Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
The Ordinary Level pass rate has risen for the second consecutive year, signalling steady improvement in learner performance and the education system’s recovery from recent disruptions, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has announced.
The national pass rate for the November 2025 examinations increased to 35.26 percent, up from 33.12 percent in 2024 — a 2.14 percentage point improvement. In 2023, the pass rate stood at 29.41 percent.
Releasing the results yesterday, ZIMSEC board chairperson Professor Paul Mapfumo said the improved performance reflected gains across most candidate categories, with female candidates outperforming their male counterparts.
“Female candidates registered a pass rate of 36.31 percent, while male candidates recorded 34.09 percent,” he said.
A total of 162 429 female candidates sat for the examinations, with 110 786 writing five or more subjects and 40 225 attaining at least five subjects at Grade C or better. In comparison, 139 635 male candidates sat for the examinations, with 99 022 writing five or more subjects and 33 752 achieving the same benchmark.
Overall, 302 066 candidates sat for the November 2025 examinations, representing an increase of 10 725 candidates or 3.68 percent from the 291 341 who wrote in 2024. Of the total candidature, 209 810 candidates wrote five or more subjects, with 73 978 passing at least five subjects with a Grade C or better.
“The national pass rate increased by 2.14 percent from the 33.12 percent recorded in 2024,” Prof Mapfumo said.
School candidates recorded a 35.62 percent pass rate, after 62 653 of the 175 893 candidates who wrote five or more subjects attained the minimum pass benchmark. This marked an improvement from the 33.70 percent recorded in 2024.
Private candidates also posted significant gains. A total of 101,719 private candidates sat for the 2025 examinations, with 33 917 writing five or more subjects. Of these, 11 325 passed, yielding a 33.39 percent pass rate, up from 29.60 percent the previous year.
Special needs candidates recorded a 37.14 percent pass rate, improving from 35.63 percent in 2024.
Prof Mapfumo said the improved results demonstrate progress in teaching and learning outcomes and reflect the collective efforts of education stakeholders. He said results would be accessible starting yesterday at 4pm for a period of five days, after which candidates would collect them from their respective examination centres.
He added that heads of examination centres would collect official results from Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Provincial Directors starting 19 January 2026.
Prof Mapfumo also commended the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, State security agencies, teachers, markers and other stakeholders for ensuring a successful and incident-free examination session.
“On behalf of the ZIMSEC Board, I wish all candidates the best in their future studies and future endeavours,” Prof Mapfumo said.
