The GCE O-Level 2026 examinations span 192 exam sessions across 5 months — from 2 June to 10 November 2026. Whether you're a student planning your revision or a parent tracking key dates, this complete guide covers every session you need to know.
The exams run in two distinct phases: the mid-year phase (June to September) covers Mother Tongue written papers, oral and listening comprehension assessments, while the year-end phase (September to November) focuses on science practicals, listening comprehension, and all written papers. Across both phases, candidates face 4 assessment modes — Oral, Listening Comprehension (LC), Written, and Practical examinations.
O-Level 2026 at a Glance
192
Exam Sessions
4
Assessment Modes
Oral, LC, Written, Practical
5
Months
Jun - Nov 2026
2
Phases
Mid-Year & Year-End
Phase 1: Mid-Year Exams (Jun 2 - Sep 23)
The mid-year phase kicks off on 2 June 2026 with Mother Tongue written papers. This phase covers Mother Tongue written exams, listening comprehension, and oral assessments across all language subjects, running through to 23 September.
Mid-Year Written Papers (2 Jun)
| Date | Time | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Jun | 08:00 | Chinese/Malay/Tamil B Paper 1 | 50 min |
| 08:00 | Chinese/Malay/Tamil Paper 1 | 120 min | |
| 09:35 | Chinese/Malay/Tamil B Paper 2 | 60 min | |
| 11:00 | Chinese/Malay/Tamil Paper 2 | 90 min |
Mid-Year Listening Comprehension (7 Jul)
| Date | Time | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jul | 14:00 | Malay B LC | 30 min |
| 14:00 | Tamil B LC | 30 min | |
| 14:00 | Chinese LC | 30 min | |
| 16:00 | Malay LC | 30 min | |
| 16:00 | Chinese B LC | 30 min | |
| 16:00 | Tamil LC | 30 min |
Oral Examinations (Jul 13 - Sep 23)
| Date | Time | Subjects | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul | 14:15 | Higher Chinese, Higher Tamil, Chinese B, Chinese, English Language | 15-20 min |
| 14 Jul | 08:15 | Higher Malay | 15 min |
| 14:15 | Malay, Malay B, Tamil B, Tamil | 15 min | |
| 22 Jul | 14:15 | Malay (Special Programme), Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Chinese (Special Programme) | 15 min |
| 31 Jul | 08:15 | Spanish, French, German, Japanese | 10 min |
| 23 Sep | 14:15 | Malay B, Tamil B, Chinese B | 15 min |
Tip: Oral exams are conducted over multiple sessions across several weeks. Your school will assign your specific date and time slot. Start practising reading aloud and conversational responses well before July. Note: English Language oral starts from 13 Jul alongside Mother Tongue oral exams.
Phase 2: Year-End Practicals, LC & Written (Sep 22 - Nov 10)
The year-end phase begins with practical exams from 22 September, followed by listening comprehension on 14-15 October, and the major written papers from 19 October to 10 November 2026. This is the most intensive period, with most subjects assessed during these final weeks.
Science & Other Practical Exams (Sep 22 - Oct 13)
Practical examinations begin with Music on 22 September, followed by science practicals from 30 September to 13 October. These hands-on assessments test your laboratory skills, experimental techniques, and ability to analyse real data. Each science practical runs in 4 shifts throughout the day.
| Date | Subject | Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Sep | Music / Higher Music | - | 10 min |
| 30 Sep | Chemistry Practical | 08:00-16:50 (4 shifts) | 110 min/shift |
| 5 Oct | Physics Practical | 08:00-16:50 (4 shifts) | 110 min/shift |
| 7 Oct | Computing Practical | 08:00-10:30 | 150 min |
| 8 Oct | Combined Science Practical (Phy/Chem, Phy/Bio, Chem/Bio) | 4 shifts | 90 min/shift |
| 13 Oct | Biology Practical | 08:00-16:50 (4 shifts) | 110 min/shift |
Physics Practical
Measurements, electricity experiments, and data analysis
5 Oct (110 min, 4 shifts)
Chemistry Practical
Qualitative analysis, titrations, and observation skills
30 Sep (110 min, 4 shifts)
Biology Practical
Microscopy, food tests, and biological drawings
13 Oct (110 min, 4 shifts)
Practical Tips: Familiarise yourself with common apparatus and safety procedures. Practise drawing biological diagrams with clear labels. For Chemistry, revise your qualitative analysis tables thoroughly — they are your best friend in the practical exam. Combined Science practical is on 8 Oct (90 min per shift).
Year-End Listening Comprehension (Oct 14-15)
The year-end LC exams take place over two days. Foreign languages are tested on 14 October, while English Language and Mother Tongue LC exams are on 15 October.
| Date | Time | Subject | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct | 10:30 | Spanish LC, German LC | 35 min |
| 10:30 | Japanese LC | 40 min | |
| 16:30 | Arabic LC, Bahasa Indonesia LC | 30 min | |
| 16:30 | French LC | 35 min | |
| 15 Oct | 14:00 | English Language LC | 45 min |
| 16:30 | Malay (SP), Malay B, Tamil B, Chinese B, Chinese (SP) LC | 30 min |
Year-End Written Papers (Oct 19 - Nov 10)
The most intensive period runs from 19 October to 10 November 2026. Below is the complete day-by-day schedule for all major written papers. Most students will sit multiple papers per week during this period.
| Date | Time | Subject / Paper | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct | 13:30 | English Language P1 | 110 min |
| 16:05 | English Language P2 | 110 min | |
| 20 Oct | 14:00 | Combined Humanities (SS, Geog) P2 | 105 min |
| 14:00 | Combined Humanities (SS, Hist) P2 | 110 min | |
| 21 Oct | 14:00 | Mathematics P1 | 135 min |
| 23 Oct | 14:30 | Mathematics P2 | 135 min |
| 26 Oct | 08:00 | Combined Humanities P1 (Social Studies) | 105 min |
| 14:00 | Additional Mathematics P1 | 135 min | |
| 27 Oct | 14:00 | Chemistry P2 | 105 min |
| 14:00 | Combined Science P3 | 75 min | |
| 28 Oct | 08:00 | Additional Mathematics P2 | 135 min |
| 14:00 | Principles of Accounts P1 | 60 min | |
| 29 Oct | 08:00 | Combined Humanities (Lit) P2 | 100 min |
| 14:00 | Physics P2 | 105 min | |
| 14:00 | Combined Science P2 | 75 min | |
| 30 Oct | 08:00 | Biology P2 | 105 min |
| 08:00 | Combined Science P4 | 75 min | |
| 14:30 | Principles of Accounts P2 | 120 min | |
| 4 Nov | 14:00 | Combined Humanities (Lit in Chinese/Malay/Tamil) P2 | 100 min |
| 6 Nov | 08:00 | Chemistry P1 (MCQ) | 60 min |
| 14:30 | Physics P1 (MCQ) | 60 min | |
| 10 Nov | 08:00 | Combined Science P1 (MCQ) | 60 min |
| 14:00 | Biology P1 (MCQ) | 60 min |
Note: Some subjects have papers at the same time slot (e.g., Physics P2 and Combined Science P2 both at 14:00 on 29 Oct). Students only sit for the subjects they are registered for. Plan your revision to peak for each paper date.
Key Dates Quick Reference
Here are the exact exam dates for the most popular O-Level subjects. For the full interactive timetable with countdown timers and subject filters, use our interactive O-Level exam schedule.
| Subject | Papers | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| English Language | P1 (Writing), P2 (Comprehension), Oral, LC | Oral: 13 Jul | LC: 15 Oct | Written: 19 Oct |
| Elementary Mathematics | Paper 1, Paper 2 | P1: 21 Oct | P2: 23 Oct |
| Additional Mathematics | Paper 1, Paper 2 | P1: 26 Oct | P2: 28 Oct |
| Combined Science | P1 (MCQ), P2-P4, Practical | Prac: 8 Oct | P2: 29 Oct | P3: 27 Oct | P4: 30 Oct | P1: 10 Nov |
| Pure Physics | P1 (MCQ), P2, Practical | Prac: 5 Oct | P2: 29 Oct | P1: 6 Nov |
| Pure Chemistry | P1 (MCQ), P2, Practical | Prac: 30 Sep | P2: 27 Oct | P1: 6 Nov |
| Pure Biology | P1 (MCQ), P2, Practical | Prac: 13 Oct | P2: 30 Oct | P1: 10 Nov |
| Combined Humanities | P1 (SS), P2 (Elective) | P1: 26 Oct | P2 (Geog/Hist): 20 Oct | P2 (Lit): 29 Oct |
| Principles of Accounts | Paper 1, Paper 2 | P1: 28 Oct | P2: 30 Oct |
| Mother Tongue | P1, P2, Oral, LC | Written: 2 Jun | LC: 7 Jul | Oral: 13-14 Jul |
Recommended Study Timeline
With the O-Level exams spanning from June to November, your preparation should be structured in phases. Here's a battle-tested timeline that aligns with the exam schedule:
Feb - Apr: Content Mastery
Complete all remaining syllabus content. Focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than memorising. This is your foundation-building period — fill any knowledge gaps now before the exam preparation intensity ramps up.
May: Mother Tongue & Oral Prep
Prepare for Mother Tongue written papers (2 Jun) and upcoming oral exams (from 13 Jul). Practise composition writing and comprehension for your MT language. Start oral exam preparation — reading aloud with expression and picture discussion strategies.
Jun - Jul: MT Written, Oral & LC Phase 1 Exams
Phase 1 exams are happening now. MT written papers on 2 Jun, MT LC on 7 Jul, and oral exams from 13 Jul onwards (including English Language oral). Focus on conversational fluency and listening skills. Continue written paper revision for year-end subjects alongside.
Aug - Sep: Intensive Practice & Practical Prep
This is your most critical period. Practise past-year papers under timed conditions. Focus on exam technique: time management, answering formats, and marking scheme patterns. Prepare for science practicals (starting 22 Sep for Music, 30 Sep for Chemistry). Note: B-syllabus oral exams on 23 Sep.
Oct - Nov: Final Revision & Exam Execution Phase 2 Exams
The exams are here. Practicals run 5-13 Oct, LC on 14-15 Oct, then written papers from 19 Oct. The final paper is on 10 Nov (Combined Science P1 and Biology P1). Prioritise rest and health — a well-rested brain performs better than an exhausted one. Review each subject the day before its paper, but avoid cramming new material.
Download the Official SEAB Calendar
The Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) publishes the official examination calendar each year. Download the 2026 O-Level timetable directly from SEAB for the most up-to-date information.
Visit SEAB O-Level TimetableTools & Resources
Interactive O-Level Exam Schedule
Full timetable with live countdown, subject filters, and personalised tracking.
O-Level Score Calculator
Calculate your L1R5 and ELR2B2 scores to find matching JCs and polytechnics.
Complete Singapore Exam Guide
Overview of PSLE, O-Level, and A-Level exam schedules for 2026 in one guide.