The administration of the 2025 Trial Examinations is well underway across the country, marking an important milestone in the academic year for Grade 12 learners. The Eastern Cape and North West provinces commenced their trials on 25 August 2025, with the rest of the provinces following shortly thereafter. This coordinated effort reflects the education system’s commitment to ensuring that learners are fully prepared for the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations taking place later this year. The start and end dates for the trial examinations in the nine provinces are as follows:

The role of the Department of Basic Education (DBE) during the trial examinations is to provide national oversight and ensure that standards are maintained, while the Provincial Education Departments (PEDs) take direct responsibility for managing the examinations. Each PED oversees the setting, moderation, printing, packing, storage and distribution of question papers. They also ensure smooth administration by liaising closely with districts and schools to make the examinations a success.

According to Ms Priscilla Ogunbanjo, the Director for National Examinations at the DBE, the trial examinations serve as a crucial preparation platform for all involved ahead of the final NSC examinations. For learners, the trials provide a real-time experience of what to expect in the final examinations, while for PEDs, the process acts as a trial run to identify and resolve any administrative or logistical challenges before the October/November examinations commence.

The examinations are not only preparatory but also carry academic weight. They form part of the programme of assessment in Grade 12 and directly contribute to the school-based assessment (SBA) mark. Unlike the NSC examination, which contributes between 50% and 75% of the final promotion mark, the trial examinations count only towards the SBA mark.This year, a total of 767,545 full-time candidates are participating in the trial examinations. Looking ahead, the October/November 2025 NSC examinations are expected to accommodate 856,363 candidates, including both full-time and part-time candidates.

In closing Ms Ogunbanjo remarked: “The DBE and PEDs are fully prepared. Examination centres have been audited, and systems are in place to ensure an incident- and error-free administration of the trial examinations. These examinations stand as a firm commitment to supporting learners on their journey towards the final NSC examinations.”