa, this article will help guide you on the NSC, provide you with the Matric timetable, and cover the subjects offered during the matric.
Table of Contents
What is an NSC?
The National Senior Certificate (NSC) is a required test that all grade 12 students in South Africa must appear for to complete their education. Students are graded on compulsory subjects, including 2 languages, mathematics or mathematics literacy, and life orientation.
These subjects are graded out of 7 levels, and the final score is based on 75% weightage on the exam and 25% for School Based Assessments (SBA). When students apply for university degrees, these scores are converted into Admission Point Score (APS) to determine eligibility for the course they have applied for. Therefore, it is crucial to dedicate time and resources to study for the NSC to achieve scores that allow admission into your programme of choice.
Furthermore, the NSC helps indicate if the student is ready to further their academic journey with a degree programme, a certificate course, or vocational training.
The NSC exams are conducted by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Independent Examinations Board (IEB), and the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).
When Will Matric Final Exams Begin in 2024?
For 2024, the matric exams will begin on October 21 and conclude on November 28. They are spread across six weeks, allowing ample time for preparation and revision before them. Exams are scheduled for the morning session, which begins at 9 a.m., and the afternoon session, which begins at 2 p.m.
Students should download and print the Matric timetable to ensure they are prepared for the exams and reach the exam centre before reporting time. They should also check the exam schedule regularly in case there are any changes to the final Matric timetable. The Matric final exam timetable is available from the Department of Basic Education.
What is the NSC Final Exam Timetable 2024?
The Matric exam is one of the most important times in the life of a South African student. The score from this exam can help determine the future course of study for students who are in their final year of secondary school. The matric timetable includes specific dates and times for the exam along with the duration of each exam.
The timetable is released months in advance to help students plan their study timetable. It also gives them enough time to study and practice for all their subjects.
Students can access the latest NSC exam timetable to check the dates and times for their selected subjects.
Matric Timetable 2024
The 2024 matric exam is set to begin on Monday, October 21, with English and Afrikaans as the first papers. Six weeks later, on Thursday, November 28, CAT P1 and IT P1 rewrites will conclude the exams. As students near the exam dates, they should revise their concepts, clarify doubts, and practice past exam papers.
Students can check their exam dates using the latest matric timetable below.
| WEEK 1 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 21/10 | English HL P3 (3hrs) English FAL P3 (2½hrs)English SAL P3 (2½hrs) | Afrikaans HL P3 (3hrs) Afrikaans FAL P3 (2½hrs)Afrikaans SAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 22/10 | Computer Applications Tech P1 (3hrs) Practical | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1 (2hrs) Latin SAL P1 (3hrs)Portuguese HL, FAL, SAL P1 (2hrs)Hebrew SAL P1 (2hrs), German HL, SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday 23/10 | Business Studies P1 (2hrs) | Information Technology P1 (3hrs) Practical |
| Thursday 24/10 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P1 (2hrs)Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu FAL P1 (2hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu SAL P1 (2hrs) |
| Friday 25/10 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs)South African Sign Language HL P3 (3hrs) | Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2 (2hrs) Latin SAL P2 (2hrs)Portuguese HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL, SAL P2 (2hrs) Equine Studies (3hrs) |
| WEEK 2 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 28/10 | English HL P1 (2hrs) English FAL P1 (2hrs) English SAL P1 (2hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P2 (2½hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu FAL P2 (2hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu SAL P2 (2hrs) Hebrew SAL P2 (2hrs) German HL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (2hrs)Marine Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 29/10 | History P1 (3hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3hrs) French SAL P2 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday 30/10 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) | Business Studies P2 (2hrs) |
| Thursday 31/10 | NON-EXAMINATION DAY | |
| Friday 01/11 | Mathematics P1 (3hrs)Mathematical Literacy P1 (3hrs) Technical Mathematics P1 (3hrs) | Religion Studies P1 (2hrs)Sport and Exercise Science (3hrs) |
| WEEK 3 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 04/11 | Mathematics P2 (3hrs) Mathematical Literacy P2 (3hrs) Technical Mathematics P2 (3hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P3 (2½hrs) FAL P3 (2½hrs)Portuguese, German HL P3 (2½hrs) Portuguese FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
| Tuesday 05/11 | Geography (Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Map Work) P1 (3hrs) | Computer Applications Tech P2 (Theory) (3hrs) Nautical Science P1 (3hrs) |
| Wednesday 06/11 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga,Tshivenda HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) South African Sign Language HL P1 (2hrs) | Information Technology P2 (Theory) (3hrs) |
| Thursday 07/11 | History P2 (3hrs) | Consumer Studies (3hrs) Hospitality Studies (3hrs) |
| Friday 08/11 | Physical Sciences (Physics) P1 (3hrs) Technical Sciences P1 (3hrs) | Dramatic Arts (3hrs) |
| WEEK 4 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 11/11 | Physical Sciences (Chemistry) P2 (3hrs) Technical Sciences P2 (1½hrs) | Dance Studies (3hrs) |
| Tuesday 12/11 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Economics P1 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday 13/11 | English HL P2 (2½hrs)English FAL P2 (2½hrs) English SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3hrs) |
| Thursday 14/11 | Accounting P1 (2hrs) | Tourism (3hrs) |
| Friday 15/11 | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) | Civil Technology (3hrs) |
| WEEK 5 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 18/11 | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Visual Arts P1 (3hrs) Electrical Technology (3hrs) |
| Tuesday 19/11 | Afrikaans HL P1 (2hrs)Afrikaans FAL P1 (2hrs) Afrikaans SAL P1 (2hrs) | Economics P2 (2hrs) |
| Wednesday 20/11 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs)South African Sign Language HL P2 (2½hrs) | Mechanical Technology (3hrs) |
| Thursday 21/11 | Geography (Rural and Urban SettlementsEconomic Geography of SA and Map Work) P2 (3hrs) | Religion Studies P2 (2hrs) Maritime Economics (3hrs) |
| Friday 22/11 | Accounting P2 (2hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
| WEEK 6 | 09:00 | 14:00 |
| Monday 25/11 | Afrikaans HL P2 (2½hrs) Afrikaans FAL P2 (2½hrs)Afrikaans SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½hrs) Nautical Science P2 (3hrs) |
| Tuesday 26/11 | Music P1 Theory (3hrs) Agricultural Technology (3hrs) | Music P2 Comprehension (1½hrs) |
| Wednesday 27/11 | Agricultural Management Practices (3hrs) Marine Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Design P1 (3hrs) |
| Thursday 28/11 | CAT P1 rewrite (3hrs) PracticalIT P1 rewrite (3hrs) Practical | |
| Date | 09:00 |
| Monday 2 September | Life Orientation (LO CAT) (2½hrs) |
| 12 August to 14 October | Performing Arts Practical |
| 1 October to 14 October | Visual Arts and Design Practical |
Download Matric Timetable 2024 PDF
The Matric Timetable 2024 PDF for South Africa provides students with the exact exam dates and times, helping them plan and prepare effectively. It can be easily downloaded from the Department of Basic Education’s website, offering a convenient way for learners to stay organized during their final exams.
Who can write the NSC exams?
The NSC exams are mandatory for all grade 12 students in South Africa. Students need to pass this exam to complete high school. This exam is a way to guarantee that students across South Africa meet certain educational standards.
Since the matric is required to gain acceptance into higher education programmes, students who wish to improve their scores can also reappear for the matric exam. This allows students an opportunity to improve their matric scores. An improved score can also help change the pass level for the student, which is beneficial when wishing to continue to a path of higher education.
What subjects will I be tested on in the NSC exams?
Students who appear for the NSC exam sit for a total of 7 papers, which are a mix of compulsory and elective subjects. The compulsory subjects include 2 languages (including 1 home language), mathematics, and life orientation. Students can pick from the following languages:
- Afrikaans
- English
- Ndebele
- Northern Sotho
- Southern Sotho
- Swazi
- Tsonga
- Tswana
- Venda
- Xhosa
- Zulu
Students need to appear for 3 electives for a list of pre-approved subjects. Students should choose their elective courses based on the programme that they wish to enrol in at the university level. Students who wish to study should sit for the Tourism exam, while those who wish to pursue medicine should pick Life Sciences. This is the complete list of elective courses that are a part of the final matric timetable:
- Accounting
- Agricultural Management Practices
- Agricultural Sciences
- Agricultural Technology
- Business Studies
- Civil Technology
- Computer Applications Technology (previously Computer Studies Standard Grade – Literacy)
- Consumer Studies
- Dance Studies
- Design
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Electrical Technology
- Engineering Graphics & Design
- Geography
- History
- Hospitality Studies (previously Home Economics)
- Information Technology (previously Computer Studies Higher Grade – Programming)
- Life Sciences (previously Biology)
- Mechanical Technology
- Music
- Physical Science
- Religion Studies
- Second Additional Language
- Third Additional Language
- Tourism
- Visual Arts
What is the Minimum Eligibility Criteria to Receive an NSC?
The NSC is graded on a scale of 7, with students needing to achieve Level 2 or higher to receive their NSC certificate. Each level is further broken into percentage slabs and has a corresponding achievement level.
The percentage scored for each subject determines the student’s attainment level and achievement rating. Some subjects are high-credit courses, and students need to achieve a certain level to be eligible for university programmes.
Those who receive Level 1, which is 0% to 29%, fail the NSC exam. They must reapply and sit for the exam the following year to earn their certificate.
What is the Level System, and What do the Grades Mean?
The NSC grading system is divided into seven levels, each within a particular percentage range. Level 1 comprises 0-29%, with the remaining levels increasing by ten percentage points and the final level holding 20 percentage points.
Level 1 is the lowest, and students who earn a level 1 in any subject fail that course. Students who earn level 7 in any subject score the highest score possible.
This is how the NSC levels are divided depending on your percentage score for each subject:
| Levels | Percentage | Achievement |
| Level 7 | 80 – 100% | Outstanding achievement |
| Level 6 | 70 – 79% | Meritorious achievement |
| Level 5 | 60 – 69% | Substantial achievement |
| Level 4 | 50 – 59% | Moderate achievement |
| Level 3 | 40 – 49% | Adequate achievement |
| Level 2 | 30 – 39% | Elementary achievement |
| Level 1 | 0-29% | Fail |
What Pass Level Do I Need to Study Further After Matric?
Students must score at least level 2 or higher to pass each subject for which they write a paper during their matric exams. The final score that students receive determines which pass they have achieved on the exams.
- Bachelor’s Pass: This allows for a provisional acceptance into a degree course, but you will also need to meet the criteria for the APS score.
- Diploma Pass: this allows for provisional acceptance for any University of Technology or Diploma course
- Higher Certificate Pass: this allows for provisional acceptance for any certificate course
- National Senior Certificate (NSC) Pass: this means a student has passed the matric exam.
| Subjects | Bachelor Pass(Min score) | Diploma Pass(Min score) | Higher Certificate Pass(Min score) | NSC Pass(Min score) |
| Home Language | 40% | 40% | 40% | 40% |
| High credit subjects | 50% in 4 subjects | 40% in 3 subjects | 40% in 2 subjects | – |
| Other subjects | 30% in 2 subjects | 30% in 2 subjects | 30% in 4 subjects | 40% in 3 subjects and 30% in 2 subjectsOR30% in 6 subjects if failing home language |
The NSC score offers provisional admission depending on students’ pass level. This score is converted to an Admission Point Score (APS), which universities and institutes use to determine final admission.
Difference between NSC and SC Exam
The NSC is a standardised test that all grade 12 students across South Africa must appear for. Students who sit for this exam are in their final year of secondary school and need the scores from the NSC to complete their Matric and decide on their future educational path.
Senior certificate or SC is an exam that adults in South Africa can appear for if they had to leave school before completing grade 12. To qualify for the SC, candidates should be 21 years or older. The senior certificate is a chance for adults to gain their matric certificate later in life. This can allow them access to better job opportunities and also allow them to pursue higher education.
The exams are conducted in May and June each year, and candidates must write six subjects. The final score is only determined solely by the exam grade and do not consider the SBA score.
Know the Difference Between an NSC and SC here
Conclusion
Appearing for the matric exams is one of the most important events in the life of a grade 12 student in South Africa. Therefore, students must prepare their study schedule as soon as they can access the matric timetable. They should learn to manage their time efficiently so that they can adequately cover the curriculum for the compulsory and elective subjects.
The matric exam scores determine the pass level that a student achieves, which helps determine future educational opportunities available to them.
Regenesys offers a variety of certificate and degree programmes that students can apply for once they pass their Matric. Visit our website to know more.
Matric Timetable 2024 – FAQs
What is NSC?
The NSC or National Senior Certificate, often referred to as the Matric, is a test that grade 12 students all over South Africa need to appear for. This test is required to finish secondary school.
Where can I find the Matric timetable?
The updated Matric timetable is available online at the Department of Basic Education.
Can I re-appear for the NSC if I did not get a good score?
It is possible to sit for the NSC the following year to improve your score.
What are the NSC levels?
The NSC is scored on a scale of 7 levels, which are determined by percentage breakdown. Students need to achieve level 2 or higher to pass the exam.
What subjects will I be tested on in the NSC?
Students appear for a total of 7 subjects. These include compulsory subjects and elective. Compulsory courses include two languages, mathematics, and life orientation.
