NECO Timetable 2026 for School Candidates

NECO Timetable

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the complete timetable for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for school candidates. This timetable contains the dates, time, and duration for all subjects that will be written during the examination period.

The 2026 NECO examination is scheduled to commence on Monday, 15 June 2026, and end on Thursday, 23 July 2026. During this period, candidates across Nigeria will sit for various science, arts, commercial, technical, and vocational subjects. Because of this, it is very important for every candidate to carefully check the timetable and become familiar with the schedule for their papers.

Having the correct examination timetable will help candidates prepare properly, manage their reading time effectively, and avoid missing any examination date or paper. Candidates are also advised to pay close attention to practical papers, oral tests, and subjects whose dates and venues may be fixed separately by the Council.

In this article, you will find the full NECO 2026 timetable alongside important instructions and guidelines released for all candidates and schools participating in the examination.

NECO Timetable 2026

Date Paper Duration Time
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Physical Education To be fixed by subject demand The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Foods and Nutrition 3 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Home Management 3 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Performance Test, Music Technology, and Alternative to Music Technology 1 hr 30 mins The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper IV: Aural Music 50 mins The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper IV: Oral French 1 hr The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper IV: Oral Arabic 1 hr 20 mins The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Fashion Design, and Garment Making 4 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper IV: Progressive Assessments, Livestock Farming The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Beauty, and Cosmetology 3 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Computer Hardware, and GSM Repairs 3 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Catering Craft 3 hrs The actual date and time will be fixed by the Council
Monday, 22 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Computer Studies 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 23 June 2026 Paper I: Written Comprehension, French 1 hr 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm
Tuesday, 23 June 2026 Paper II: Written Expression, French 1 hr 45 mins 3:00 pm to 4:45 pm
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 Papers II and III: Objective and Essay, Music 2 hrs 30 mins 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective, Essay, and Literature, Arabic 3 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm
Thursday, 25 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Chemistry 2 hrs 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Thursday, 25 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Hausa 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Thursday, 25 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Igbo 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Thursday, 25 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Yoruba 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Friday, 26 June 2026 Paper I: Practical, Biology 2 hrs 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Monday, 29 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Biology 2 hrs 30 mins 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Monday, 29 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Home Management 2 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Christian Religious Studies 2 hrs 30 mins 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Islamic Studies 2 hrs 30 mins 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Paper I: Test of Practical, Health Education 1 hr 30 mins 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm
Tuesday, 30 June 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Health Education 2 hrs 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Paper III: Objective, General Mathematics 1 hr 45 mins 10:00 am to 11:45 am
Wednesday, 1 July 2026 Paper II: Essay, General Mathematics 2 hrs 30 mins 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm
Thursday, 2 July 2026 Paper I: Practical, Physics 2 hrs 45 mins 10:00 am to 12:45 pm
Thursday, 2 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Nigerian History 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Friday, 3 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Prose, Literature in English 2 hrs 15 mins 10:00 am to 12:15 pm
Monday, 6 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Government 2 hrs 40 mins 10:00 am to 12:40 pm
Monday, 6 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Physical Education 2 hrs 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
Tuesday, 7 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Physics 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 7 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Foods and Nutrition 2 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Wednesday, 8 July 2026 Paper IV: Creative Design, Visual Arts 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Wednesday, 8 July 2026 Paper I: Drawing, Visual Arts 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Thursday, 9 July 2026 Paper III: Objective, Further Mathematics 2 hrs 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Thursday, 9 July 2026 Paper II: Essay, Further Mathematics 2 hrs 30 mins 12:00 noon to 2:30 pm
Thursday, 9 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Visual Art 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Friday, 10 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Drawing, Technical Drawing 2 hrs 30 mins 10:00 am to 12:30 pm
Monday, 13 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Computer Studies 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Monday, 13 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Commerce 2 hrs 40 mins 2:00 pm to 4:40 pm
Tuesday, 14 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Chemistry 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 14 July 2026 Paper I: Practical, Technical Drawing 3 hrs 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
Tuesday, 14 July 2026 Paper II: Drama and Poetry, Literature in English 1 hr 40 mins 2:00 pm to 3:40 pm
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 Paper III: Objective, English Language 1 hr 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 Paper II: Essay, English Language 1 hr 45 mins 11:15 am to 1:00 pm
Wednesday, 15 July 2026 Paper IV: Test of Orals, English Language 45 mins 1:15 pm to 2:00 pm
Thursday, 16 July 2026 Paper I: Practical, Agricultural Science 1 hr 20 mins 10:00 am to 11:30 am
Thursday, 16 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective, Practical, and Physical Geography 2 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Friday, 17 July 2026 Paper II: Essay, Human and Regional Geography 2 hrs 10:00 am to 12:00 noon
Monday, 20 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Economics 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Monday, 20 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Catering Craft 2 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Civic Education 3 hrs 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Tuesday, 21 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Agricultural Science 2 hrs 30 mins 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective, Theory and Practice, Accounting 3 hrs 50 mins 10:00 am to 1:50 pm
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 Paper I: Practical, Livestock Farming 1 hr 30 mins 2:15 pm to 3:45 pm
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs 3 hrs 2:15 pm to 5:15 pm
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Fashion Design and Garment Making 2 hrs 30 mins 2:15 pm to 4:45 pm
Wednesday, 22 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Beauty and Cosmetology 2 hrs 30 mins 2:15 pm to 4:45 pm
Thursday, 23 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Marketing 2 hrs 40 mins 10:00 am to 12:40 pm
Thursday, 23 July 2026 Papers III and II: Objective and Essay, Livestock Farming 1 hr 30 mins 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Notice

Schools and candidates are expected to carefully take note of the following important instructions regarding the 2026 NECO examination:

  1. Every candidate must come to the examination hall with their NECO photocard, as it will be used for proper identification during the examination.
  2. If there is any difference between the time written on the question paper and the time stated in the timetable, candidates should strictly follow the time indicated on the question paper.
  3. Candidates who fail to participate in any practical paper (Paper I) will not have a result recorded for that particular subject.
  4. NECO trade subjects are structured in a hybrid format, so candidates should prepare accordingly.
  5. For subjects such as Physical Education Practical Paper I, French Paper IV, Music Paper IV, and Arabic Paper IV, candidates are advised to confirm their examination venues from the nearest NECO State Office.
  6. Science practicals and Computer Studies practicals may be conducted in batches or sets where the number of candidates is too large for the available equipment.
  7. Candidates offering Visual Arts should note that Paper IV (Creative Design) will be given to them at least one week before the examination date.
  8. Nigerian languages, including Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba, also contain Literature aspects, and candidates should prepare for both sections.
  9. Albino and blind candidates are entitled to an additional 30 minutes at the end of each paper.
  10. Blind candidates are required to use the NECO-approved OBR customised Braille sheet during the examination.
  11. Candidates are allowed to use scientific calculators during the examination.
  12. The use of electronic communication devices such as mobile phones, programmable calculators, tablets, iPads, smart watches, smart glasses, electronic pens, and similar gadgets is strictly prohibited inside the examination hall.

Carefully copy out or highlight the subjects relevant to you from the NECO 2026 timetable. This will help you stay organized, avoid missing any paper, and prepare properly ahead of each examination day.

You should also share this post with other NECO candidates so they can also get access to the full timetable and important examination instructions. Also, make sure you check our page regularly for other important NECO updates, including the NECO syllabus for all subjects, examination guides, likely questions, registration updates, and other useful information that will help you prepare successfully for the examination.

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Usor George

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