The complete 2026 NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship end-of-year exam schedule for Levels 1, 2 and 3 — sourced directly from NZQA and filterable by level or subject. Use it to plan your revision, spot exam-day clashes early, and build a focused study schedule.
Last verified against NZQA on 20 May 2026. View on NZQA
17 exam days across 4 weeks
Across Levels 1, 2, 3 and Scholarship
128 individual exam slots in total
Every exam session published on NZQA's 2026 cover timetable. Filter by level, or type a subject (English, Calculus, Te Reo Māori…) to see only the exams you care about. Mirrored from NZQA's published PDF on 20 May 2026. For the official source, always check NZQA on the day.
Showing 128 of 128 exam sessions.
| Date | Subject | Level | Session | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 10 Nov | Mathematics and Statistics | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 10 Nov | Geography | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 10 Nov | Latin | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 10 Nov | Dance | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 10 Nov | Classical Studies | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 10 Nov | Te Ao Haka | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 10 Nov | Japanese | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 10 Nov | Digital Technologies | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 10 Nov | Samoan | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 10 Nov | Media Studies | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov | English | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 11 Nov | Gagana Tokelau | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov | Korean | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov | Te Ao Haka | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov | Cook Islands Māori | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 11 Nov | Geography | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 12 Nov | English | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 12 Nov | Chemistry | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 12 Nov | Physics Earth & Space Science | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 12 Nov | Chinese | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 12 Nov | Physics | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 12 Nov | Te Ao Haka | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 12 Nov | French | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov | French | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 16 Nov | Lea Faka-Tonga | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 16 Nov | Te Reo Māori | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 16 Nov | Calculus | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 16 Nov | Samoan | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 16 Nov | Te Reo Māori | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov | Chemistry | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov | German | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov | History | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 16 Nov | Statistics | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 17 Nov | English | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 17 Nov | Accounting | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 17 Nov | Geography | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 17 Nov | Dance | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 17 Nov | Korean | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 17 Nov | Biology | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 17 Nov | Art History | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 18 Nov | History | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 18 Nov | Art History | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 18 Nov | Health | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 18 Nov | Japanese | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 18 Nov | Physics | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 18 Nov | Physics | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 18 Nov | Economics | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 18 Nov | Psychology | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 19 Nov | Mathematics & Statistics | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 19 Nov | Making Music | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 19 Nov | Spanish | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 19 Nov | Economics | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 19 Nov | Chemistry & Biology | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 19 Nov | Accounting | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 19 Nov | Biology | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | Biology | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 20 Nov | Chinese | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 20 Nov | Drama | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 20 Nov | Religious Studies | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | Cook Islands Māori | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | Drama | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | Chemistry | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 20 Nov | Agricultural & Horticultural Science | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 23 Nov | Japanese | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | French | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | Latin | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | Psychology | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | Te Reo Rangatira | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | English | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Mon 23 Nov | Spanish | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 23 Nov | Business Studies | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 23 Nov | Agricultural & Horticultural Science | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Mon 23 Nov | Earth & Space Science | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 24 Nov | Commerce | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 24 Nov | Agricultural & Horticultural Science | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 24 Nov | Statistics | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 24 Nov | Te Reo Rangatira | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 24 Nov | History | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 24 Nov | History | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 24 Nov | Geography | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 25 Nov | Health Studies | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 25 Nov | Te Reo Rangatira | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 25 Nov | Lea Faka-Tonga | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 25 Nov | Calculus | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 25 Nov | Science | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 25 Nov | Classical Studies | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 25 Nov | Accounting | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 25 Nov | Drama | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Digital Technologies | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 26 Nov | Media Studies | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 26 Nov | Te Reo Māori | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 26 Nov | Vagahau Niue | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Health | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Media Studies | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 26 Nov | Chinese | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 27 Nov | Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 27 Nov | Economics | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 27 Nov | Music Studies | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 27 Nov | Spanish | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 27 Nov | Digital Technologies | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 27 Nov | Art History | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 27 Nov | History | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 1 Dec | Social Studies | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 1 Dec | Earth & Space Science | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 1 Dec | Classical Studies | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 1 Dec | Te Reo Māori | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Tue 1 Dec | Lea Faka-Tonga | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 1 Dec | Music | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 1 Dec | Home Economics | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Tue 1 Dec | Digital Technologies | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 2 Dec | Agricultural & Horticultural Science | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 2 Dec | German | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 2 Dec | Social Studies | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 2 Dec | French | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 2 Dec | Japanese | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
| Wed 2 Dec | Gagana Sāmoa | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 2 Dec | Earth & Space Science | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Wed 2 Dec | Religious Studies | Scholarship | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 3 Dec | German | Level 1 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 3 Dec | Home Economics | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 3 Dec | Korean | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Thu 3 Dec | Chinese | Level 1 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 3 Dec | Education for Sustainability | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 3 Dec | Samoan | Level 2 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Thu 3 Dec | Business Studies | Level 3 | PM | 2:00pm |
| Fri 4 Dec | Spanish | Level 2 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 4 Dec | Social Studies | Level 3 | AM | 9:30am |
| Fri 4 Dec | German | Scholarship | AM | 9:30am |
Note: NZQA publishes session level and subject on the cover timetable. Individual achievement-standard numbers are listed in each subject's assessment specification at nzqa.govt.nz. Most end-of-year externals run for three hours per session, but check your subject's assessment specification for the exact duration.
Three weeks before the exam window is the sweet spot — enough time to cover every standard, short enough that you don't burn out. Adapt the cadence to the subjects on your personal timetable.
Kuraplan can take your subject list, exam dates and weak standards and generate a day-by-day revision schedule — free.
Generate my revision planA short, practical paragraph on each of the major NCEA exam subjects — what's assessed externally, and the highest-leverage revision move.
English sits across all three NCEA levels and is one of the most-sat exams in the country. Externally assessed standards typically cover unfamiliar text response and written essays on studied texts. Plan two long writing practices per week in the lead-up — examiners value clear thesis, evidence and language analysis over volume.
Maths splits into Mathematics and Statistics at Level 1, then Calculus and Statistics as separate Level 3 exams. The single highest-leverage prep activity is sitting full past papers under timed conditions and marking yourself against NZQA exemplars. Method marks matter — show working even when the answer is wrong.
Each Level 2 and Level 3 science is externally assessed with subject-specific exam papers — Biology, Chemistry and Physics each get their own session. Strong candidates revise the assessment specification and exemplar answers for each standard rather than relying on textbook chapters alone, because NZQA's grade boundaries reward applying concepts to unfamiliar contexts.
History at L1, L2 and L3 is externally examined and rewards essay practice with named historical evidence. The strongest plans pre-build short paragraphs for likely themes, then adapt them in the exam — don't try to draft new arguments under pressure.
Geography combines case-study recall with skills-based questions (maps, graphs, models). Memorise three or four case studies in depth rather than ten lightly — examiners reward specific place-based evidence.
Te reo Māori is examined at all three NCEA levels, with Te Reo Rangatira as a separate kura kaupapa Māori pathway. Speaking and writing tasks are internally assessed; the external exam focuses on listening, reading and viewing — practise with NZQA's recorded listening exemplars in the weeks before.
The 2025 NCEA exam window ran from 6 November 2025 to 3 December 2025, on the same Mon-Fri double-session pattern as 2026. NZQA keeps a historical copy of the 2025 PDF on its site — we link to NZQA rather than re-host it, because (a) NZQA is the source of truth, and (b) anyone planning their study now should be on the 2026 timetable above.
The 2026 NCEA and NZ Scholarship end-of-year exam window runs from Tuesday 10 November 2026 to Friday 4 December 2026, with no sessions on Friday 13 November (Canterbury Anniversary Day) and Monday 30 November (Westland and Chatham Islands Anniversary Days). Source: NZQA, verified 20 May 2026.
Level 1 exams are sat across the same window as Level 2 and Level 3 — 10 November to 4 December 2026 — but on different days and sessions per subject. The first Level 1 exam in 2026 is Mathematics and Statistics on the morning of Tuesday 10 November. Use the filter on this page to see only your Level 1 subjects.
Most NCEA end-of-year external exams run for three hours per session. A small number of subject papers are shorter, and digital exams may have slightly different durations. Always check the assessment specification on your subject page at nzqa.govt.nz for the exact length of each exam — the cover timetable does not list per-exam minutes.
If you miss an exam through illness, bereavement, or other unforeseen circumstances, you can apply for a Derived Grade through your school. You need to provide evidence (a medical certificate is the usual one) and your school's Principal's Nominee submits the application to NZQA. Derived Grades use your verified internal practice work to estimate the grade you would likely have achieved.
Yes. NCEA exam papers in Te Reo Rangatira and other Māori-medium kura kaupapa subjects are sat in te reo Māori, and several other subjects offer translated papers on request through your school. Talk to your kaiako or Principal's Nominee well before the exam window — translation requests must be made in advance, not on the day.
Morning (AM) exam sessions start at 9:30am NZDT, and afternoon (PM) sessions start at 2:00pm NZDT. Schools may ask you to arrive 30 minutes before the session starts. Bring photo ID, the equipment listed on your subject's assessment specification (calculator type, drawing tools, etc.), and a clear water bottle.
End-of-year NCEA results are typically released by NZQA in mid-January the year after exams — so 2026 exam results will be released in January 2027. Exact dates are published by NZQA on the Key Dates page each year. Login is via your NZQA Learner Login.
The official 2026 NCEA exam timetable is published by NZQA at www2.nzqa.govt.nz under the NCEA exam-timetable section, with a downloadable PDF. Always treat NZQA as the source of truth — this page mirrors that data and was last verified on 20 May 2026, but if you spot a discrepancy, NZQA's published timetable wins.
Whether you're a Year 11 sitting your first NCEA exams or a kaiako preparing a Year 13 cohort, Kuraplan turns your exam dates into a day-by-day revision schedule in under a minute.
Source: NZQA 2026 examination timetable, accessed 20 May 2026. Information on this page is for planning only — always cross-check against your school's official NCEA exam schedule and the current NZQA timetable before the exam day.