The 2026 Nov/Dec NABTEB exams run from Monday 2 November to Saturday 5 December 2026, according to the official timetable released by NABTEB. Practical papers come first (2–14 November); written papers follow from 23 November to 5 December. The full official PDF is on the Nov/Dec registration portal — the dates below are compiled from it.
Nov/Dec 2026 at a glance
- Exam window
- Monday 2 November – Saturday 5 December 2026
- Practicals
- 2 – 14 November (long practicals “to be arranged” by your centre)
- Written papers
- Monday 23 November – Saturday 5 December
- English
- Wed 2 Dec, 9:00am – 1:10pm (Papers I & II)
- Mathematics
- Tue 1 Dec, 9:00am – 1:00pm (Papers I & II)
Last updated 2 October 2026 — every date on this page was rechecked line by line against NABTEB’s official PDF (file dated 10 August 2026).
Core and general education subjects
These are the papers most candidates share, regardless of trade:
| Subject | Date | Time | Paper(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language (O01) | Wed 2 Dec | 9:00am – 1:10pm | Papers I & II (same day) |
| Mathematics (O02) | Tue 1 Dec | 9:00am – 1:00pm | Papers I & II (same day) |
| Physics (O04) | Fri 13 Nov | 3:00pm – 5:45pm | Paper II (alt. to practical) |
| Fri 27 Nov | 3:00pm – 5:45pm | Paper I | |
| Chemistry (O05) | Wed 11 Nov | 9:00am – 11:00am | Paper II (alt. to practical) |
| Thu 26 Nov | 9:00am – 11:30am | Paper I | |
| Biology (O06) | Tue 10 Nov | 9:00am – 11:00am | Paper II (alt. to practical) |
| Tue 24 Nov | 9:00am – 11:20am | Paper I | |
| ICT (O08) | Thu 5 Nov | 9:00am – 12noon | Paper II Practical |
| Tue 1 Dec | 2:00pm – 4:40pm | Paper I | |
| Economics (O03) | Mon 30 Nov | 10:30am – 1:50pm | Objective & Essay |
| Literature-in-English (O07) | Tue 24 Nov | 12:30pm – 2:30pm | Paper I |
| Sat 5 Dec | 1:30pm – 3:30pm | Paper II (Drama & Poetry) | |
| Civic Education (O09) | Fri 4 Dec | 9:00am – 11:30am | Objective & Essay |
| Building/Engineering Drawing (193) | Thu 5 Nov | 1:00pm – 4:00pm | Paper II Practical |
| Sat 5 Dec | 12:30pm – 1:10pm | Paper I | |
| Intro to Building Construction (211) | Mon 23 Nov | 12noon – 2:20pm | Objective & Essay — trades 21O, 22O, 25O, 26O, 27O |
| Basic Electricity (194) | Fri 13 Nov | 9:00am – 12noon | Paper II Practical |
| Sat 28 Nov | 1:00pm – 3:40pm | Paper I | |
| CRS (197) / Islamic Studies (198) | Fri 4 Dec | 3:00pm – 5:30pm | Objective & Essay |
| Government (199) | Thu 3 Dec | 9:00am – 12noon | Objective & Essay |
| Further Mathematics (451) | Thu 3 Dec | 12noon – 4:15pm | Papers I & II (same day) |
| Agricultural Science (195) | Sat 14 Nov | 9:00am – 11:00am | Paper II Practical |
| Mon 30 Nov | 2:30pm – 5:00pm | Paper I | |
| Geography (196) | Wed 11 Nov | 12noon – 2:00pm | Paper II (Physical & Practical) |
| Sat 5 Dec | 9:00am – 12noon | Paper I |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
Trade papers — practical and theory dates
O-level (NBC/NTC) trade papers, from the official timetable. Advanced (ANBC/ANTC) papers are in the PDF.
| Trade (code) | Practical | Written paper |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Vehicle Mechanics Works (021) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Automobile Electrical Works (031) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Furniture Making (231) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3:30pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Cosmetology (311) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Light Vehicle Body Repair Works (101) | Thu 12 Nov, 9am–1pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Foundry Craft Practice (131) | Wed 4 Nov (to be arranged) | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Ladies Garment Making (331) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Machine Wood Working (241) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–1pm | Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Appliance Maintenance & Repairs — Domestic/Office (122); Electrical/Medical (121) | 122: Sat 7 Nov, 9am–12noon | 122: Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| 121: Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | 121: Tue 24 Nov, 3pm–5:40pm | |
| Electronics Works (071) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Tue 24 Nov, 3pm–5:40pm |
| Vehicle Body Building (091) | Thu 12 Nov, 9am–1pm | Tue 24 Nov, 3pm–5:40pm |
| Ship Building Craft Practice (161) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–12noon | Tue 24 Nov, 3pm–5:40pm |
| Catering Craft Practice (341) | Tue 3 Nov, 9am–4pm | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Works (081) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Instrument Mechanics Works (111) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Computer Craft Studies (171) | Fri 6 Nov, 9am–12noon | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Agric Equipment & Implement Mechanic Works — Intro (011); Tractor Systems (012) | 011: Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | 011: Wed 25 Nov, 9am–12:10pm |
| 012: Thu 12 Nov, 9am–12noon | 012: Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–3:10pm | |
| Fabrication and Welding (051) | Wed 4 Nov (to be arranged) | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–12:10pm |
| Electrical Installation & Maintenance Works (041) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Wed 25 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Photographic Practice (401) | Wed 4 Nov, 9am–12noon | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Draughtsmanship Craft Practice (271) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm (alt. to practical) | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Blocklaying, Bricklaying & Concreting (212) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3:30pm | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Carpentry and Joinery (221) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Painting and Decorating (251) | Tue 3 Nov, 9am–3pm | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Men’s Garment Making (321) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| Salesmanship (431) | — | Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–3:20pm |
| Plumbing and Pipe-Fitting (261) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | Fri 27 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Printing Craft Practice (361) | Thu 12 Nov, 9am–3pm | Fri 27 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Marine Engineering Craft (151) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm | Fri 27 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Mechanical Engineering Craft Practice (061) | Wed 4 Nov (to be arranged) | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Graphic Arts / Graphic Design (381) | Sat 7 Nov, 9am–4pm | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:10am |
| Tourism (441) | — | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Animal Husbandry (181) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–2:30pm (alt. to practical) | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Fisheries (201) | Mon 9 Nov, 12noon–3pm (alt. to practical) | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| Ceramics (391) | Mon 2 Nov, 12noon–4pm | Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:20am |
| Leather Trades — Tanning (351); Goods Manufacture (352); Footwear (353) | 351: Tue 3 Nov, 9am–3pm | 351: Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm |
| 352: Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | 352: Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am | |
| 353: Thu 12 Nov, 9am–3pm | 353: Fri 27 Nov, 9am–11:40am | |
| Textile Trades — Spinning (371); Weaving (372); Surface Design & Printing (373); Bleaching, Dyeing & Finishing (374) | 371: Sat 7 Nov, 9am–3pm | 371: Fri 27 Nov, 9am–11:40am |
| 372: Tue 3 Nov, 9am–3pm | 372: Thu 26 Nov, 12noon–2:40pm | |
| 373: Tue 3 Nov, 9am–3pm | 373: Sat 28 Nov, 9am–11:40am | |
| 374: Tue 3 Nov, 9am–3pm | 374: Tue 24 Nov, 3pm–5:40pm | |
| Secretarial trades — Typewriting 35wpm (411); Shorthand 80wpm (412); Office Practice (413) | 411: Thu 12 Nov, 9am–11:40am | 413: Sat 28 Nov, 9am–12:20pm |
| 412: Sat 7 Nov, 9am–10:40am | ||
| — | ||
| Business papers — Commerce (421); Financial Accounting (423) | — | 421: Mon 23 Nov, 12noon–3:20pm |
| — | 423: Wed 25 Nov, 9am–12:30pm |
Swipe sideways to see every column.
Frequently asked questions
When does the NABTEB Nov/Dec 2026 exam start and end?
Papers run from Monday 2 November to Saturday 5 December 2026. Practical papers come first, from 2 to 14 November; written papers run from Monday 23 November to Saturday 5 December.
When is NABTEB English Language 2026?
Wednesday 2 December 2026. Paper I (Objective and Test of Orals) is 9:00am to 10:40am and Paper II (Essay, Comprehension and Summary) follows at 10:40am to 1:10pm, the same morning.
When is NABTEB Mathematics 2026?
Tuesday 1 December 2026: Paper I (Objective) 9:00am to 10:30am, then Paper II (Essay) 10:30am to 1:00pm.
My practical says “to be arranged”. What does that mean?
Long practicals such as Fabrication and Welding or Mechanical Engineering Craft are scheduled by your centre within the window NABTEB gives. Your centre tells you the exact days; your exam slip is the final word.
Where is the official timetable?
On the NABTEB Nov/Dec portal at novdec.nabteb.gov.ng/docs/timetable.pdf. This page is compiled from that PDF and rechecked against it; if NABTEB revises a date, the portal version wins.
Three things to check before exam day
- Your exam slip is the final word. Where a practical says “to be arranged”, your centre fixes the schedule — confirm with them, not the internet.
- Cross-check against the official PDF at novdec.nabteb.gov.ng. NABTEB can revise dates; the portal version always wins.
- Not yet registered? Nov/Dec registration is done on the same portal — fee and steps are in the registration guide.
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