Western Cape Matrics Gear Up: Essential Timetable for 2025 NSC Examinations

Western Cape Matrics Gear Up for 2025 NSC Exams

With October in full swing, a record 77,442 students in the Western Cape are preparing to write the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, starting on Tuesday, 21 October. This year’s cohort marks a notable rise in full-time candidates, with 67,606 students enrolled for their final year, alongside 9,836 part-time and repeat candidates. Compared to 2024, full-time enrolment has increased by 3,231, reflecting the growing determination among students to reach their educational goals.

Sourced: IOL

A Month of Intense Exams

The exam period spans over a month, concluding on 26 November 2025, with a total of 112 examination papers scheduled. The first paper to kick off proceedings is the Computer Applications Technology (CAT) Practical, with 12,736 candidates slated to sit the exam on day one.

Mathematical Literacy remains the most popular subject, with 53,206 candidates registered for Paper 1 on Friday, 31 October, followed by Paper 2 on Monday, 3 November. In contrast, some subjects are strikingly underrepresented; for example, only a single candidate is registered in Sesotho First Additional Language and Setswana Home Language, underscoring the unique diversity of subject choices across the province.

Logistics Behind the Scenes

Running these exams is a logistical feat. A total of 473 exam centres will host students, with 2,046 trained invigilators ensuring fairness and integrity. After exams conclude, 4,190 markers will begin assessing nearly one million scripts (954,000 to be precise), starting in early December.

For candidates, the countdown continues not just to exam day, but also to the release of results. The Minister of Education will announce national and provincial pass rates on Monday, 12 January 2026, with individual results following a day later, a pivotal moment for students, families, and schools across the Western Cape.

Support and Encouragement

Western Cape MEC for Education, David Maynier, praised the efforts of both students and exam officials. “We appreciate the incredible work that our examination officials do each year to ensure that the exams run smoothly. Our matrics and their teachers have also put in tremendous effort to prepare,” he said.

Maynier urged communities to support candidates during the exam period, encouraging everyone to put students’ best interests first. “We wish our candidates all the best for the final days of revision and look forward to celebrating their success when results are released,” he added.

A Defining Moment for Matrics

For many, these exams represent more than just papers and marks. They are a culmination of years of hard work, long nights of revision, and determination to achieve a stepping stone to tertiary education or career opportunities. As classrooms and homes across the Western Cape prepare for a month of intense focus, the spirit of the province’s matrics is evident, ambitious, hopeful, and ready to rise to the challenge.