Countdown Begins! UNEB Releases 2025 Exam Timetables, Confirms Dates For PLE, UCE & UACE

By Frank Kamuntu 

The Uganda National Examinations Board ( UNEB ) has officially released the timetables for the 2025 national examinations, paving the way for more than 1.4 million learners to sit for their final assessments this academic year. The national examinations cover the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE), and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).

According to UNEB Executive Director, Mr . Daniel Odongo , the exercise will roll out in phases, beginning with UCE candidates in October, followed by PLE in early November, and concluding with UACE in mid-November.

The UCE, usually the first set of examinations on the calendar, will commence with the mandatory briefing of candidates on October 10, 2025. This briefing, conducted by head teachers, is a key session that acquaints learners with the regulations, guidelines, and expected conduct during the exams.

The first examination papers for UCE candidates will be administered on October 13, 2025, starting with Geography in the morning and Biology theory in the afternoon. The month-long series of exams will run until November 7, 2025, when candidates will complete their final papers—Technology and Design (Design and Drawing) in the morning and Arabic: Reading Comprehension and Writing in the afternoon.

The PLE briefing of candidates is scheduled for October 31, 2025, ahead of two days of assessments. Learners will begin their national primary examinations on Monday, November 3, 2025, with Mathematics in the morning and Social Studies and Religious Education in the afternoon.

The last set of national examinations, the UACE, will begin with a briefing of senior six candidates on November 7, 2025. Writing of the papers will start on November 10, 2025, with a rigorous schedule that opens with Theory of Government and Constitutional Development, History of Africa, and Physics (Paper 1) in the morning session.

The afternoon of the same day will see candidates tackle Literature in English (Prose & Poetry), Kiswahili, and Physics (Paper 2). The examinations will continue through November and mark the climax of the national examination cycle.

UNEB emphasized that candidate briefing sessions will be crucial in ensuring learners understand both the dos and don’ts of the examination process. The sessions are designed to minimize malpractice, improve readiness, and ensure compliance with the examination regulations.

Mr. Odongo also reaffirmed the board’s commitment to ensuring a smooth exercise across all examination centers, highlighting the importance of cooperation from schools, candidates, and the general public in upholding the integrity of the national assessments.

With the release of the official timetables, schools, parents, and candidates across the country now have a clear roadmap for preparation, marking the final stretch of the 2025 academic journey.