ZIMSEC O’ Level Pass Rate Rises 35.26%

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) Ordinary Level pass rate has risen for the second year in a row.

Announcing the results on Friday, 16 November 2025, ZIMSEC board chairperson Professor Paul Mapfumo said the national pass rate for the November 2025 examinations increased to 35.26 per cent, up from 33.12 per cent in 2024 — a rise of 2.14 percentage points.

In 2023, the pass rate stood at 29.41 per cent. Said Mapfumo:

“The national pass rate increased by 2.14 percent from the 33.12 percent recorded in 2024… Female candidates registered a pass rate of 36.31 percent, while male candidates recorded 34.09 percent.”

A total of 162,429 female candidates sat for the examinations. Of these, 110,786 wrote five or more subjects, while 40,225 attained 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 (3.68 per cent) from the 291,341 who wrote in 2024. Of the total number, 209,810 candidates wrote five or more subjects, and 73,978 passed at least five subjects with a Grade C or better.

School candidates recorded a 35.62 per cent pass rate, with 62,653 of the 175,893 candidates who wrote five or more subjects meeting the minimum pass requirement. This was an improvement from the 33.70 per cent recorded in 2024.

Private candidates also recorded notable 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, resulting in a 33.39 per cent pass rate, up from 29.60 per cent in 2024.

Special needs candidates achieved a 37.14 per cent pass rate, improving from 35.63 per cent the previous year.

Professor Mapfumo said the results became accessible from 4 pm yesterday on the ZIMSEC portal for five days, after which candidates would collect them from their respective examination centres.