The Department of Basic Education has released the official 2024 NSC timetable. Matric final exams will start with English HL, English FAL and English SAL on 21 October 2024, with the remaining subjects due to follow.
It’s important to familiarise yourself with the dates and times for each subject. Below, you’ll find a week-by-week breakdown of the exam schedule, along with some tips to help you navigate this critical time.
Table of Contents
NSC Exam Dates for November 2024
- Exams start: 21 October 2024
- Exams end: 28 November 2024
Week 1 (21 October – 25 October 2024)
The first week of matric exams kicks off with several language papers and practical assessments. This week sets the tone for the exam season, so it’s important to stay calm and stick to your study plan.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 21/10 | English HL P3 (3hrs), English FAL P3 (2½hrs), English SAL (2½hrs) | Afrikaans HL P3 (3hrs), Afrikaans FAL P3 (2½hrs), Afrikaans SAL (2½hrs) |
Tuesday 22/10 | Computer Applications Tech P1 (3hrs) Practical | Arabic, French, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P1 (2hrs) Latin SAL P1 (3hrs), Portuguese HL, FAL, SAL P1 (2hrs), Hebrew SAL P1 (2hrs), German HL, SAL P1 (2hrs) |
Wednesday 23/10 | Business Studies P1 (2hrs) | Information Technology P1 (3hrs) Practical |
Thursday 24/10 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P1 (2hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu FAL P1 (2hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu SAL P1 (2hrs) |
Friday 25/10 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P3 (3hrs), FAL P3 (2½hrs), SAL P3 (2½hrs) South African Sign Language HL P3 (3hrs) | Arabic, Italian, Mandarin, Modern Greek, Serbian, Spanish SAL P2 (2hrs) Latin SAL P2 (2hrs) Portuguese HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL, SAL P2 (2hrs) Equine Studies (3hrs) |
Week 2 (28 October – 1 November 2024)
Week two covers key subjects like History and Mathematics, two subjects where thorough preparation can make a big difference. Make sure to practice past papers for these subjects to build your confidence.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 28/10 | English HL P1 (2hrs) English FAL P1 (2hrs) English SAL P1 (2hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P2 (2½hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu FAL P2 (2hrs) Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu SAL P2 (2hrs) Hebrew SAL P2 (2hrs) German HL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (2hrs) Marine Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
Tuesday 29/10 | History P1 (3hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P1 (3hrs) French SAL P2 (2hrs) |
Wednesday 30/10 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) | Business Studies P2 (2hrs) |
Week 3 (4 November – 8 November 2024)
With Mathematics, Geography, and Physical Sciences papers lined up, week three is a challenging one. Ensure you are revising important formulas, geographical concepts, and practising scientific problem-solving to stay sharp.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 04/11 | Mathematics P2 (3hrs) Mathematical Literacy P2 (3hrs) Technical Mathematics P2 (3hrs) | Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telegu, Urdu HL P3 (2½hrs) FAL P3 (2½hrs) Portuguese, German HL P3 (2½hrs) Portuguese FAL P3 (2½hrs) |
Tuesday 05/11 | Geography (Climate and Weather, Geomorphology and Map Work) P1 (3hrs) | Computer Applications Tech P2 (Theory) (3hrs) Nautical Science P1 (3hrs) |
Wednesday 06/11 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P1 (2hrs), FAL P1 (2hrs), SAL P1 (2hrs) South African Sign Language HL P1 (2hrs) | Information Technology P2 (Theory) (3hrs) |
Thursday 07/11 | History P2 (3hrs) | Consumer Studies (3hrs) Hospitality Studies (3hrs) |
Friday 08/11 | Physical Sciences (Physics) P1 (3hrs) Technical Sciences P1 (3hrs) | Dramatic Arts (3hrs) |
Week 4 (11 November – 15 November 2024)
As the fourth week begins, you’ll be tackling some intensive papers like Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. At this point, it’s important to pace yourself and keep stress levels low by sticking to your schedule.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 11/11 | Physical Sciences (Chemistry) P2 (3hrs) Technical Sciences P2 (1½hrs) | Dance Studies (3hrs) |
Tuesday 12/11 | isiZulu, isiXhosa, siSwati, isiNdebele HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Economics P1 (2hrs) |
Wednesday 13/11 | English HL P2 (2½hrs) English FAL P2 (2½hrs) English SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Engineering Graphics and Design P2 (3hrs) |
Thursday 14/11 | Accounting P1 (2hrs) | Tourism (3hrs) |
Friday 15/11 | Life Sciences P1 (2½hrs) | Civil Technology (3hrs) |
Week 5 (18 November – 22 November 2024)
Week five signals that you’re nearing the end of the exam period, but there are still some major subjects like Economics and Accounting to focus on. Keep up your momentum and finish strong.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 18/11 | Life Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Visual Arts P1 (3hrs), Electrical Technology (3hrs) |
Tuesday 19/11 | Afrikaans HL P1 (2hrs) Afrikaans FAL P1 (2hrs) Afrikaans SAL P1 (2hrs) | Economics P2 (2hrs) |
Wednesday 20/11 | Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Xitsonga, Tshivenda HL P2 (2½hrs), FAL P2 (2½hrs), SAL P2 (1½hrs) South African Sign Language HL P2 (2½hrs) | Mechanical Technology (3hrs) |
Thursday 21/11 | Geography (Rural and Urban Settlements, Economic Geography of SA and Map Work) P2 (3hrs) | Religion Studies P2 (2hrs) Maritime Economics (3hrs) |
Friday 22/11 | Accounting P2 (2hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P1 (2½hrs) |
Week 6 (25 November – 28 November 2024)
This is the final week of exams. It’s your last push, with subjects like Afrikaans and Agricultural Sciences wrapping up the timetable. After months of hard work, it’s time to finish the race and breathe a sigh of relief.
Date | Morning Session (09:00) | Afternoon Session (14:00) |
Monday 25/11 | Afrikaans HL P2 (2½hrs) Afrikaans FAL P2 (2½hrs) Afrikaans SAL P2 (1½hrs) | Agricultural Sciences P2 (2½hrs) Nautical Science P2 (3hrs) |
Tuesday 26/11 | Music P1 Theory (3hrs) Agricultural Technology (3hrs) | Music P2 Comprehension (1½hrs) |
Wednesday 27/11 | Agricultural Management Practices (3hrs) Marine Sciences P2 (2½hrs) | Design P1 (3hrs) |
Thursday 28/11 | CAT P1 rewrite (3hrs) Practical IT P1 rewrite (3hrs) Practical | |
Practical Exam Timetable
Before the written exams begin, some subjects require practical assessments that you should be aware of. These practical exams and tasks are as important as the written exams, contributing to your final mark. Make sure you prepare for these assessments well in advance, as they occur earlier in the year and provide an opportunity to boost your grades.
Date | Session |
Monday, 2 September | Life Orientation (LO CAT) (2½hrs) |
12 August – 14 October | Performing Arts Practical |
1 October – 14 October | Visual Arts and Design Practical |
Preparation Tips for the 2024 NSC Final Exams
With the timetable in hand, it’s time to develop a clear and focused strategy to prepare for your exams. Here are some practical steps to help you ace your final matric exams:
- Create a Study Schedule: Organise your study time around your exam dates. Start with subjects that are scheduled earlier, and ensure you allocate more time to challenging subjects.
- Use Past Papers: Practicing past exam papers is one of the best ways to familiarise yourself with the format and types of questions you’ll face. It also helps you time yourself, ensuring you can complete your exam within the allotted time.
- Balance Study with Rest: Studying for hours on end without breaks can lead to burnout. Incorporate short breaks into your study schedule, and ensure you’re getting enough sleep. A well-rested brain functions better during exams.
- Stay Healthy: Proper nutrition and regular exercise can help improve your concentration and reduce stress. Drink plenty of water, eat balanced meals, and take a walk if you’re feeling overwhelmed.
- Ask for Help: If there’s a topic or subject you’re struggling with, don’t hesitate to ask your teachers or peers for help. Joining study groups can also be a good way to review material.
Now that you have the full exam timetable, you can begin to plan, prepare, and ultimately perform at your best. Remember, these exams are just one step in your academic journey, and with hard work, dedication, and a solid strategy, you can achieve your goals.
Good luck to all matriculants writing the 2024 NSC exams!
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