2022 Matric Exam Dates
by FundiConnect Editorial Team | · Last updated
The 2022 matric exam dates have been released. This time of year can be both incredibly exciting and stressful, as your last year of schooling draws to a close. There’s only one last hurdle standing in your way—final exams.
With matric exams looming ahead, it’s time to focus and study hard if you want to get into the tertiary institution of your dreams.
To help you survive matric finals, we tracked down all the scheduled dates for the national senior certificate (NSC) and independent exam board (IEB) exams.
Note that the following dates are subject to change, with any updates being provided by the Education Department or your school.
2022 National Matric Exam Dates
The Department of Education has released the dates for the 2022 matric exams, which are set to start on Monday, 31 October and will finish on Friday, 9 December 2022. The matric exams are starting later than in previous years to ensure that matriculants have enough time for learning and teaching.
The exam dates exclude the written matric final exams for Life Orientation (LO), and the practical exams for Computer Application Technology (CAT), Information Technology (IT), Performing Arts, and Visual Arts and Design, which will take place earlier.
The NSC matric final exam timetable for 2022 is as follows:
2022 Matric Exam Dates
Matric Exam Dates: Week 1
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
Monday, 31 October 2022
Paper 1
- English Home Language (HL, FAL)
- Hebrew Second Additional Language (SAL)
- German (HL)
- German (SAL)
Tuesday, 1 November 2022
Paper 1
- Economics
- Arabic (HL, FAL, SAL)
- French (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Italian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Mandarin (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Modern Greek (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Serbian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Spanish (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Latin (SAL)
- Portuguese (HL, FAL, SAL)
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
Paper 1
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL)
Paper 2
- Hindi (HL, FAL)
- Gujarati (HL, FAL)
- Tamil (HL, FAL)
- Telegu (HL, FAL)
- Urdu (HL, FAL)
- Hebrew (SAL)
Thursday, 3 November 2022
Paper 1
- History
- Engineering Graphics and Design
Friday, 4 November 2022
Paper 1
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Technical Mathematics
Paper 2
- Arabic (HL, FAL, SAL)
- French (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Italian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Mandarin (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Modern Greek (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Serbian (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Spanish (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Latin (SAL)
- Portuguese (HL, FAL, SAL)
Matric Exam Dates: Week 3
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
Monday, 14 November 2022
Paper 2
- Physical Sciences (Chemistry)
- Technical Sciences
- Religion Studies
Tuesday, 15 November 2022
Paper 1
- Geography (Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Mapwork)
- Dance Studies
Wednesday, 16 November 2022
Paper 1
- Accounting
Paper 2
- Engineering Graphics and Design
Thursday, 17 November 2022
Paper 1
- English (HL, FAL)
- Civil Technology
Friday, 18 November 2022
Paper 1
- Life Sciences
- Visual Arts
Matric Exam Dates: Week 5
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
Monday, 28 November 2022
Paper 2
- Agricultural Science
- Natural Science
Paper 3
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
Tuesday, 29 November 2022
Paper 2
- Business Studies
- Marine Sciences
Paper 3
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
- South African Sign Languages
Wednesday, 30 November 2022
Paper 3
- English (HL, FAL)
- Mechanical Technology
Thursday, 1 December 2022
- Consumer Studies
- Hospitality Studies
- Design
Friday, 2 December 2022
Paper 3
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Agricultural Management Practices
Matric Exam Dates: Week 2
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
Monday, 7 November 2022
Paper 2
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Technical Mathematics
Paper 3
- Hindi (HL, FAL)
- Gujarati (HL, FAL)
- Tamil (HL, FAL)
- Telegu (HL, FAL)
- Urdu (HL, FAL)
- German (HL, SAL)
Tuesday, 8 November 2022
Paper 1
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
Paper 2
- Economics
- Maritime Economics
Wednesday, 2 November 2022
Paper 1
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
Paper 2
- Computer Applications Technology (theory)
Thursday, 10 November 2022
Paper 1
- South African Sign Language
Paper 2
- History
- Information Technology
Friday, 11 November 2022
Paper 1
- Physical Sciences
- Technical Sciences
- Religion Studies
Matric Exam Dates: Week 4
Key:
Home Language = HL
First Additional Language = FAL
Second Additional Language = SAL
Monday, 21 November 2022
Paper 2
- Life Sciences
- Electrical Technology
Tuesday, 22 November 2022
Paper 2
- Sepedi (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Sesotho (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Setswana (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Xitsonga (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tshivenda (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Geography (Rural and Urban Settlement, Economic Geomorphology of South Africa and Mapwork)
Wednesday, 23 November 2022
Paper 1
- Business Studies
- Marine Sciences
Paper 2
- isiZulu (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiXhosa (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Siswati (HL, FAL, SAL)
- isiNbedele (HL, FAL, SAL)
Thursday, 24 November 2022
Paper 2
- Afrikaans (HL, FAL, SAL)
- Tourism
Friday, 25 November 2022
Paper 1
- Agricultural Sciences
- Nautical Science
- Sport and Exercise Science
Paper 2
- Accounting
Matric Exam Dates: Week 6
Monday, 5 December 2022
Paper 1
- Music Theory
Paper 2
- South African Sign Language
- Music Comprehension
Tuesday, 6 December 2022
- Dramatic Arts
- Agricultural Technology
Wednesday, 7 December 2022
Rewrite
- Computer Application Technology (CAT) Practical
- Information Technology (IT) Practical
2022 IEB Matric Exam Dates
The IEB matric exam dates are slightly different than the NSC matric exam dates. Grade 12 learners already started their final exams on Tuesday, 13 September and will finish on Tuesday, 29 November.
You can view the full IEB matric timetable on the IEB website, or retrieve the one that’s available at your school. Additionally, you can contact the Independent Schools Association of South Africa (ISASA) on 011 648 1331.
Start preparing for exams and life after school!
During the next few months, you are going to need to plan for life after school. If you want to study further, stay on top of your matric results and make sure you choose the right institution. Then, if you need further help with funding, we can help!
Are you wanting to apply for a student loan? Try our Fundi loan calculator to see if you meet all the requirements!
We are wishing you the best of luck with your matric exams!
The FundiConnect Editorial Team researches, writes, and maintains comprehensive guides on South African higher education, bursaries, NSFAS funding, and career development. Our content is verified against official institutional sources, DHET publications, and direct admissions office communications to ensure accuracy for students navigating their post-school journey.
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