Source: Marginal decline in 2025 Grade 7 pass rate – herald
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe School Examinations Council has released the 2025 Grade 7 examination results, revealing a slight decline in the national pass rate while girls continue to outperform boys.
Announcing the results yesterday, ZIMSEC board chairperson Professor Paul Mapfumo stated that candidates can access their results online through the ZIMSEC portal until Monday.
“Candidates should enter their centre number to be redirected to the portal,” he said. After four days, results will need to be collected from respective examination centres.
Prof Mapfumo advised school heads to begin collecting physical copies of the results from ZIMSEC regional offices starting Monday.
A total of 395 090 candidates sat for the Grade 7 examinations, an increase from 387 429 in 2024, representing a 1,94 percent rise.
Despite the increased candidature, the national pass rate fell from 49,01 percent in 2024 to 48,49 percent this year.
“All subjects recorded pass rates above 50 percent,” Prof Mapfumo noted, highlighting that Shona and Ndebele were the best-performing subjects, achieving above 83 percent.
Other subject pass rates included:
Physical Education and Arts: 78,59 percent
Social Science: 63,81 percent
Mathematics: 58,04 percent
Agriculture Science and Technology: 57,93 percent
English: 56,29 percent
Indigenous languages recorded pass rates between 65.08 percent and 77.06 percent.
The gender performance gap remained significant. Of the 201 842 female candidates, 107 241 passed all six subjects, resulting in a pass rate of 53,64 percent. In contrast, male candidates had a pass rate of 43,06 percent, with 81 698 boys passing all subjects.
Prof Mapfumo also highlighted improvements among special needs learners, with 391 candidates sitting for the exams, a 15,85 percent increase from last year. “Of the 230 special needs candidates who attempted all six subjects, 101 passed, yielding a pass rate of 43,91 percent, up from 37,19 percent in 2024,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to educators and all stakeholders involved in the examination process, stating, “The dedication of teachers, markers, ZIMSEC staff, and the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education has greatly contributed to the progress of our education system.”
The release of the results marks the end of the 2025 primary school cycle, with candidates now preparing to transition to secondary education next year.
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