With the Matric exams now underway in South Africa, up to 203,794 candidates are sitting the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations.
This is an increase of 11,049 from last year (2025).
Of the 203,794 candidates, 152,527 are writing matric for the first time as full-time learners, while 51,267 are part-time candidates or rewriting their exams.
The exams run until 26 November 2026.
A total of 192,745 candidates wrote the 2025 exams, with numbers increasing across full-time learners, part-time candidates and those rewriting this year.
The exams cover 77 subjects, with 155 question papers. Most full-time learners take seven subjects, while nearly 20,000 have registered for an extra subject.
Exams are available in all 12 official South African languages, as well as selected foreign languages. English has the most candidates, followed by isiZulu and Afrikaans at different language levels.
More learners have chosen Mathematical Literacy (70.7%) than Mathematics (29.3%). Exams will take place at 1,065 approved centres across the province, with schools and education districts preparing for the examinations.