Pretoria: The Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced the official conclusion of the 2025 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with rewrite opportunities for selected subjects occurring on Thursday. The DBE noted that provinces reported high levels of stability, procedural consistency, and compliance throughout the exam period, which ended on Thursday, 27 November 2025.
According to South African Government News Agency, the DBE commended the Class of 2025 for their resilience and maturity during what it described as 'a demanding but well-managed' examination cycle. To ensure fairness, additional papers are being administered as second-opportunity sittings for candidates who could not complete their exams due to valid reasons, reflecting the department's continued commitment to equity and access.
The DBE highlighted the discipline, reliability, and problem-solving agility exhibited across all provinces during the 2025 NSC examinations. Minor administrative omissions, inevitable on a national scale, were identified early, escalated appropriately, and resolved without disadvantage to any candidate.
The department noted an increase in candidates experiencing illness and anxiety-related difficulties. In response, psychosocial support teams were activated through the Khuluma for Wellness platform and provincial units, ensuring affected learners received counselling and could continue writing, including from hospitals or alternative venues where necessary. However, the department expressed concern over isolated incidents of crime and unrest, including an armed robbery at an overnight study camp. Affected candidates were scheduled to write a special paper on Thursday, 27 November 2025, with trauma counselling provided.
In light of the exam season's conclusion, the department urged learners to avoid unsafe celebrations linked to unregulated 'Pens Down' parties, warning of risks such as alcohol abuse, violence, and exploitation. The department encouraged learners to prioritise rest, discipline, and final revision; report any unsafe gatherings to trusted adults or authorities; and honour their schooling journey by returning all textbooks and learning materials. Learners are also encouraged to demonstrate responsible citizenship by donating uniforms or stationery, further strengthening the culture of care within school communities.
Early marking, which began on 22 November 2025, has been completed successfully. The DBE stated that this phase allowed for the verification of systems and finalisation of training and readiness assessments ahead of the full-scale national marking process. Full marking will officially commence on 1 December 2025 across designated centres, with over 52,000 markers appointed nationally, marking one of the largest deployments of academic expertise in the public sector.
The DBE acknowledged the professionalism, independence, and technical skill of the markers, which form the backbone of the credibility of the NSC examinations. Marking preparations have included verifying centre readiness, implementing security controls, managing scripts, providing extensive training for chief and senior markers, and conducting pre-standardisation processes to ensure uniform application of marking guidelines. Oversight visits by the Director-General have reinforced confidence in the integrity of the process.
The department expressed gratitude to educators, invigilators, principals, district officials, provincial teams, and parents for their collective role in ensuring a secure and credible examination environment. The DBE said that the system continues to demonstrate strong coordination, technical capacity, and resilience. With full-scale marking ahead, the DBE expressed confidence that the professionalism of markers and the sector's commitment will uphold the credibility of the NSC as the country moves into the results-finalisation phase.