The National Examinations Council has officially released the NECO Timetable for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination Internal session. Candidates preparing for the June and July examinations can now begin proper revision using the approved schedule.

The examination will start on Monday, 15 June 2026, and end on Thursday, 23 July 2026. The timetable covers practicals, objective papers, essay papers, oral tests and trade subjects across different examination dates.

See recent updates on NECO: NECO Releases Full Timetable for 2026 SSCE Internal Examination.

Students, parents and schools are advised to study the timetable carefully to avoid missing any paper.

NECO Registration Deadline for Schools

NECO has also announced the official deadline for SSCE Internal registration.

Registration Type

Deadline

Normal Registration

Monday, 25 May 2026

Late Registration

Friday, 29 May 2026

NECO stated clearly that there will be no extension after the late registration deadline.

NECO 2026 Examination Dates

Below are the scheduled dates for the SSCE examination announced by NECO:

Activity

Date

Examination Begins

Monday, 15 June 2026

Examination Ends

Thursday, 23 July 2026

NECO Timetable 2026

We have given a breakdown of the NECO SSCE timetable. You can also download the PDF file of the 2026 NECO SSCE Timetable to save on your device for easy access.

Monday, 15 June to Friday, 19 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Practical Physical Education

To be fixed

To be fixed by NECO

Practical Foods and Nutrition

3 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Practical Home Management

3 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Music Technology Performance Test

1 hr 30 mins

To be fixed by NECO

Aural Music

50 mins

To be fixed by NECO

Oral French

1 hr

To be fixed by NECO

Oral Arabic

1 hr 20 mins

To be fixed by NECO

Fashion Design and Garment Making Practical

4 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Livestock Farming Progressive Assessment

Nil

To be fixed by NECO

Beauty and Cosmetology Practical

3 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs Practical

3 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Catering Craft Practical

3 hrs

To be fixed by NECO

Monday, 22 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Computer Studies Practical

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Tuesday, 23 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

French Written Comprehension

1 hr

2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

French Written Expression

1 hr 45 mins

3:00 pm to 4:45 pm

Wednesday, 24 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Music Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Arabic Objective Essay and Literature

3 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 5:30 pm

Thursday, 25 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Chemistry Practical

2 hrs

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Hausa Objective and Essay

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Igbo Objective and Essay

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Yoruba Objective and Essay

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Friday, 26 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Biology Practical

2 hrs

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Monday, 29 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Biology Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Home Management Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Tuesday, 30 June 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Christian Religious Studies

2 hrs 30 mins

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Islamic Studies

2 hrs 30 mins

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Health Education Practical Test

1 hr 30 mins

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Health Education Objective and Essay

2 hrs

3:30 pm to 5:30 pm

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

General Mathematics Objective

1 hr 45 mins

10:00 am to 11:45 am

General Mathematics Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

12:00 noon to 2:30 pm

Thursday, 2 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Physics Practical

2 hrs 45 mins

10:00 am to 12:45 pm

Nigerian History Objective and Essay

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Friday, 3 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Literature in English: Objective and Prose

2 hrs 15 mins

10:00 am to 12:15 pm

Monday, 6 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Government Objective and Essay

2 hrs 40 mins

10:00 am to 12:40 pm

Physical Education Objective and Essay

2 hrs

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Tuesday, 7 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Physics Objective and Essay

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Food and Nutrition Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Wednesday, 8 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Visual Arts Creative Design

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Visual Arts Drawing

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Thursday, 9 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Further Mathematics Objective

2 hrs

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Further Mathematics Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

12:00 noon to 2:30 pm

Visual Arts Objective and Essay

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Friday, 10 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Technical Drawing Objective and Drawing

2 hrs 30 mins

10:00 am to 12:30 pm

Monday, 13 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Computer Studies Objective and Essay

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Commerce Objective and Essay

2 hrs 40 mins

2:00 pm to 4:40 pm

Tuesday, 14 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Chemistry Objective and Essay

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Technical Drawing Practical

3 hrs

2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Literature in English Drama and Poetry

1 hr 40 mins

2:00 pm to 3:40 pm

Wednesday, 15 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

English Language Objective

1 hr

10:00 am to 11:00 am

English Language Essay

1 hr 45 mins

11:15 am to 1:00 pm

English Language Oral Test

45 mins

1:15 pm to 2:00 pm

Thursday, 16 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Agricultural Science Practical

1 hr 20 mins

10:00 am to 11:30 am

Geography Objective Practical and Physical

2 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Friday, 17 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Human and Regional Geography Essay

2 hrs

10:00 am to 12:00 noon

Monday, 20 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Economics Objective and Essay

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Catering Craft Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Tuesday, 21 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Civic Education Objective and Essay

3 hrs

10:00 am to 1:00 pm

Agricultural Science Objective and Essay

2 hrs 30 mins

2:00 pm to 4:30 pm

Wednesday, 22 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Accounting Objective Theory and Practice

3 hrs 50 mins

10:00 am to 1:50 pm

Livestock Farming Practical

1 hr 30 mins

2:15 pm to 3:45 pm

Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs

3 hrs

2:15 pm to 5:15 pm

Fashion Design and Garment Making

2 hrs 30 mins

2:15 pm to 4:45 pm

Beauty and Cosmetology

2 hrs 30 mins

2:15 pm to 4:45 pm

Thursday, 23 July 2026

Paper

Duration

Time

Marketing Objective and Essay

2 hrs 40 mins

10:00 am to 12:40 pm

Livestock Farming Objective and Essay

1 hr 30 mins

2:00 pm to 3:30 pm

Important Instructions for Candidates

Candidates should take note of the following instructions from NECO:

  1. Every candidate must come with a valid photocard for identification.

  2. Where there is any difference between the timetable and the question paper, candidates should follow the time written on the question paper.

  3. Science practicals and Computer Studies practicals may be arranged in batches due to limited equipment.

  4. Visual Arts Creative Design paper should reach candidates at least one week before the examination date.

  5. Candidates sitting for Hausa, Igbo or Yoruba should prepare for the Literature sections included in the papers.

  6. Albino and blind candidates are entitled to 30 extra minutes after each paper.

  7. Blind candidates must use approved Braille sheets supplied by NECO.

  8. Scientific calculators are allowed during the examination.

  9. Mobile phones, smart watches, tablets, programmable calculators and other communication gadgets are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall.

  10. Candidates who fail to sit for the practical papers will not receive results for those subjects.

  11. Trade subject questions are hybrid in nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will the NECO 2026 SSCE Internal examination start?
A: The NECO 2026 examination will begin on Monday, 15 June 2026.

Q: When will the NECO 2026 examination end?
A: The examination will end on Thursday, 23 July 2026.

Q: What is the deadline for NECO 2026 registration?
A: Normal registration closes on Monday, 25 May 2026, while late registration ends on Friday, 29 May 2026.

Q: Can candidates use scientific calculators during NECO exams?
A: Yes, NECO allows candidates to use scientific calculators during the examination.

Q: Are phones allowed inside the examination hall?
A: No. Mobile phones, smart watches, tablets and other electronic communication gadgets are prohibited.

Q: Will blind candidates get extra time during the examination?
A: Yes, blind and albino candidates will receive 30 extra minutes after each paper.

Q: What happens if a candidate misses a practical paper?
A: Any candidate who fails to sit for a practical paper will not receive a result for that subject.