Matric exams officially begin: What happens if a learner is sick?

The 2026 National Senior Certificate exams officially begin on Tuesday 13 October, and run until 26 November. What happens in the case of a learner being sick?

WHAT HAPPENS IF A LEARNER IS SICK DURING THE MATRIC EXAMS?

There are more than a million candidates and the pressure is on. A sudden fever, stomach bug or migraine at just as the exams being is relatively common and a concern. So, what happens?

The first rule is to tell the school and the exam centre as early as possible. You are advised to not just stay home and hope for the best. A learner who is unwell before a paper should contact the school principal or exam centre manager. The principal needs to notify the provincial education department.

A medical certificate is necessary. Learners who miss a paper because due to being sick are generally required to see a registered doctor or clinic and obtain a certificate that confirms the illness and the date it affected them. Officials will need this proof, so parents should keep every document and note the dates.

Learners who are mildly unwell, with a headache, a cold or period pain, are usually still expected to write. Centres may arrange for a learner to sit near a window, take prescribed medication, or have a short supervised break, within the rules. Invigilators cannot add extra time for ordinary illness.

IN THE CASE OF A MORE SERIOUS ILLNESS

For more serious illness, provincial departments have in past years arranged for candidates to write under supervision in a hospital or at home. An invigilator present will be present. This requires the department’s approval beforehand. So, families need to raise it immediately rather than after the paper has been written.

If a learner cannot write at all, the usual route is to sit the missed paper in the supplementary exams. Those are normally held in the following year, around the May/June period. In the meantime the learner’s results may be withheld or marked incomplete until the outstanding paper is written.

Illness on the day is different from poor preparation. A bad day without medical evidence generally cannot be reversed, which is why a doctor’s visit matters even if the learner then decides to push through and write.

Parents and learners should also look after the basics: sleep, regular meals, water and avoiding last-minute all-nighters. Contact numbers for the school and district office are worth having on hand.

Rules and arrangements can differ slightly between provinces. So, learners should confirm the exact process with their school or provincial education department. Take a look at what you can and cannot bring into the exam room here.

Take a look at where to find past papers here.