Grade 12 Past Papers South Africa: Every NSC Paper and Memo, 2008–2026

Every official Grade 12 past paper and memo is free. Below are direct links to every subject's November 2025 and May/June 2026 NSC papers, every exam sitting from 2008 to 2026, and the IEB's last five years. SACAI candidates use the same NSC papers, because both exam boards examine the CAPS curriculum.

No searching, no sign-ups, no paying for papers the government gives away. Pick your subject for the latest papers, or pick a year for everything from that sitting. Every link goes to an official source: the Western Cape Education Department's archive of national NSC papers, the Department of Basic Education, or the IEB.

Latest papers by subject

The two most recent sittings for every subject: the November 2025 final exams and the May/June 2026 exams. Each link opens the subject's folder of question papers and memos.

Mathematics and sciences

• Mathematics: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 (algebra, functions, calculus, finance, probability) and Paper 2 (statistics, analytical geometry, trigonometry, Euclidean geometry), plus the information sheet

• Mathematical Literacy: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2, built on real-life contexts

• Physical Sciences: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 (Physics) and Paper 2 (Chemistry), with data sheets

• Life Sciences: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2

• Technical Mathematics: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Technical Sciences: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Marine Sciences: November 2025 · May/June 2026

Commerce

• Accounting: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — question papers with answer books — practise in the answer book

• Business Studies: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2

• Economics: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2

Languages

• English: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Home Language and First Additional Language: Paper 1 (language), Paper 2 (literature), Paper 3 (writing)

• Afrikaans: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Huistaal and Eerste Addisionele Taal: Vraestel 1, 2 en 3

• isiXhosa: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Home Language and First Additional Language papers

Humanities

• Geography: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 (theory) and Paper 2 (mapwork) — download the maps

• History: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2 — download the source addendum

• Religion Studies: November 2025 · May/June 2026

Technology and computing

• Information Technology (IT): November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 (practical, with data files) and Paper 2 (theory)

• Computer Applications Technology (CAT): November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 (practical, with data files) and Paper 2 (theory)

• Engineering Graphics and Design (EGD): November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2

Technical subjects

• Civil Technology: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Electrical Technology: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Mechanical Technology: November 2025 · May/June 2026

Services and agriculture

• Tourism: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Hospitality Studies: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Consumer Studies: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Agricultural Sciences: November 2025 · May/June 2026 — Paper 1 and Paper 2

• Agricultural Management Practices: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Agricultural Technology: November 2025 · May/June 2026

Creative arts

• Visual Arts: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Design: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Dramatic Arts: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Dance Studies: November 2025 · May/June 2026

• Music: November 2025 · May/June 2026

Life Orientation

• Life Orientation: November 2025 — the November archive includes a Life Orientation folder; most LO marks are school-based

Other official languages — isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, siSwati and isiNdebele — are on the DBE NSC past papers page.

Every exam sitting, 2008 to 2026

Each sitting has two official links: the Department of Basic Education's page, with papers in all official languages, and the Western Cape Education Department's mirror of the same national papers, organised in subject folders. If one site is slow, use the other.

Papers marked previous curriculum were written before CAPS was first examined in Grade 12 in November 2014 — useful for topics that haven't changed, but expect differences.

2026

• 2026 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2025

• 2025 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2025 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2024

• 2024 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2024 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2023

• 2023 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2023 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2022

• 2022 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2022 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2021

• 2021 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2021 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2020

• 2020 November NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2019

• 2019 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2019 May/June NSC/SC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2018

• 2018 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2018 May/June NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2018 Feb/March NSC supplementary: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2018 Grade 12 exemplars: technical subjects: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2017

• 2017 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2017 May/June SC (adult matric): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2017 Feb/March NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2016

• 2016 October/November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2016 May/June ASC (adult matric): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2016 Feb/March NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2015

• 2015 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2015 Feb/March NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2014

• 2014 November NSC: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2014 Grade 12 NSC exemplars: DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2014 Feb/March NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2013

• 2013 November NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2013 Feb/March NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2012

• 2012 November NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2012 Feb/March NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2011

• 2011 November NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

• 2011 Feb/March NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2009

• 2009 November NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

2008

• 2008 November NSC (previous curriculum): DBE — all languages · Western Cape — by subject

Which sittings to use: start with the most recent November papers and work backwards to 2014. The May/June and Feb/March papers are full, extra papers on the same curriculum. The SC and ASC papers are for the adult matric, which is examined differently.

Trouble downloading from the DBE site? The DBE's webmaster can help on 012 357 3762, 3752 or 3799 — or use the Western Cape link for the same paper.

School-Based Assessment: the DBE also publishes SBA learner and teacher guides.

IEB past papers

The IEB publishes its last five years of NSC papers and marking guidelines free, through the IEB/Xhuma-Ed Examination Revision Portal. → IEB NSC past papers and marking guidelines

Older IEB papers can be ordered by emailing the IEB at NSCexampapers@ieb.co.za.

Also useful: the IEB's NSC subject assessment guidelines, which set out what each IEB exam covers.

IEB candidates: practise on IEB papers first — the IEB's questions emphasise application and extended answers — then use the NSC papers above for extra practice on the same CAPS content.

A note on the IEB's marking guidelines: the IEB points out that they don't show every acceptable answer that was credited during marking. Use them as a guide, and ask your teacher when your answer differs.

SACAI past papers

SACAI doesn't publish a public past-paper archive that we could find. SACAI examines the same CAPS curriculum as the national papers, so the NSC papers above are the right practice material for SACAI candidates — including online school and homeschooled learners. Ask your school for any SACAI papers it can share.

Grade 10 and Grade 11 past papers

There's no national exam in Grades 10 and 11, so there's no single national set of papers. Use:

• DBE Grade 10 common papers (2015 to 2018): download

• DBE Grade 11 common papers (2015 to 2018): download

• Your province's common November papers — check your provincial education department's website

• Your school's previous exams — the closest match to what you'll actually write

• Grade 12 papers — they include questions on Grade 10 and 11 topics, and build the skills you'll need in matric

Life Orientation

Most of a learner's Life Orientation mark comes from School-Based Assessment set and marked by the school. That's why searches for "Life Orientation Grade 10 Term 4" and "Grade 11 Term 4" spike every year — Term 4 tasks are set by each school, so ask your teacher for the brief and memo.

For Grade 12, the November 2025 archive includes a Life Orientation folder.

How to use past papers properly

1. Learn first, then practise. Past papers test what you know; they don't teach it. Cover a topic before attempting its questions.

2. Start with single questions. While you're learning, do past-paper questions on the topic you've just covered.

3. Then full papers, timed. In the last two months before your exams, write full papers under exam conditions — same time limit, no notes.

4. Mark honestly with the memo. Mark every step, including the method marks the memo allocates.

5. Keep an error log. Note every question you get wrong and why. Rework that list before each exam.

6. Download everything that comes with the paper — information sheets, data sheets, answer books, maps, source addenda and data files. Practise with them exactly as you'll use them in the exam.

How many papers? Aim for at least the last three to five November papers in each subject, plus the May/June papers.

When are new papers added?

November papers and memos are published after the exams are written and marked, usually early in the following year. May/June papers follow the same pattern. The November 2026 papers will appear here once they're released.

A word on unofficial past-paper sites

Many sites mirror the official papers. Some are well organised; others are incomplete, mislabel years, attach the wrong memo, or charge for papers that are free. Every paper on those sites came from the sources on this page — so start here.

Matric support beyond past papers

Past papers work best alongside teaching — someone who can explain why you keep losing the same marks.

At Teneo, Grade 12 learners are taught every lesson by qualified teachers, with past-paper practice, teacher-marked assessments and after-school tutorials built into the year. Learners joining with classes in Grade 8, 9 or 10 in 2027 can qualify for the Teneo Matric University Pass Guarantee — a Matric university pass, or all your tuition refunded.

See online Grade 12, what a Bachelor's pass needs and the 2027 fees.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I download Grade 12 past papers for free? Every NSC sitting from 2008 to 2026 is linked above, from the Western Cape Education Department's archive and the Department of Basic Education. IEB papers from the last five years are free on the IEB website.

Where are the November 2025 matric papers? In the November 2025 folder, with a subfolder for every subject — or use the subject list above.

Where are the May/June 2026 papers? In the May/June 2026 folder, with a subfolder for every subject.

Where can I find Maths Literacy Grade 12 past papers? November 2025 and May/June 2026, and in every sitting listed above.

Where can I find Grade 12 Maths past papers? November 2025 and May/June 2026, and in every sitting listed above.

Are DBE and NSC past papers the same thing? Yes. The DBE sets the national NSC papers; the Western Cape archive hosts the same national papers.

Where can I find IEB past papers? On the IEB website — the last five years are free through its revision portal. Older papers can be ordered by email.

Where can I find SACAI past papers? We couldn't find a public SACAI archive. SACAI examines CAPS, so use the NSC papers above, and ask your school for SACAI papers.

Are past papers from before 2014 still useful? Partly. They're from the previous curriculum, so use them only for topics that haven't changed.

Where can I find Grade 11 and Grade 10 past papers? The DBE's Grade 10 common papers and Grade 11 common papers (2015 to 2018), your province's common papers, and your school's previous exams.

Are there Life Orientation past papers? For Grade 12, the November 2025 archive includes a Life Orientation folder. In Grades 10 and 11, Term 4 tasks are set by your school.

Sources: Western Cape Education Department, Grade 12 QPs and Memos archive; Department of Basic Education; Independent Examinations Board (©IEB). All links checked 10 November 2026. Talk to Teneo's admissions team.