ZIMSEC Confirms: If You Fail, You Will Pay Double The Exam Fee For Rewriting In June 2026

Why Rewriting Exams In June 2026 Will Cost You Double

Students who need to rewrite their examinations this June will face a hefty new financial penalty. The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) has officially confirmed that candidates sitting for the June 2026 Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations will pay double the previous fee per subject. This sharp increase is due to the specific removal of a government subsidy for this exam sitting.

The council has stated that the June session is primarily for supplementing or rewriting subjects. Therefore, candidates are not eligible for the financial support offered in the main November exams.

Official Announcement Lays Out The New Fee Structure

The policy was formalised in an official circular at the start of the year. ZIMSEC Director of Finance, Zipora Muzenda, issued Finance Circular Number 2 of 2026 on 16 January 2026.

The directive sent to schools was unequivocal in its instructions.

“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.”

The circular provided the stark new totals that students must now find.

“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.”

This represents a significant jump. In previous years, with a government subsidy, public school candidates paid around US$11 (approx. R198) for an O-Level subject and US$24 (approx. R432) for an A-Level subject.

ZIMSEC Explains The Reason For The Removal Of The Subsidy

In a subsequent explanation, ZIMSEC’s Public Relations Manager, Nicky Dhlamini, clarified the council’s position. Her statement was reported by The Herald on 23 January 2026.

Dhlamini directly linked the fee hike to the withdrawal of state support for the June session.

“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 was keen to stress that the fundamental examination fee had not been raised, but rather the financial aid component had been stripped away for these specific candidates.

Concerns Raised About Broad-Brush Policy

While ZIMSEC has provided a clear official rationale, some voices have pointed to potential flaws in this blanket approach. Critics argue the policy does not account for all student circumstances.

An analyst speaking to New Zimbabwe highlighted a possible oversight. The analyst preferred to remain anonymous.

“It overlooks the plight of eligible candidates at formal schools who sit for both sessions, June and November in the same year. There are many who may have dropped out of school for varied reasons and will risk being affected by the policy directive as they plan make things right this time around.”

This suggests that students who are attempting exams for the first time in a June sitting, perhaps due to previous financial hardship or illness, will still be charged the full, unsubsidised rate despite never having received the benefit before.

Schools have been instructed to collect the full fees, with a final payment deadline set for 27 February 2026.