SACE exam timetable 2026

SACE exam timetable 2026 for maths and science

This table lists the maths and science exams in date order, read from the SACE Board's 2026 examinations timetable. Each one is 130 minutes. The times are South Australian times: the timetable also gives earlier start times in the Northern Territory and for overseas centres.

Mathematical Methods and General Mathematics share Monday 2 November, one in each session. The three sciences, Chemistry, Physics and Biology, are on three days in a row, Wednesday to Friday of the first full exam week. Specialist Mathematics comes last, 8 days after Methods.

Start times by location

The timetable marks electronic exams in blue text, and some subjects in red text have additional time for reading only. Day-by-day instructions are provided to schools at the start of Term 4. Schools with students enrolled in subjects scheduled at the same time are asked to contact the SACE Board after the Stage 2 enrolment cutoff to confirm special arrangements.

The whole exam period

The written exams run for about a month. The first, Japanese (beginners), was on Tuesday 13 October. The main block of Stage 2 exams starts on Monday 2 November and finishes on Friday 13 November, with Music Studies and Geography. Language exams make up most of the earlier dates, including nationally assessed languages on Thursday 15 October.

How exams count

In a Stage 2 subject, 70 per cent of student work is assessed by the school and 30 per cent externally, and in these subjects the external assessment is the exam. SACE reports Stage 2 subjects from A+ to E−. See SACE grades explained. Results come out on Monday 14 December 2026: SACE results 2026. The SACE Board has not published the 2027 timetable, so we do not list 2027 exam days.

Use the daily papers as a short practice exam

Our daily papers are short timed papers of 8 questions worth 25 to 35 marks, not a 130-minute SACE exam. Sit Year 12 Maths before Methods or Specialist, or Year 12 Physics, Year 12 Chemistry or Year 12 Biology. The results page shows a predicted grade from A to E with typical cut-offs of its own, not the SACE Board's.

Common mistakes with the SACE timetable

• Using SA times in the Northern Territory. NT morning exams start at 8 am, not 9 am.
• Forgetting the afternoon exams. General Mathematics and Essential Mathematics are at 1.30 pm.
• Missing a clash. Contact your coordinator after the Stage 2 enrolment cutoff if two exams are at the same time.
• Assuming an exam is paper. Check whether yours is in blue text, which means electronic.

Read next

Australia · SACESACE Physics: Stage 2 exam, topics and worked examplesSACE Physics for Stage 2: the three topics, the 130-minute external exam and its sheet, how marks combine, SATAC, the 2026 date and a daily trial paper.