The 2026 NSC final exams start on Monday 12 October 2026 and end on Friday 27 November 2026. The timetable has been confirmed by the Department of Basic Education.
The final exam counts for 75% of your total mark. Your school-based assessment (SBA) is the other 25%. That means what you do in October and November determines almost everything.
This post covers the exact dates for Maths and Physical Science, what comes out in each paper, and how to use the time between now and exam day.
Your 2026 Exam Dates — Confirmed by the DBE
These dates are from the official October/November 2026 NSC timetable published by the Department of Basic Education in February 2026.
Maths Paper 1 and Paper 2 are only 3 days apart (Friday to Monday). Physical Science Paper 1 and Paper 2 are also 3 days apart. You get one weekend between each pair. Plan your revision around this tight turnaround.
How the 75/25 Weighting Works
This means a student who got 40% in SBA throughout the year but scores 70% in the final exam ends up with:
(40 x 0.25) + (70 x 0.75) = 10 + 52.5 = 62.5% final mark
The final exam has the power to pull you up dramatically. Even if your year mark is low, a strong final exam performance can still get you to a pass, a diploma entry, or even a bachelor pass. That is why final exam preparation is the highest-leverage activity you can do right now.
What Comes Out in Each Paper
The NSC final exams test the full Grade 12 CAPS syllabus. Every topic from Term 1 through Term 3. Nothing is excluded. The mark allocations are fixed by the CAPS examination guidelines.
| Topic | Marks | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Equations | ~25 | Read → |
| Sequences and Series | ~25 | Read → |
| Functions and Graphs | ~35 | Read → |
| Finance, Growth, Decay | ~15 | Read → |
| Differential Calculus | ~35 | Read → |
| Probability and Counting | ~15 | Read → |
| Topic | Marks | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Statistics and Regression | ~20 | Read → |
| Analytical Geometry | ~40 | Read → |
| Trigonometry | ~40 | Read → |
| Euclidean Geometry | ~50 | Read → |
| Topic | Marks | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Newton's Laws | 25-30 | Read → |
| Momentum and Impulse | 15-20 | Read → |
| Work, Energy, Power | 20-25 | Read → |
| Doppler Effect | 13-17 | Read → |
| Electric Circuits | 50-55 | Read → |
| EM Induction | 15-20 | Read → |
| Photoelectric Effect | 13-17 | Read → |
| Topic | Marks | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Matter and Bonding | 15-20 | Theory revision |
| Chemical Equilibrium | 20-25 | Read → |
| Acids and Bases | 20-25 | Titration calcs |
| Electrochemistry | 18-22 | Read → |
| Organic Chemistry | 25-30 | Read → |
| Stoichiometry (woven in) | 15-20 | Read → |
The Countdown Plan — From Now to Exam Day
On Exam Day — What to Do
For more exam strategy, read 10 Most Common Mistakes in Grade 12 Maths Paper 1 and 10 Most Common Mistakes in Physical Science.
For past paper methods, read How to Use Maths Past Papers and How to Use Physical Science Past Papers.
For the full exam format breakdown, read NSC Maths Exam Format — Paper 1 vs Paper 2.
The finals are fixed. The dates are set. Your preparation starts now.
A-Game Academy teaches Grade 12 Pure Maths and Physical Science live via Zoom. Mr Sawaya, 30 years NSC experience. Small classes, max 15 students. Weekly past paper practice.
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