The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) opened applications for 1,537 temporary examination support opportunities for the 2026 examination period.

The recruitment drive consisted of:

• 277 Examination Assistant opportunities
• 1,260 Quality Assurer opportunities

The positions were available across Gauteng’s examination district offices, Head Office and designated marking centres.

Important: The application period for this intake closed on 8 September 2026. The official GDE examination recruitment portal currently displays the vacancy information but is no longer within the advertised application window.

This article provides the requirements, duties, reference numbers, remuneration information and application details from the 2026 recruitment drive.

Gauteng Exam Assistants 2026: Quick Overview

Programme Detail	Information
Department	Gauteng Department of Education
Directorate	Examinations Management
Total Opportunities	1,537
Examination Assistants	277
Quality Assurers	1,260
Province	Gauteng
Application Type	Temporary examination support
Package	As per applicable PAM rates
Application Method	Online
Current Status	Applications closed

The official portal confirms the number of positions, application dates and package information.

What Were the Gauteng Exam Assistant Opportunities?

The GDE recruitment was aimed at supporting the administration of the 2026 examinations.

The two categories had different responsibilities.

Examination Assistants worked primarily with the handling, checking, scanning, packing, dispatching and archiving of examination scripts.

Quality Assurers worked at marking centres and assisted with controlling scripts, checking marks and identifying discrepancies during the marking process.

The work required candidates to be able to operate under pressure because examination administration involves strict deadlines and careful handling of confidential examination material.

277 Examination Assistant Opportunities

The GDE advertised 277 Examination Assistant opportunities at examination district offices and Head Office.

Applicants were required to select the appropriate location and use the corresponding reference number.

Examination Assistant Reference Numbers

Location	Reference
Head Office	HO26
Gauteng North	GN26
Gauteng West	GW26
Tshwane North	TN26
Tshwane South	TS26
Gauteng East	GE26
Ekurhuleni North	EN26
Sedibeng East	SE26
Sedibeng West	SW26
Johannesburg East	JE26
Johannesburg North	JN26
Johannesburg South	JS26
Johannesburg Central	JC26
Johannesburg West	JW26
Tshwane West	TW26
Ekurhuleni South	ES26

The GDE specifically warned that the correct reference number had to be quoted. Failure to use the applicable reference could result in the application not being processed.

1,260 Quality Assurer Opportunities

The second category consisted of 1,260 Quality Assurer opportunities.

Quality Assurers were assigned to designated marking centres.

The official recruitment portal lists numerous marking centres, including schools such as:

• Alberton High School
• Allen Glen High School
• Hoerskool Garsfontein
• Hoerskool President
• Nokuthula Special School
• Bracken High School
• Bryanston High School
• Florida High School
• Hoerskool Birchleigh
• Hoerskool Dinamika
• Hoerskool Voortrekker
• Parktown Boys High School
• Queens High School
• Rand Girls High School
• Rand Park Ridge High School
• UJ Metropolitan High School
• Greenside High School
• Mondeor High School

The official portal contains the full marking-centre list and corresponding references.

Who Could Apply?

The recruitment requirements included applicants with an appropriate recognised academic qualification, such as:

• Senior Certificate
• National Senior Certificate
• National Senior Certificate Vocational
• Equivalent recognised qualification

The opportunity was aimed at specific categories of applicants, including:

• Registered tertiary students
• Unemployed people with one or more tertiary qualifications
• Unemployed graduates

Applicants were also expected to have advanced numerical skills, with Mathematics or Accounting as a compulsory subject.

Tertiary Students Were Eligible

Registered tertiary students could apply if they met the requirements.

The GDE stated that second-year tertiary students and above would be advantaged.

Applicants were also asked to provide information about their current or highest year of tertiary study.

Mathematics or Accounting Requirement

One of the key requirements was numerical ability.

The official advert states that applicants needed:

Mathematics or Accounting as a compulsory subject.

The recruitment system also asked applicants whether they had passed Mathematics/Mathematical Literacy at matric or tertiary level and whether they had passed Accounting at matric or tertiary level.

Applicants should therefore not assume that simply having Matric automatically made them eligible.

Previous Examination Assistant Experience

Previous examination administration experience was relevant to the recruitment process.

Applicants were asked to indicate whether they had previously worked as an:

• Examination Assistant
• Quality Assurer

The system also allowed applicants to provide information about their previous examination-related experience.

The experience could have been office-based or associated with a marking centre.

Examination Assistant Duties

Examination Assistants were responsible for supporting the movement and control of examination scripts.

Their duties included:

• Receiving examination scripts.
• Checking scripts.
• Controlling examination material.
• Scanning scripts.
• Packing scripts for marking.
• Indexing scripts.
• Archiving scripts after marking.
• Checking script and marksheet quantities.
• Checking batches, subjects, papers and examination sessions.
• Preparing scripts for dispatch to marking venues.
• Assisting with the dispatch of scripts.
• Receiving and archiving marked scripts at Head Office.

These duties required accuracy because examination material must be carefully controlled throughout the process.

Quality Assurer Duties

Quality Assurers worked at marking centres and were responsible for helping maintain the accuracy and control of examination scripts and marks.

Their duties included:

• Receiving and controlling scripts.
• Distributing scripts to marking teams.
• Checking the correct number of scripts and marksheets.
• Assisting with scanning and distribution.
• Checking whether all questions had been marked.
• Checking marks added to scripts.
• Checking whether marks were correctly transferred to the script cover.
• Checking totals against marksheets.
• Identifying discrepancies.
• Ensuring corrections were properly recorded.
• Reconciling scripts.
• Arranging scripts for indexed archiving.

The work required a high level of attention to detail.

Applicants Who Were Not Eligible

The GDE advert contained several important exclusions.

The following people were not eligible for the 2026 recruitment:

• People writing National Senior Certificate examinations in 2026.
• People writing Senior Certificate examinations in 2026.
• People writing AET examinations in 2026.
• People who had taken the VSP.
• People employed elsewhere.

The official portal states that these applicants would not be considered.

Salary or Package

The recruitment portal did not provide a fixed rand amount.

Instead, the package was stated as:

As per applicable Personnel Administrative Measures (PAM) rates.

Therefore, applicants should not rely on unofficial websites claiming a specific monthly amount unless that figure is confirmed by the GDE or the applicable PAM provisions.

How the GDE Application Worked

Applications were submitted through the dedicated Gauteng Examination Assistant e-Recruitment System.

Applicants first had to create a profile.

The system required information including:

• Personal details
• Educational background
• Work experience

Once the profile was complete, applicants could select the relevant post from the application menu and complete the application.

Correct Reference Number Was Important

Applicants had to select the correct position and location and use the corresponding reference number.

For example, someone applying for Johannesburg Central needed to use:

JC26

Someone applying for Gauteng North needed to use:

GN26

Using the wrong reference number could result in the application not being processed.

Documents and Attachments

Applicants were not required to upload certified documents with the initial application.

The official system stated that only shortlisted applicants would be notified to provide certified copies of requested attachments.

Applicants should therefore have their academic and identification documents available in case they are shortlisted.

How Applicants Could Track Their Applications

After submitting an application, the system generated a reference number confirming receipt.

Applicants could also log into the recruitment system to track their application status.

According to the official information, only successful applicants would receive notification regarding appointments.

GDE Exam Assistant Closing Date

The application period for the 2026 intake was:

Opening date: 26 August 2026

Closing date: 8 September 2026

The official examination assistant portal confirms the closing date.

Because the deadline has passed, applicants should not assume that the portal is currently accepting new applications.

People interested in future GDE examination opportunities should monitor the official GDE recruitment channels for a new advertisement.

When Would Applicants Hear Back?

The official portal states that, because of the expected large number of applications, applicants would receive electronic acknowledgement.

It further states that applicants who had not received any response by:

1 December 2026

should accept that their application was unsuccessful.

GDE Exam Assistants 2026: Application Checklist

For future recruitment rounds, applicants should generally be prepared with:

• South African ID information.
• Matric or equivalent qualification information.
• Tertiary registration details, where applicable.
• Tertiary academic information.
• Mathematics or Accounting information.
• Previous examination administration experience, where applicable.
• Work experience information.
• Correct location and reference number.

The exact requirements should always be checked against the latest GDE advert.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Examination Assistant positions were available?

There were 277 Examination Assistant opportunities.

How many Quality Assurer positions were available?

There were 1,260 Quality Assurer opportunities.

How many opportunities were available altogether?

The recruitment drive offered 1,537 opportunities.

What qualification was required?

Applicants needed an appropriate recognised qualification such as a Senior Certificate, National Senior Certificate, NC(V) or equivalent, subject to the specific eligibility requirements.

Was Mathematics required?

The advert stated that applicants needed advanced numerical skills and that Mathematics or Accounting was compulsory.

Could tertiary students apply?

Yes. Registered tertiary students could apply if they met the requirements. Second-year students and above were advantaged.

Could unemployed graduates apply?

Yes. Unemployed graduates and unemployed applicants with tertiary qualifications were among the eligible applicant categories.

Could someone employed elsewhere apply?

No. People employed elsewhere were specifically excluded from the 2026 intake.

How much did the positions pay?

The package was stated as being according to applicable PAM rates. The official portal did not give a specific rand amount.

What happens if I did not receive a response?

The official portal stated that applicants who had not received a response by 1 December 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful.

GDE Exam Assistants 2026 Summary

Detail	Information
Department	Gauteng Department of Education
Directorate	Examinations Management
Examination Assistants	277
Quality Assurers	1,260
Total Opportunities	1,537
Qualification	Senior Certificate / NSC / NC(V) / equivalent
Numerical Requirement	Mathematics or Accounting compulsory
Tertiary Students	Eligible if requirements were met
Unemployed Graduates	Eligible if requirements were met
Package	Applicable PAM rates
Application	Online
Current Status	Closed

Official Application Portal

The official recruitment system used for this intake was the Gauteng Department of Education Examination Assistant e-Recruitment System.

GDE Exam Assistant e-Recruitment System

The portal currently retains the 2026 recruitment information, including the examination assistant and quality assurer references.

Conclusion

The Gauteng Department of Education Exam Assistant and Quality Assurer recruitment 2026 provided 1,537 temporary examination support opportunities across Gauteng.

The intake consisted of 277 Examination Assistants and 1,260 Quality Assurers. Applicants needed an appropriate recognised qualification, advanced numerical skills and Mathematics or Accounting as a compulsory subject, while second-year and above tertiary students were advantaged.

For applicants who submitted applications, the official portal states that those who have not received a response by 1 December 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful.

For future opportunities, job seekers should monitor the official Gauteng Department of Education recruitment channels and avoid paying anyone who claims they can secure an Examination Assistant position.