2026 Matric exams kick off as DBE warns against irregularities

2026 Matric exams kick off as DBE warns against irregularities Nokuthula Khanyile Tue, 10/13/2026 - 08:15

File: A teacher supervising an exam. Gallo Images/BFG Images

JOHANNESBURG - Thousands of Grade 12 learners begin their final examinations on Tuesday, as the Class of 2026 sits for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

A record 962,832 candidates have registered for this year’s examinations, including 815,051 full-time and 147,781 part-time candidates.

The exams begin with the Computer Applications Technology Paper 1 practical examination and conclude on 26 November.

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has warned candidates against examination irregularities, saying the Department of Basic Education (DBE) will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to cheating.

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“Let me be clear, the DBE is taking a proactive, zero-tolerance approach to examination irregularities,” she said.

Gwarube said candidate and parent pledge agreements had been introduced to promote a culture of integrity. A 24-hour examination hotline is also available to report suspected irregularities.

DBE spokesperson Terence Khala said the department hoped the examinations would proceed without irregularities.

“Every year, we sign an examination pledge, which deals with making sure our candidates understand their responsibility to uphold the integrity of the result, equally making sure all the officials understand their role as well. We do not take any irregularity lightly,” he said.

As the examinations get under way, government has urged matriculants to remain calm, approach their papers with confidence and stay focused.

“Learners should manage their time effectively, follow their examination timetables, read questions carefully and allocate sufficient time to each section of their examination papers,” government said.

Parents and guardians have also been urged to support learners by creating a peaceful study environment, avoiding unnecessary pressure and reminding them that their well-being is just as important as their academic performance.

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Educational psychologist Irma Eloff said that although matric examinations were high-stakes, learners should remember that their results would not define their entire lives.

“It is also not something that needs to define your entire life. As matrics go into these exams, it’s important to give it their best but also to know it will not define their entire life,” she said.

Eloff advised learners experiencing anxiety to take deep breaths and focus on what they could control during the examinations.

“If they are struggling in the middle of the paper, it is important to focus on what they can do and not to be tricked out by ones that are really baffling them. If it went badly, do not let that trickle over to the next one. Start on a clean slate for every new paper,” she said.