RES Exam Dates 2026: Schedule, Sittings & Registration Timeline

The Singapore RES exam is held only a few times a year, so the date you sit is one of the first things to lock in — everything else (your RES course, your study plan, registration) works backwards from it. This page lays out the full 2026 RES exam schedule, the exact Paper 1 and Paper 2 dates, and the registration timeline for the next sitting. Because the authorities can adjust dates and windows, always confirm against res.ntuclearninghub.com and cea.gov.sg before you plan around them.

Full 2026 RES exam schedule

The RES exam runs three times a year, roughly four months apart. Each sitting is held over a weekend — Paper 1 on Saturday, Paper 2 on Sunday, both starting at 9.30am. The 2026 sittings are:

Registration timeline for the Oct/Nov 2026 sitting

You can't register at the last minute — the RES course is a prerequisite and registration opens and closes weeks before the exam. For the 31 Oct / 1 Nov sitting, the published timeline is:

How registration works

Registration is a two-stage process: an Indication of Interest window where you lodge your intention to sit, then a payment and confirmation window (roughly two weeks later) where you secure your seat. You must have completed the compulsory RES course first. For the full breakdown — eligibility, the course requirement and the exam fees — see our RES exam registration guide.

Exam times, venue and format

• Times: both papers run 9.30am–12pm (2 hours 30 minutes each).
• Venue: SIM Headquarters, Clementi — a computer-based test. Bring your NRIC/FIN.
• Format: Section A (60 standalone MCQs) + Section B (20 case-study MCQs) = 80 marks per paper; you need 60% to pass each paper and must pass both.

New to the structure? Start with our RES exam format guide and what to expect on exam day.

Don't just note the date — be ready for it

Knowing the date is the easy part; clearing 60% on both papers is what counts. With the next sitting on 31 Oct, the winning move is to start practising early: drill a high volume of exam-style questions, review every mistake, and lock the key numbers with our one-page cheat sheet. Try a free timed mock to see where you stand, then create a free account to practise questions by topic — the first 15 in every topic are free.

Counting down to 31 October?

Build the habit now and the date takes care of itself. A little daily practice over the next couple of months beats cramming the week before — and it's how first-time passers do it.