The Grade 12 preliminary exams (prelims, also called trial exams) are written in August and September 2026. They are set by your province or school district, not by the DBE nationally. But they cover the full Grade 12 CAPS syllabus, they follow the same format as the NSC finals, and they count toward your year mark.
For Maths and Physical Science students, prelims are the most important dress rehearsal you will get. This is your chance to identify weak spots, practise under real exam pressure, and build the confidence you need for October and November.
When Are Prelims Written in 2026?
Prelims are not set by the national DBE. They are set by provincial education departments or school districts. This means exact dates vary by province and school.
However, the window is always the same:
If your prelims end in mid-September and finals start on 12 October, that is roughly 4 weeks to fix every weak spot your prelims exposed. That is not a lot of time. Students who start preparing for prelims early give themselves a longer runway for finals.
What Topics Come Out in Prelims?
Prelims cover the full CAPS syllabus. Not just Term 3 content. Everything from Term 1, 2, and 3. The format, mark allocation, and difficulty level mirror the NSC finals.
| 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 → |
How Much Do Prelims Count Toward Your Final Mark?
Your NSC final mark is made up of two parts:
Your prelim result is the biggest single component of your SBA (school-based assessment) mark. In most schools, the prelim exam counts for 40% to 50% of your SBA mark. Since SBA is 25% of your final mark, your prelim alone contributes roughly 10% to 12.5% of your final NSC mark.
That makes prelims the second most important exam you write all year, after the NSC finals themselves.
Why Universities Use Your Prelim Results
University application deadlines fall between June and September for most South African universities. Your NSC final results are not available until January 2027. So what do universities use to assess your application?
Your Grade 12 prelim results.
Most universities offer provisional acceptance based on your prelim marks. If your prelim marks meet the minimum requirements for your chosen programme, you get a conditional offer. The condition is that your final NSC results must confirm (or improve on) the prelim marks.
A student with 70% in prelims gets a provisional university offer. A student with 50% in prelims does not. Both might end up with the same NSC final mark. But the student with the better prelim result secured their place months earlier. Prelims are your university entrance ticket.
For the full requirements, read What Marks Do You Need to Get Into University.
How to Prepare for Prelims Starting Now
For a full study strategy, read How to Study for Grade 12 Maths in 30 Days and How to Study for Grade 12 Physical Science Before the Exam.
For past paper methods, read Grade 12 Maths Past Papers - How to Use Them and Grade 12 Physical Science Past Papers - How to Use Them.
Mistakes Students Make With Prelims
They count toward your SBA. Universities use them for provisional admission. A bad prelim result follows you.
Prelims test the full syllabus. Algebra from Term 1, calculus from Term 2, and everything in between. You must revise all terms.
Prelims follow the same format as the NSC. If you have never done a full paper under timed conditions, you do not know if you can finish it. Practise before the real thing.
A bad prelim result is data, not a death sentence. It shows you exactly which topics to fix before finals. The students who use prelims as a diagnostic tool and act on the results are the ones who improve the most by November.
For common exam errors, read 10 Most Common Mistakes in Grade 12 Maths Paper 1 and 10 Most Common Mistakes in Grade 12 Physical Science.
Prelims are coming. Start preparing 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.
3 comments
My comment is that the prelim information is more like science scope but it’s too relevant on two subjects
This was so helpful, I was able to understand alot about trial exams. Thank you ❤️
This was so helpful, I was able to understand alot about trial exams. Thank you ❤️