What Stationery Should You Bring to Your Exams?

Being prepared helps you stay calm and focused during exams. Before exam season starts, make sure you have the basics ready — and remember that some subjects require extra tools.

General Exam Essentials

These are useful for almost every subject:

Black or blue pens
HB pencils
Eraser
Sharpener
Highlighters
Ruler
Transparent pencil case
Spare stationery
Water bottle (if allowed)

Maths-Based Subjects

Subjects: Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Physical Sciences, Accounting

You may also need:

An approved scientific calculator

Language & Theory Subjects

Subjects: English, Afrikaans, History, Business Studies, Tourism, LO

You may also need:

Multiple working pens for longer written responses

Mapwork & Diagram Subjects

Subjects: Geography, Life Sciences

You may also need:

Piece of string (for Geography mapwork)
Colour pencils
An approved scientific calculator

Technical & Drawing Subjects

Subjects: EGD, Technical subjects

You may also need:

Drawing pencils
Mechanical pencil
Erasing shield
Drawing templates/tools

Approved Calculators for Matric Exams

Calculators used in matric (NSC) exams must be non-programmable, non-graphical, and non-alphabetical.

Commonly accepted models include:

Casio fx-82ZA PLUS / fx-82ZA PLUS II
Casio fx-991ZA PLUS / fx-991ZA PLUS II
Sharp EL-W535SA / EL-W531
Sharp EL-531
Canon F-715SG, F-718SGA
Texas Instruments TI-30 series

Calculator Rules

To be permitted in an exam, a calculator must:

Not store full text, notes, or formulas
Not display graphs or images
Not have a QWERTY keyboard
Not connect to the internet, Bluetooth, or infrared

Final Tip

Different subjects and schools may have slightly different requirements, so always check with your teacher before exam day. Pack your stationery the night before so you can walk in calm, confident, and exam ready.