Matric past papers: how they work and how to use them
Last updated 10 November 2026
A past paper is an exam paper from an earlier sitting. A memorandum, or memo, is the marking guide that goes with it. It shows the answers and how marks are given. Together they let a learner see what an exam looks like before the real one.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) publishes them on its own website. Its main page lists every sitting from 2008 to 2026. This page does not hold or copy any paper. It only points you to the official places.
How the DBE labels the sittings
The DBE page uses several names. You will see "November NSC Examination Papers" and "May/June NSC/SC Exam Papers". Older years also list "Grade 12 NSC Supplementary Exams (Feb/March)" and "Grade 12 Exemplars" for some years. We use the Department’s own names and do not add our own definitions, so read the page for the year you want to see what it holds.
The main list covers 2008 to 2026, and 2010 is not on it. Not every year has every kind of sitting.
How a learner can use a paper
There is no single right way. Many learners find these steps useful.
- Pick the subject and the year, then download the paper and its memo.
- Set aside the full time and work through the paper without notes.
- Mark your own answers with the memo, question by question.
- Write down the topics where you lost marks, and go back to your textbook or class notes for them.
- Try another year of the same paper later and compare.
Where to find the official papers
The table above lists each official page and what it holds. For the latest papers, use the 2026 May/June page or the 2025 November page. For older years, use the main NSC past examination papers page and choose the year.
Study guides and the curriculum statements are on separate DBE pages. The curriculum statements describe what each subject covers. They help you see which topics an exam can include.
Download only from official pages
Fake or "leaked" papers do circulate. On 17 November 2023, the Department of Basic Education called social media posts claiming that matric question papers had leaked fake and misleading, and said they cause confusion and panic. The statement is on gov.za.
Papers shared in chat groups or on unofficial sites can be wrong, out of date or not from any real exam. Papers sold as "predicted" are guesses. Use the Department’s pages, or your school.
Past papers are not a forecast
An old paper shows the style and layout of an exam. It does not say what a future paper will ask, and doing well on one is no promise of a result. Your teacher is the best person to say how to use them in your subjects.
Where this page ends
This page is a guide to official links. It is not a copy of the DBE site, it is not run by the Department, and it does not give exam dates. For dates, check the DBE and your school. To plan your marks, see the tools below.
Links and details on this page were last checked on 11 November 2026.