The Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) timetable for the 2025 O-Level November–December examinations is now available. This guide provides a full schedule of exam dates, session times, subject durations, and important regulations for candidates, schools, and parents.
The examination period begins in October 2026 and runs through to late November 2026, with all candidates expected to strictly adhere to the published schedule.
Practical Examination Planning Sessions for ZIMSEC O-level November 2026 Examinations:
The Ordinary Level Practical Examination planning and preparation sessions begin on 14 September 2026. These sessions are scheduled for selected practical subjects, with preparation periods ranging from 1 day to 2 weeks, depending on the subject.
Subjects such as Food Technology and Design (4054/2) and Hospitality Management and Design (4076/2) have planning sessions on 14 September 2026, with each session lasting 1 day.
Preparation sessions for Art (Options A–C) and Art (Options A–B) also begin on 14 September 2026, with each lasting 1 week. Physical Education, Sports and Mass Display (PESMD) has a preparation period of 2 weeks.
The practical examination period varies by subject. PESMD, Food Technology and Design (Practical), and Hospitality Management and Design (Practical) are each allocated 3 weeks for practical work and assessment.
Building Technology and Design has a practical examination period of 3 days.
Subjects including Metal Technology and Design, Textile Technology and Design, Wood Technology and Design, Art (Options A–C), Art (Options A–B), Dance, Musical Arts (Practical Performance), Musical Arts (Sight Reading), Theatre Arts, and French each have a practical examination period of 1 week.
Commercial Studies has a practical examination duration of 3 hours.
List of practical examinations with durations:
- 14 September 2026:
- PE, SPORTS, AND MASS DISPLAYS 02 — 10 minutes
- 21 September 2026:
- FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 02 — 2 hours 30 minutes
- HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN 02 — 2 hours 30 minutes
- ART 01 — 6 Hours
- 22 September 2026:
- ART 03 — 6 hours
28 September 2026:
- MUSICAL ARTS 03 — 10 minutes
- THEATRE ARTS 03 — 10 minutes
- COMMERCIAL STUDIES 02 — 3 hours
- BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 02 — 3 hours 30 minutes
- FRENCH 03 — 10 minutes
- DANCE 03 — 10 minutes
- 5 October 2026:
- METAL TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 02 — 3 hours 10 minutes
- WOOD TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 02 — 3 hours 10 minutes
- TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 02 — 2 hours 30 minutes
🗓️ OCTOBER 2026 TIMETABLE
Morning session starts at 09:00 hrs and the afternoon session starts at 14:00 hrs. Candidates must arrive at least 30 minutes before the session begins.
12 October 2026:
- Mathematics Syllabus A 01 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Mathematics 01 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- English Language 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- English for Communication 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 30 minutes
13 October 2026:
- English Language 02 (Morning)— 2 hours
- English for Communication 02 (Morning)— 2 hours
- Combined Science 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hr 30
14 October 2026:
- Mathematics syllabus A 02 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Mathematics 02 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Commerce 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 15 minutes
15 October 2026:
- Combined Science 02 (Morning) — 2 hours
- Geography 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 15 minutes
16 October 2026:
- Additional Mathematics 01 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Literature in Xichangana (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- Literature in Ndebele (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- Literature in Tonga (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- Literature in Shona (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- Literature in Tshivenda (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- Additional Mathematics 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 30 minutes
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Nov
19 October 2026:
- Geography 02 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Commerce 02 (Afternoon) — 2 hours
20 October 2026:
Morning Session: — 2 hours
- Nambya Language 01
- Xichangana Language 01
- Sesotho Language 01
- Ndebele Language 01
- Kalanga Language 01
- Tonga Language 01
- Tshivenda 01
- Shona 01
- Heritage Studies 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour 15 minutes
21 October 2026:
- Principles of Accounting 01 (Morning) — 1 hour 30 minutes
- History 01 (Afternoon) — 2 hours
22 October 2026:
- Principles of Accounting 02 (Morning) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Heritage Studies 02 (Afternoon) — 2 hours
Friday, 23 October 2026
Morning Session:
- Nambya Language (02) — 2 hours
- Shona Language (02) — 2 hours
- TshiVenda Language (02) — 2 hours
- Xichangana Language (02) — 2 hours
- Ndebele Language (02) — 2 hours
- Kalanga Language (02) — 2 hours
- Sotho Language (02) — 2 hours
- Tonga Language (02) — 2 hours
Afternoon Session:
- Physics (01) — 1 hour
Monday, 26 October 2026
- Sociology 02 (Morning) — 2 hours
- Agriculture 01 (Afternoon) — 1 hour
October 27, 2026 (Tuesday):
- Morning Session: BUSINESS AND ENTERPRISE SKILLS 01 (1 hour 45 minutes)
- Afternoon Session: ECONOMICS 01 (1 hour 30 minutes)
October 28, 2026 (Wednesday):
- Morning Session: AGRICULTURE 02 — 2 hours
- Afternoon Session: HISTORY 02 (2 hours)
October 29, 2026 (Thursday):
- Morning Session: Agriculture 03 (2 hours)
- Afternoon Session: PHYSICS 02 (2 hours 15 minutes)
October 30, 2026 (Friday):
- Morning Session:
- WOOD TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 01 (3 hours)
- BUILDING TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 01 (3 hours )
- FOOD TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 01 2 hours
- HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT AND DESIGN01 2 hours 30 minutes
- TEXTILE TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 01 2hours
- METAL TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN 01 3hours
Afternoon Session:
- Theatre Arts 01 (1hr 15 mins)
- Musical Arts 01 1 hour
- Chemistry 01 1 hour
- Dance 01 1 hour 15 minutes
November 2 2026 (Monday):
Morning Session: Chemistry 02 (2 hours)
- Afternoon Session:
- Dance 02 (2 hours)
- PE, Sports and Mass Displays 01 (1 hour)
- Theatre Arts 02 (2 hours)
- Musical Arts 02 2 hours
- 3rd November 2026 (Tuesday):
- Morning session: Design and Technology 01 (3 hours)
- Morning session: Biology 01 (1 hour )
- Afternoon session: Literature in English 01 (1 hour 30 mins)
- 4th November 2026 (Wednesday):
- Morning session: Design and Technology 02 (3 hours)
- Morning session: Biology 02 (2 hours)
- Afternoon session: Commercial 01 Studies 01 (2 hours)
- 5th November 2026 (Thursday):
- Morning session: Combined Science 03 (1 hour 30 mins)
- 6th November 2026 (Friday):
- Morning session: Biology 03 (1 hour 30 mins)
- Morning session: Technical Graphics and Design 02 ( 3 hours 10 minutes)
- Afternoon session: Computer Science 01 (1 hour)
- 9th November 2026 (Monday):
- Morning session: Family and Religious Studies 01 (2 hours 30 mins)
- Afternoon session: Economics 02 (1 hour 15 mins)
Tuesday, 10 November 2026
Morning Session:
- Chemistry (03) — 1 hr 30 mins
- Afternoon Session: Economic History 01 2 hrs
Wednesday, 11 November 2026:
- Morning session: Technical Graphics & Design (01) — 3 hours
- Afternoon session: Statistics (01) — 2 hours 30 mins
Thursday, 12 November:
- Morning session: Statistics (02) — 2 hours 30 minutes
- Afternoon session: Economics (03) — 2 hours
Friday, 13 November:
- Morning session: Physics (03) — 2 hours
- Afternoon session: Economic History (02) — 2 hours
Monday, 16 November:
- Morning session: Pure Mathematics (01) — 2 hours 30 mins
- Afternoon session: Literature in English (02) — 1 hour 30 mins
Tuesday, 17 November:
- Morning session: Computer Science (02) — 2 hours
- Afternoon session: Pure Mathematics (02) — 2 hours 30 mins
Wednesday, 18 November:
- Morning session: Art (01) — 2 hours 30 mins
- Morning session: Additional Mathematics 01 — 2 hours 30 mins
- Afternoon session: Family and Religious Studies (02) — 2 hours
Thursday, 19 November:
- Morning session: Computer Science 03- 3 hrs
- Afternoon session: French 01 2 hrs 15 mins
Friday, 20 November:
- Morning session: Business And Enterprise Skills(02) — 2 hours 15 mins
- Morning session: Guidance and Counselling and Life Skills Education 01 — 2 hours 30 mins
Monday, 23 November:
- Morning session: Technical Graphics & Design (03) — 3 hours
- Morning session: Guidance and Counselling and Life Skills Education 01 — 2 hours
- Afternoon session: French (02) — 1 hour 30 min
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR CANDIDATES AND PARENTS
Examination Schedule & Regulations:
- The official timetable must not be altered unless authorized by ZIMSEC.
- No extra time will be granted beyond scheduled exam durations.
- Candidates must register and write exams at one center only. Writing at multiple centers is not allowed.
- No candidate may write more than 9 hours of exams per day.
Candidate Registration & Identification:
- All private candidates must present valid identification before writing.
- Candidates who are registered but have not yet paid fees are still entitled to write.
Special Arrangements & Deviations:
- Any deviations (such as subject clashes or level overlaps) must be submitted 60 days before the exam date via the school head or exam center.
- Deviations require official ZIMSEC approval.
Conduct & Malpractice:
- Timetables must be displayed clearly at each exam center.
- Malpractice or suspicious activity can be reported via official hotlines (see below).
- No candidate shall be barred from sitting unless explicitly disqualified under ZIMSEC regulations.
CANDIDATE INSTRUCTIONS & GENERAL CONDUCT
Preparation:
- Review the full timetable ahead of time.
- Double-check your exam dates and subject codes.
Adherence to Timetable:
- No changes are allowed unless approved by ZIMSEC.
- All exams must begin and end at the scheduled time.
Identification & Registration:
- Candidates must present valid IDs.
- Only write exams at your registered center.
Conduct During Exams:
- Respect invigilators and exam center authorities.
- No cheating, misconduct, or disturbance will be tolerated.
Prohibited Items:
- Strictly banned: mobile phones, smartwatches, spy pens, calculators (unless permitted), or any device that stores information.
- Invigilators are also prohibited from having such devices.
Time Management:
- Use visible clocks for time-keeping.
- No unofficial time adjustments allowed.
Question Paper Security:
- Candidates have the right to inspect sealed question papers before opening.
Post-Exam Procedures:
- Scripts must be sealed in the exam room in the presence of all candidates.
Reporting Breaches:
- Any exam irregularities should be reported to ZIMSEC via official hotlines.
Special Needs:
- Any candidate requiring special arrangements must notify ZIMSEC three months in advance.
📞 ZIMSEC HOTLINES TO REPORT MALPRACTICE
- Toll-Free: 0800 4100, 0800 4461
- WhatsApp Hotlines: 0712 737 759, 0782 747 768
- Direct Contact: 0716 800 189, 0773 222 220
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