Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) 2026 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations begin across the country on Monday, with O-Level candidates sitting Mathematics in the morning and English in the afternoon
A-Level candidates will sit for Guidance and Life Skills in the morning and in the afternoon it will be Animal Science, Crop Science and Agriculture Engeenering.
This year’s O-Level examinations come with high expectations that the country could achieve a 50 percent pass rate for the first time since independence in 1980, following last year’s 35,26 percent pass rate, the highest recorded since independence.
ZIMSEC spokesperson Ms Nicky Dlamini said the council was prepared for the examinations, with the distribution of examination materials already at an advanced stage across the country.
She said ZIMSEC was looking forward to another successful examination session, free from leakages and malpractice, following three consecutive years in which no examination paper leakages were reported.
“The ZIMSEC November O and A-Level examinations are scheduled to start on Monday, the 12th of October 2026. ZIMSEC is well prepared for the start of the examinations, with the distribution of examination materials already at an advanced stage across the country.
“We look forward to another successful examination session with the help of all stakeholders and interested parties in maintaining the security and integrity of the examinations,” said Ms Dlamini.
The examinations will be written in 2 616 O-Level and 925 A-Level centres across the country.
A total of 345 368 candidates registered for the O-Level examinations, while 40 843 registered for A-Level examinations.
