The matric trial examinations start on 4 August. Inside: the support on offer, a word from our top achievers, and exactly how guardians can help at home.
The Grade 12 trial examinations — the final, full dress rehearsal before the National Senior Certificate — run from 4 to 22 August 2026. For our matriculants, these three weeks are the moment when months of quiet effort are tested under real exam conditions, in the same hall, to the same timing, marked to the same exacting standard they will face in November.
We do not believe in throwing learners in at the deep end. Every Grade 12 learner has received a personalised revision plan, generated from their Term 1 and Term 2 marks, that pinpoints the exact topics where a few focused hours will earn the most marks. No two plans are the same, because no two learners are the same.
Free morning classes run from 06:45, and Saturday classes from 08:00, in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Accounting and English. Attendance is captured each session and shared with guardians every Friday, so families always know whether their child is putting in the work. Last year, learners who attended at least eight Saturday sessions improved their final aggregate by an average of 11 percentage points.
Naledi M., our 2025 Head Girl who earned seven distinctions, remembers the pressure well. “The trials felt scarier than the finals,” she laughs. “But that was the point. By November I had already sat in that hall, already calmed my nerves, already learned to manage my time. My teachers didn’t just teach me the work — they taught me how to walk in and own the room.”
Parents and guardians play a bigger role than they often realise. You do not need to understand calculus to make a real difference. Provide a quiet, well-lit space to study. Ask your child to explain one thing they learned each day — teaching it back is one of the most powerful ways to remember. Protect their sleep. Feed them well. And if you sense them slipping, call the class teacher early. We are a team, and your child is the reason we are all here.
To the Class of 2026: you are more ready than you feel. Trust your preparation, trust your teachers, and trust yourselves. We are immensely proud of you already.