Botswana JCE Timetable 2026 October Exams – Full Schedule and Key Dates

The Botswana Examinations Council (BEC) has released the official Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE) Timetable for October 2026, giving students, teachers, and examination centres a clear roadmap for the entire exam period. This final version, dated 01 February 2026, outlines everything you need to prepare effectively, from written exam dates to practical assessments, coursework deadlines, and moderation schedules.

If you plan to sit for the JCE in 2026, this timetable helps you stay organized, avoid clashes, and meet all submission requirements on time. You will find detailed guidance on exam sessions, start times, subject schedules, and strict rules that every candidate and centre must follow. Understanding these instructions early helps you manage your study plan, reduce last-minute pressure, and approach each exam with confidence.

This timetable contains:

• instructions and guidelines about the examinations;
• scheduled dates for written examinations;
• scheduled dates for practical examinations;
• scheduled dates for moderation of coursework by BEC;
• submission dates for coursework deliverables;
• dates for submission of coursework marks in Malepa;
• a full list, in date order, of all the examinations;
• the key to the timetable.

The timetable must be followed throughout. If there is any discrepancy between this timetable and any other documents such as Statements of Entry or labels on question paper packets, the Head of Centre should immediately contact the Director, Assessment Administration at BEC.

Examinations scheduled for the morning session should start at 08:00 and examinations for the afternoon should start at 14:00. In cases where there are two papers timetabled in the morning session, the second paper will start at 11:00.

Any time required for candidates to read through question papers, to study maps, etc., is already included in the duration of the examination as shown on the timetable and on the front cover of the question paper. No additional time should be allowed except for some Special Needs papers of which specific instructions will be enclosed.

• The planning session for this practical examination will take place on 06 August, 2026 at 08:00.

The practical examination will take place from 07 to 18 September 2026. The examination will be conducted on the dates allocated to each centre as reflected on the schedule that will be sent to the centres.

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This is a listening examination that requires a CD which is provided by BEC. The CD is provided together with a set of Instructions for Invigilators.

• The instructions should be read by the Chief Invigilator and the Music Teacher 1 day before the examination.

This practical examination will take place from 07 to 18 September 2026.

• The examination will be conducted on the dates allocated to each centre as reflected on the schedule that will be sent to the centres.

This is a controlled practical examination that runs for 3 hours.

• The question papers must be distributed to candidates for preparatory purposes on 06 August 2026 at 11:00.

After the examination, the candidates’ work must be packaged in the special boxes provided and stored securely until such time that they are despatched to BEC with other examination scripts.

This is a listening and reading examination that requires a CD provided by BEC.
The CD is provided together with a set of Instructions to Invigilators and candidates. Instructions to Invigilators and candidates should be opened and distributed as soon as they are received.

The practical examination will take place from 07 to 18 September 2026.

• The examination will be conducted on the dates allocated to each centre as reflected on the schedule that will be sent to the centres.

The following components are for private candidates only and should not be availed to school candidates unless by prior approval.

1. Agriculture Paper 4 (16/4);
2. Commerce and Office Procedures Paper 4 (25/4)
3. Commerce and Accounting Paper 4 (26/4);
4. General Science Papers 1 and 2 (43/1 & 43/2)

Syllabuses with a practical examination component ARE NOT AVAILABLE for Private Candidates. These are Home Economics, Music, Art, and French.

Centres that have registered candidates for syllabuses with a coursework component should submit their marks through Malepa on the stipulated dates as indicated on page 6 of this timetable. In addition, Syllabus specific guidelines on moderation of coursework and deliverables will be provided by the BEC. Centres are also required to keep a back up copy of the coursework marks.

Centres should be aware that examination malpractice is classified as a criminal offence, and that there are sanctions and penalties which may lead to loss of marks, disqualification, or barring from examinations of candidates or the Centre.

• The Head of Centre should ensure that teachers, invigilators and candidates are made aware of their responsibility in guarding against malpractice, as well as the consequences.
• The centre should ensure that there is no collusion, copying, impersonation or any other suspicious acts during examinations.
• All work submitted must be the candidate’s authentic work.
• Centre staff should not aid candidates.

The Invigilator’s Manual and the timetable should be in each examination room at all times for the duration of the examinations.

• The Chief Invigilator must ensure that the correct question paper packet is opened on the scheduled time in the timetable.
• At the beginning of each examination session, sealed packets of the question papers should be opened by the Invigilator in the presence of candidates.
• Before opening each envelope, the Invigilator should confirm with candidates that the paper is the timetabled one.
• At the end of each examination, scripts and answer sheets should be sealed in the presence of the candidates.
• The attendance register and seating plan for each of the scheduled examinations should be completed for each examination session. Candidates should individually append their signatures against their names on the attendance register before being dismissed from the examination room.
• The Chief Invigilator must also indicate absent candidates and sign at the bottom of each page of the attendance register to confirm the information provided.
• Projects, scripts and answer sheets will be collected from centres. Communication will be made to centres regarding arrangements for the collection of scripts.
• Centres should follow the Guidelines for Conduct of examinations at all times.

06 August — 16 October 2026

Morning session starts at 08:00

Date	Syllabus	Time
Thursday 06 Aug	21/2 Home Economics Paper 2 Planning Session	08:00 – 09:30
Monday 21 Sept	33/2 Art Paper 2	08:00 – 11:00
Wednesday 14 Oct	12/4 English Paper 4	08:00 – 08:55
	34/1 Music Paper 1	11:00 – 12:00
Thursday 15 Oct	31/2 Religious Education Paper 2	08:00 – 10:00
	33/1 Art Paper 1	11:00 – 12:00
Friday 16 Oct	18/2 Moral Education Paper 2	08:00 – 10:00

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Afternoon session starts at 14:00

Date	Syllabus	Time
Wednesday 14 Oct	32/1 French Paper 1	14:00 – 15:30
Thursday 15 Oct	13/1 Mathematics Paper 1	14:00 – 15:30
Friday 16 Oct	16/2 Agriculture Paper 2	14:00 – 15:15