Analysing The ZIMSEC November 2025 Advanced A Level Results Statistics: 3 Key Takeaways

3 Major Takeaways From Zimbabwe’s 2025 A-Level Results

The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) released the November 2025 A-Level results on Friday, 9 January 2026, revealing a new record and several underlying trends. An analysis of the official statistics provides three crucial insights into the state of advanced education, from historic performance to examination security. The data shows a system achieving high pass rates amid significant growth in candidate numbers.

1. A New National Pass Rate Record Is Set

The most prominent takeaway is the achievement of a new national pass rate high. The figure climbed to 95.75%, edging past the 94.58% recorded in 2024. This improvement of 1.17 percentage points occurred despite a substantial increase in the total number of students sitting for the exams. Professor Paul Mapfumo, the ZIMSEC board chairperson, linked the success to collective effort.

“The increase in the national pass rate demonstrates the commitment of candidates, teachers and school administrators to academic excellence despite ongoing challenges in the education sector,” Professor Mapfumo said. He emphasised that the results were “achieved through careful planning, adherence to examination protocols and collaboration across the education sector.”

2. School Candidates Outperform With 96% Success Rate

A deeper dive into the demographics highlights a significant performance gap between different types of candidates. School candidates were the standout performers, achieving a pass rate of 96.39%. This is a solid improvement from their 95.18% rate in 2024. The statistics show 31,451 school candidates sat for the exams, with 30,169 of those writing two or more subjects achieving a pass.

In contrast, private candidates, while also improving, posted a lower pass rate. Their rate was 90.77%, a slight increase from 90.52% in 2024. Out of 5,234 private candidates, 4,571 passed two or more subjects. This disparity of nearly six percentage points is a key feature of the results breakdown.

3. Candidate Numbers Surged By Over 9%

The third key takeaway is the notable growth in the total examination cohort. There was a significant 9.08% increase in candidates year-on-year. A total of 36,635 students sat for the November 2025 examinations, compared to 33,585 in 2024. Professor Mapfumo confirmed this figure in his announcement.

Of this larger group, 36,282 candidates wrote two or more subjects. From that pool, 34,740 students met the minimum pass requirement of Grade E or better in at least two subjects. This expansion suggests a growing demand for A-Level qualifications across Zimbabwe.

Examination Integrity Declared A Three-Year Success

Officials placed strong emphasis on the security and credibility of the examination process itself. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Tonderayi Moyo announced a major milestone in combating previous issues of paper leaks.

“This marks the third consecutive year in which our national examinations have been conducted and concluded without any leakages,” Minister Moyo stated. He attributed this directly to government action, saying, “It is the direct outcome of deliberate reforms, enhanced monitoring systems, and robust security protocols that we have implemented.”

This claim of three leak-free years was presented as a foundational reason for trusting the integrity of the record results.

Results Portal Opens For Online Access

The final practical takeaway concerns the release process. ZIMSEC made the results available online via its dedicated portal starting at 4 PM on 9 January 2026. The council stated the portal would remain open for candidates to access their results for a period of five days. After this online window closes, students are advised to collect their physical statements from their respective examination centres. This method provides immediate access while maintaining a traditional backup for collection.