Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata Harare Bureau
LEARNERS sitting for this year’s Zimbabwe School Examinations Council public examinations will use personalised answer sheets and question papers that are traceable as part of new enhanced security measures.
The new features, which are designed to prevent cheating and safeguard the integrity of local exams, make it possible to trace question papers to centres to which they were allocated, while personalised answer sheets are designed to prevent the substitution or smuggling of scripts into examination rooms.
The measures cover the entire examination chain, from the printing and packaging of question papers to their distribution, storage and eventual use by candidates.
The enhanced security measures come as Grade Seven examinations begin tomorrow, while Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations will start on October 12.
Zimsec public relations manager Mrs Nicky Dhlamini said the council was fully prepared for the exams.
“The season for final examinations is upon us, starting with the Grade Seven examinations on the 21st of September 2026,” she said.
“Zimsec is fully prepared for the start of the examinations. Question papers and stationery are already being distributed to the cluster centres ready for collection by centres.”
Security and examination integrity, Mrs Dhlamini said, remained a priority, with technological advances in the printing and packaging of examination materials strengthening the safeguards.
She said security features embedded in examination materials enable Zimsec to identify the centre to which particular question papers had been allocated.
“From printing to distribution and eventually the sitting of examinations, everything is closely monitored by security and loss-control teams,” she said.
The tracking system means should candidates gain premature access to question papers, security teams can track the materials to their centre of origin, allowing investigations to focus on the source of the breach.
The measures were designed to ensure that investigations targeted those responsible without prejudicing innocent candidates.
“In close collaboration with State and private agencies, Zimsec is able to identify and punish only the guilty without prejudicing innocent candidates,” she said.
Zimsec has also strengthened safeguards against the use of unauthorised scripts during examinations through the personalisation of answer sheets.
Mrs Dhlamini said the measure would help prevent malpractice involving the substitution or introduction of scripts from outside the examination room.
“Personalisation of answer sheets also prevents malpractice involving foreign scripts being smuggled from outside the examination room,” she said.
The measures are part of broader efforts to protect the credibility of the national examination system and ensure that candidates are assessed fairly.
A total of 800 003 candidates are expected to sit the November 2026 examinations.
Of these, 345 368 are O-Level candidates, 40 843 are at A-Level, while 413 792 are Grade Seven candidates.
The examinations will be written at 2 616 O-level centres, 925 A-Level centres and 5 646 Grade Seven centres.
The scale of the examinations requires close coordination between Zimsec, schools, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure the secure movement, storage and handling of examination materials.
Mrs Dhlamini encouraged the public to report suspected malpractice and maladministration.
“We urge you to report through our Axcentium tip-offs anonymous platform or to your nearest Zimsec office,” she said.
