ZIMSEC Explains Why Students Must Pay Double Exam Fees For June 2026 O- And A-Level Examinations

Pay Double: Zimsec’s New Rule For June 2026 Exam Candidates

ZIMSEC has confirmed and explained why candidates sitting for the June 2026 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations will pay double the exam fees. The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has explained that this is due to the specific removal of a government subsidy for this sitting, while stressing that general examination fees have not been increased.

ZIMSEC public relations manager, Ms. Nicky Dhlamini, was at pains to explain this critical distinction in a statement dated 23 January 2026. She immediately addressed the core issue of the increased cost for June candidates.

Dhlamini told The Herald:

“June examinations are sat by candidates who are rewriting or supplementing their subjects, meaning they would have already benefited from the 55 percent Government subsidy during an earlier sitting. Therefore, for the June examinations, candidates do not qualify for the 55 percent subsidy and are required to pay full fees.”

She then clarified that this was not a general fee hike, emphasising:

“The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has released the June Ordinary and Advanced Level examination fees for 2026,” she said.

“Parents and guardians are implored to note that the fees have not been changed from previous years. They still remain the same.”

Official Directive Orders 100 Percent Payment

This policy is enacted through Finance Circular Number 2 of 2026, authored by ZIMSEC Director of Finance, Ms. Zipora Muzenda, on 16 January 2026. The circular formally instructs that all June 2026 candidates must bear the full cost.

The circular mandates:

“Following the approval of the June 2026 Ordinary and Advanced Level examination fees please be advised that all candidates in public schools, private schools and colleges, including private candidates in public schools will pay the full cost of the examination fees.”

It unequivocally confirms the double charge, stating:

The 2026 full cost of the examinations for Ordinary and Advanced level will be USD24.00 and USD48.00 per subject respectively. Therefore, all candidates will pay 100% of the examination fees”

The Subsidy Removal That Doubles The Cost

The removal of the 55% subsidy is what directly doubles the exam fees. While the official per-subject fee remains US$24 for O-Level and US$48 for A-Level, public school candidates previously paid a subsidised rate.

For instance, a 2024 circular shows that with the 55% subsidy, an O-Level candidate paid US$11 (approx. R198) per subject against a full cost of US$24. An A-Level candidate paid a subsidised US$24 (approx. R432) against the full cost of US$48.

Consequently, a student writing one O-Level subject in June 2026 will now pay the full US$24 (approx. R432), per subject and not the previous subsidised US$11 per subject—more than double. A student writing one A-Level subject will pay US$48 (approx. R864), double the previous subsidised rate of US$24.

Firm Deadline and School Incentive

With these doubled fees in place, ZIMSEC has set a final payment deadline of 27 February 2026. The accompanying circular offers an incentive for early bulk payment, promising two sets of Emerald Key Question and Answer booklets to examination centres that remit the full June 2026 fees by 31 January 2026.

The explanation from Ms Dhlamini and the directive from Ms Muzenda confirm a targeted financial shift: while standard fees are said to be unchanged, the specific removal of the subsidy for the June 2026 O-Level and A-Level examinations is the definitive reason candidates will pay double the exam fees.