The Punjab Education Department has announced the official schedule for 2026 matric and intermediate exams.
Matric exams will start on March 3, 2026, while intermediate exams will begin on May 5, 2026.
The update came after the department approved the revised admission policy, new school calendar, and syllabus changes for the upcoming year. New textbooks — including 29 replacements from Class 6 to Matric — will be printed in December.
The new academic year will begin on April 1, 2026, and free textbooks will be distributed from April 5.
Class 8 students will also take a board-based exam starting on February 3, as Punjab moves toward more standardized testing.
Officials say the sector still faces major challenges, with 28 million out-of-school children in 2025, a number expected to exceed 30 million in 2026.
