Ivan Zhakata
GRADE Seven pupils begin their final examinations today, marking the start of the 2026 national examination season, with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (Zimsec) assuring candidates, parents and schools that all preparations have been completed.
The Grade Seven examinations start today, while the Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations are scheduled to begin on October 12.
In an interview, Zimsec public relations manager Mrs Nicky Dhlamini said question papers and stationery had already been dispatched to cluster centres for collection by examination centres.
“The season for final examinations is upon us, starting with the Grade Seven examinations on the 21st of September 2026 (today. Zimsec is fully prepared for the start of the examinations. Question papers and stationery are already being distributed to the cluster centres ready for collection by centres.”
Mrs Dhlamini said Zimsec, working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education, State security agencies and school authorities, had strengthened measures to protect the integrity of the examinations.
“From printing to distribution and eventually the sitting of examinations, everything is closely monitored by security and loss-control teams,” she said.
She said advances in the printing and packaging of examination materials had further strengthened security systems.
A range of security features has been incorporated into examination materials, enabling Zimsec to identify the examination centre for which specific question papers are intended.
Mrs Dhlamini said personalised answer sheets would also help curb malpractice by preventing the smuggling of scripts into examination rooms.
She said security teams could quickly trace question papers to their source if they were accessed prematurely, allowing investigations to focus on the perpetrators without disadvantaging innocent candidates.
A total of 800 003 candidates are expected to sit this year’s examinations, comprising 413 792 Grade Seven candidates, 345 368 O-Level candidates and 40 843 A-Level candidates.
The examinations will be conducted at 5 646 Grade Seven centres, 2 616 O-Level centres and 925 A-Level centres across the country.
Mrs Dhlamini urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report any suspected cases of examination malpractice or maladministration.
“As the people of the nation of Zimbabwe, it is in our best interest to maintain the integrity and credibility of the examinations. We urge you to report through our Axcentium tip-offs anonymous platform or to your nearest Zimsec office,” she said.
Source: Grade Seven examinations begin — Zimsec assures candidates of readiness – herald
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