Exam Start Date and Two-Shift Timings
Education authorities have finalised the annual examination schedule for government schools in Lahore, with exams set to begin on March 9, 2026, according to an official notification.
Exams will be held in two shifts. The morning shift will run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, while the afternoon shift will be from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. On Fridays, the second shift timing will change to 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm.
For students and parents, the shift system matters for daily routines. It affects transport planning, meal timing, and how early students should reach schools or centres. Schools are also expected to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to keep the process smooth and transparent.
First-Day Papers: What Each Grade Will Attempt
The notification also outlines the first-day subjects for each grade. This helps families and teachers focus revision on the most immediate paper and reduce confusion on the opening day.
On March 9, first-grade students will appear in English. Second graders will take General Knowledge. Third-grade students will begin with Islamic Studies or Ethics, depending on the student’s applicable subject. Fourth graders will sit for Mathematics as their first paper.
For higher primary and middle classes, fifth grade will start with Islamic Studies or Ethics. Sixth-grade students will begin with Mathematics. Seventh graders will appear in Computer Science and Arabic. Eighth-grade students will also start with Mathematics.
This spread shows that the schedule is not uniform across grades, so students should confirm their class-specific paper and time slot to avoid arriving unprepared or missing the correct shift.
Quran and Skills Assessments Included in the Schedule
Beyond standard written papers, the schedule includes assessments in Quran Recitation, Quran Translation, and Tajweed Rules. These assessments are part of evaluating religious learning outcomes where applicable.
The schedule also mentions special exams designed to evaluate Reading, Listening, and Speaking skills. These skills-based components are important because they test practical understanding rather than only written memory. In many schools, students perform well in written work but struggle in spoken communication, so structured assessment can push classrooms to focus on language use more consistently.
Students should prepare for these parts differently than normal exams. For listening and speaking, practice through reading aloud, short presentations, and clear pronunciation often helps more than only written revision.
School-Based Assessment for Grade 8 and SOP Enforcement
For eighth-grade students, papers under the School-Based Assessment (SBA) system will be conducted in Mathematics, Urdu, English, and Science at designated centres. This is a key detail because it means Grade 8 students may have to appear at specific locations rather than their usual classrooms, depending on how centres are assigned.
Education authorities have directed Chief Executive Officers of the relevant districts to strictly implement SOPs for the End-of-Year SBA 2026. The stated goal is transparency and uniformity in the examination process.
For parents, the practical step is to confirm the assigned SBA centre, reporting time, and allowed materials. For students, the focus should be on core subjects listed for SBA, and on keeping exam-day discipline such as arriving early, carrying required stationery, and following instructions closely. Strict SOPs can reduce unfair advantage, but they also mean rules will be enforced more tightly, so preparation should include understanding exam conduct requirements.
