Umalusi gives green light for 2026 national year-end examinations
More than 1.08 million candidates will sit for the 2026 national examinations across thousands of audit-checked centres nationwide.
Umalusi has given the green light for the 2026 year-end national examinations, confirming that assessment bodies are ready to host nearly 1.08 million candidates across 9 183 centres.
The quality assurance body conducted its readiness audit from August 24 to September 30, covering candidate registration, staffing, moderation, question-paper security, mark capturing, and irregularity structures.
Remaining concerns are not systemic and will not threaten exam credibility, according to Umalusi, though assessment bodies must address them before writing starts.
About 1 079 879 candidates are registered to write. The national senior certificate (NSC) accounts for roughly 92% of all entries, with 989 141 candidates across assessment bodies, including 964 201 with the department of basic education (DBE).
The general education and training certificate (GETC): adult basic education and training qualification has 46 416 candidates, while the national certificate (vocational) level 4 has 44 322.
Admission letters and timetables have been distributed, with extra time, braille, and large print granted where required.
Candidates will write at 9 183 centres nationwide. New venues were physically audited, and all sites were ranked by risk. Resident monitors will be deployed to high-risk locations.
Umalusi externally moderated and approved 283 subject question papers, with printing underway under approved security plans. Invigilators have been trained.
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The DBE reported marker shortages in Afrikaans home language, English home language, and history. Umalusi said early and phased marking will address the shortage and it will continue to monitor capacity.
The department of higher education and training (DHET) will finish appointing markers later this month, with Umalusi set to pronounce on that capacity on or before October 19.
Marks will be captured twice, with a second official verifying each entry.
From 2026, national certificate (vocational) levels 2 and 3 are internal examinations, meaning Umalusi no longer quality-assures them or issues those certificates. The NATED N2–N3 qualifications were phased out, with final quality assurance completed in December 2025.
Umalusi remains concerned about repeated issues with practical and internal assessment tasks at DHET colleges, noting that planning and facilities have not improved sufficiently.
It also warned teachers and principals against preventing registered candidates from writing subjects to artificially boost school pass rates, urging learners and parents to report any instances.
The exam timetable was adjusted because local government elections, on November 4, fall within the writing period. Umalusi asked political and community leaders to keep campaign activities away from schools used as exam centres.
Results release is set for January 2027.
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