Matric trials and final examinations
Matrics write trial examinations in the third term and the final NSC examinations from mid-October to the end of November.
Most matrics write two sets of examinations in the second half of the year. The trial examinations, often called prelims, are usually written in the third term. Independent schools set their own trial papers; many public schools in KwaZulu-Natal write common papers set by the provincial education department. A few weeks later the final examinations of the National Senior Certificate begin. Both the IEB and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) write their finals from mid-October through November, and results are released the following January.
The finals carry more weight, but the trials matter too.
Why the trials matter
They can count towards the final mark. In the DBE system, which follows the national CAPS curriculum, the trial examination is formally one of the school-based assessment tasks, and these together make up 25% of a learner’s final mark in each subject. IEB schools set their own school-based assessment programmes, which also make up 25% of the final mark. Each school’s programme sets out how its trial examinations count.
They can count for university admission. Universities make provisional offers using the results they have. That means Grade 11 final results and, where a university asks for them, the latest Grade 12 results. The University of KwaZulu-Natal accepts Grade 12 June and trial results when it assesses applications, and the University of Cape Town requires applicants to submit Grade 12 interim results by the end of October.
They are also useful preparation. Trial papers generally follow the format of the final papers and are written under examination conditions, so the marked scripts show where a learner is losing marks while there is still time to work on it.
The weeks between
The gap between the end of trials and the first final paper is usually only a few weeks. The returned trial scripts are a good place to start. Lost marks often fall into a few broad kinds, for example:
- marks lost to knowledge: a text not reread, poems half-remembered, grammar rules not yet secure
- marks lost to technique: questions misread, mark allocations ignored, essays without a clear argument
- marks lost to time: unfinished sections, or too long spent on early questions
These call for different kinds of work: revising particular texts and topics, practising past-paper questions against the marking guidelines, or writing whole papers under timed conditions.
Revision groups, weekends and holidays
During the third and fourth terms Amanda runs revision lessons for matrics in groups, alongside individual lessons. Holiday tuition is often available in the September/October vacation, and weekend lessons are offered around the May/June examinations, the trials, and the run-up to the November finals, for Grade 11 and Grade 12 learners.
Revision groups bring together learners on the same syllabus, and each learner’s written work is still marked individually. In the final weeks, a group can work through the same Shakespeare play or Afrikaans setwork together.
Learners who have fallen well behind, or who have accommodations such as extra time, may do better with one-to-one lessons in this period, and these are arranged as needed.
For learners who are already doing well
Revision in the final weeks is also useful for strong learners, including those aiming to raise a B aggregate to an A, or close to a distinction or a university’s admission requirement. The top bands of the IEB’s essay rubrics reward structure, precision and an individual voice, and these can be worked on in the weeks before the finals.
Questions parents ask
Frequently asked questions
When are matric trials written?
Trials (also called preliminary or prelim examinations) are set by each school, so the dates vary. Most schools write them in the third term, between August and September.
When are the final matric exams?
The final NSC examinations for both the IEB and the DBE are written from mid-October through November. Results are released in January.
Do trial results matter for university applications?
They can. Universities make provisional offers based on Grade 11 final results and the latest Grade 12 results available. UKZN, for example, accepts Grade 12 June and trial results, and UCT asks applicants to submit Grade 12 interim results by the end of October.
Are there holiday lessons before the finals?
Holiday tuition is often available in the September/October vacation, and weekend lessons are offered around the trials and before the November examinations. It is best to book early to secure a place.
