Preparing for your final ZIMSEC Exams using a technology

Garikai Dzoma Avatar

It is that time of the year when pupils and some adults get to sit for the public exams from various boards: HEXCO, ZIMSEC and Cambridge. For those who are still unprepared it is not too late to swot for these exams.Most students with internet access,smartphones and tablets hardly ever use this technology for their benefit. A good number of them use of the Facebook, Twitter and Whatsapp Apps and scarcely use anything else.

The first thing that you should do is to make sure that you have a copy of the syllabus for each of the subjects that you are writing. If  do not already have these you can freely download PDF versions of both the O level and A level syllabi from the ZIMSEC website. The list includes electronic copies for most common subjects but on the off chance that your subject is not available then you might need to make the trip to your nearest ZIMSEC office and purchase a physical copy.

One of the most disappointing parts about the ZIMSEC website is that it does not have downloadable copies of past exam papers or specimen papers. Bearing in mind your syllabus requirements for each one of your subjects you should be aware that ZIMSEC shares most of its content with Cambridge and most questions appear in both exams. For subjects like Business Studies there is virtually no difference at all in terms of content. You can use Cambridge past exam papers and their corresponding marking schemes to practice. Some of them can be freely downloaded on the Cambridge website here ( this site was updated yesterday). There are a host of other sites such as the IGSCE center here and the Online exam center website. Google will cheerfully provide you with more sites.

It is amazing how many students keep repeating the same errors each year. Some errors even originate from uninformed teachers, I know a local teacher who still teaches the horizontal method of preparing accounts and has year after year unwittingly sent students to their failure. Each year examiners report on these errors and any other mistakes and tips that students might need to know about. The ZIMSEC website has a few copies of these reports. If you are interested in excelling in your exams it might be important to download and read these for all the subjects that you are writing. Here are the links for both A level and O level reports.

I had the honour of attending the best academic school in this country, St Faith’s High School, and technology has always been part of their success. Back when I was still a student their most important piece of technology was their photocopying machine which enabled students to sit for mock exams. We sat for every paper from 1973 to that year’s June exam. ZIMSEC sells hard copies all past exam papers at $2 apiece. You can use a photocopying machine to create multiple copies of the paper and practice. It is illegal to sell these papers without prior permission from ZIMSEC who are the copyright owners although it is generally acceptable to use this means for personal non profit use under the law.

You can also install Cambridge Apps to help with your English. English is the language of instruction for almost all the subjects except Shona. It is even permissible to answer Shona Paper 2 in English. Most students although fluent in the spoken lingo are often afflicted by a meagre vocabulary and the inability to distinguish informal and formal language. These are paid apps which would provide help in such areas as grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation ( by the way Pronunciation differs but it should not differ.) The Apps are available for most devices including Android, iPhone, iPad, (and for some selected Apps) Blackberry and Windows.

Remember if you are to pass the exams you need to practice and technology can help you get there. Mazel Tov in your exams!!!

I must surely have failed to mention a lot of notable tools. Please feel free to add these in the comments section.

 

156 comments

  1. Richard Chinyenze

    a handy site is also http://www.zimscholars.co.zw

    1. susan

      how can i have question and answer online

      1. Garikai Dzoma

        Specific questions can be asked and answered on our site ask.revision.co.zw

  2. brainstorm

    you can visit http://www.brainstorm.co.zw , for comprehensive study and revision material.

    1. Andrew

      good to us

      1. Andrew Mula

        ok guyz welcome to us

        1. Shakman Mukohwa

          oliy i need is to pass no Time to be fleckin”

      2. Kiara

        Nyc

    2. Anonymous

      thanks

      1. Anonymous

        Thanx

    3. blessy

      l need to know more about english

      1. blessy

        assist me on how to pass chemistry

        1. jah luv

          wat level are you o and a level

          1. monica

            o level

        2. Anonymous

          verenga zve!!!!

      2. Delight chikundura

        Read and understand the situation

    4. jah luv

      yaah,you WL pass guy

      1. mass mass

        thanks I wish all who are writing ZIMSEC examinations this year fantastic results

      2. Anonymous

        chibaba

  3. Kaycee

    For Cambridge students, use xtremepapers.net or olevelsourceforge.net as they both provide all exams both for May and November intake as well as syllabus and examiners report. All material is freely available and easy to download in PDF versions

    1. Garikai Dzoma

      Great resources thanks!!!

  4. hester vivier

    Great article. do you have similar suggestions for the grade 7 exam?

    1. Anonymous

      thank you

  5. Hugo Brennan

    Nice article, and you have given great detail. I’m also using some point of them for GATE exam preparation. It little high level exam but you have given some basic steps which is really very useful for every class and grade exam study.

  6. prince gwenzi

    good

  7. Anonymous

    I hpe it wrks

  8. given kwibisa

    lukng forwad to t

  9. Daniel nelson mwanza

    Sound very interesting ,might work

  10. irvine zibzs

    goooood

  11. lesley zhou

    at least

  12. O’Brien

    zimsec u r amazing. Please would u upload more past exams and answers

  13. Tintoe

    ZIMSEC is very good but you have to add more past exam papers, syllabus and marking schemes as compared to GCSE, XTREME PAPERS, CAMBRIDGE, HEXCO, EDEXCEL, WJEC and many more you know pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR UNDERSTANDING AND THE LITTLE YOU HAVE SHARED UNTO US…………………

    1. ltk

      hafair your are very very serious

    2. ltk

      you are very very extra serious keep it up??????????????????????????????????????????……………………………………
      THANKSSSSSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LIKE IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT…

    3. Bernard

      Thanx 4 advices

  14. angelina

    hw do i get past exam papers

    1. Anonymous

      HAMENO IKOKO

      1. jah luv

        wat level are you o and a level

        1. Anonymous

          KKKKKKKKK GETTT

        2. effoman

          toverenga even in the way to the exam

  15. panashe

    hey we need zimsec past exam papers pliiiz coz i cant access them even the marking schemes m doing mob acc and geo

    1. Garikai

      You only need the syllabi for both. 4 Business Studies you can use Cambridge past exam papers. Just be sure to take note of the differences. Unfortunatley Zimsec does not have past exam papers on its site. They sell them at thier HQ in Mt Pleasant for $2 each.

    2. crispen

      hie we need past exam papers

  16. Websites to compliment the Zimsec website – Techzim

    […] year I wrote a piece on how to prepare for the ZIMSEC examinations using technology. For the past few weeks my inbox has […]

  17. Darlington Phiri M

    hey! i’m no table to access past exam papers how can i get them

    1. Anonymous

      go to extremepapers.com bro

  18. Joe

    its really interesting. all the support u may need

  19. maryln

    you are amaizing can you give me a hint of what am going to meet in my final examination

    1. TYSON B

      go to extremepapers .com now

  20. SHARLYN

    THANK YOU FOR THE ADVISE.SO CAN I GET THE A LEVEL PAST EXAM PAPERS

    1. TYSON B

      yaah l think so

  21. maureen mguni

    may u please send me past exam questions

  22. maureen mguni

    may u please assist me on how to pass maths

  23. Bernard

    We need marking schemes

  24. Anonymous

    haaaaa thnx neh…..

  25. prudence

    hi hw cn i gt pst exm paprs

  26. mercy mutanga

    you a doing great things keep it up

  27. Anonymous

    hey can you give me tips on how to write a speech and an article

  28. Shingy

    zimsec rocks ya’l &its easy to pass if u kip on Working hard……Thank yah Zimsec

  29. Aaron Donsa

    thanks a lot zimsec but tiisireiwo A level maths papers

  30. Anonymous

    thnx but may u assist wth past maths paper o’level

  31. Tawanda Brandon

    Can I incorporate scanned copies of ZIMSEC past exam papers legal on my site?

    1. Tawanda Brandon

      Legally** typo there

      1. grateful

        thanx yu so much

  32. mike neymar

    good distribution of education keep it up

  33. mike neymar

    thanks for supporting our education

  34. mike neymar

    thanks a lot for good education

  35. renegade

    hi, guys has anybody been using http://www.revision.co.zw too? It’s still a bit empty but has a lot of Shona notes.

  36. leetony cyzyba

    thank u for the suport

  37. Loryn tindi

    Hw cn i gt geo past exam papers A’ level

  38. muchy

    thankx

  39. ashie

    thank you

  40. marshal chapfika

    may u please send me past exam papers

  41. marshal chapfika

    keep the standards

  42. percy muchabaiwa

    zimsec shuld help us but we cannot download past exam papers for free yet l pay tuition

    1. Anonymous

      yeh sure

  43. ethel

    hey ….kip it up….education is our key t success …

  44. ethel

    we jus nid more past exam papers

  45. Anonymous

    liyanya msunu yenu

  46. crispen

    hie guys we must revise past exam papers

  47. phidza

    hw cn l download past papers

  48. mthobi maphosa

    cant wait to get over it….

  49. shaaz

    well this is good ***thank u****

  50. Nyasha

    nyc but ZIMSEC can u please finish uploading notes and past exam papers cz wi nid them before October 2015.desperate student

  51. Nyasha Saimon Sigs

    anx guys

  52. Anonymous

    BRAVO

  53. Sebata unthatile

    Can u send me past exam papers lit advanced level paper1,2,4 thanks

  54. charlton chiradza

    great resources

  55. Nathaniel

    Zimsec should provide past exam papers with answers please because that will help us a lot in our studies academically. I hope you hope consider my request, thank you.

  56. chiez çhiez

    thisz gd nw i can confidently get into it ķkkk …..xam

  57. Therry

    Uuu doing a grt job buh eish paMaths apa

  58. Melissa Magezi

    Zimsec should allow us to download questions as l already paid mu tution. Zimsec must do like other boards do. Please help us on downloading nd if opera mini is not where we should download this please show us by writing the website which we shld get the more information.

  59. Ernest Ndlovu

    Zimsec must issue out past exam papers online please help.

  60. Rodwell Sisimayi

    I need yo help zimsec on paper 1 and 4

  61. DATODEM

    A Level geo 2016 iuyewo yakanaka pliz

  62. oswell mutuda

    tht z gud gyz

  63. cheney c marembo

    i could love to be updated on e followin subjects history,divinit & literature

  64. remi gal morbie

    i think this is gonna help my grade 7 i hope so .

  65. Mtha

    Good advancement , hope for good results

  66. Sengamo

    Many thanks for the original article and the other sites referred to. For a rural school with challenges in the English language the Cambridge apps are a great booster

  67. Tanaka (DC) Bande

    thanks 4 advices, but we need zimsec qsn papers online plz

  68. precious m

    thanks for advice you really rock our country

  69. Anonymous

    hie, how can i get Nov 2013 zimsec a level economics paper 2?

  70. Clayton Nyaks

    Thanks for Advice bt we really nid qn papers n answers pleeeeaaaaasssee

  71. ¶®vdy•\°

    anxx for e advice bt l need past exam pprs bfo the end of this year ,im doin maths,bio and cchemistry so i thnk a lot of revision wl do me good

  72. Anonymous

    hie how can i get past exam papers,i’m doing mathematics,business studiesand economics

  73. sacha chinomungu

    help me pass :
    shona
    maths
    geo
    history
    inter science
    accounts
    literature
    computers
    english
    religious studies

    1. Anonymous

      You wii pass in jesus name

  74. Rutheey mbizo hy

    Wow i never new dat u’ve got a wonderful source of academic stuff. Help me pass ma A Level sciences. A big thanx 2 u & team:D::);):*

    1. Anonymous

      Where should I get marking guides for O level maths?

  75. Adrian Chimponde

    its all good

    1. TYSON B

      yaah its good

  76. elvis

    u can go tu zimsec website n dnld

  77. TYSON B

    l think this may help

  78. tino

    how do i get past exam papers for zimsec

  79. tracy

    we really need the syllabus,schemes and past papers

  80. jah luv

    TV ting

  81. allen Mukapa

    wish u the best

  82. precious

    Assist me with mathematics

    1. katuruza fungai

      pakaipa mukangahosho

      1. katuruza fungai

        nditumiro profile pic rako

  83. e rdm

    i luv it

  84. edgeworth

    we are pass

  85. Daniel Chikuwira

    how can l download A level past exam papers. plz help us November is now around the corner

  86. Daniel Chikuwira

    l go for commercials……. accounting,economics and business studies

  87. Tonderai

    by the blood of jesus we ur going to pass this year

  88. alvis

    dats a yes 4 me

  89. warren douglas

    Dats e best fo mina

  90. Apread

    Please help me know more abt English

  91. paul makarimayi

    thank for informing people can you probably explain where you are saying English can be used to answer Shona paper 2

  92. Hitboy

    #applause,. we’d need a whatsapp group which we can get to know more about this thang..

  93. Lovemore

    Hey!! we need a ZIMSEC APP please

  94. rutendo

    please I need help in BS

  95. christiano

    sweet comes from sweat gyz

  96. Starr

    anx a lot ey ……pple u jus need 2 work hard

  97. aqu

    Nice

  98. tonderai

    guyz now its the time stop playng

  99. Gonzo Try

    very useful

  100. Helena Diaz

    Excellent blog post – For what it’s worth if you need a DA 31 , my family filled out and esigned a fillable version here https://goo.gl/JoWI0V

  101. ellen

    munogona bt ngazvisanyanye kuoma pliz

  102. passmore

    hw cn i find e past exam papers

  103. providence

    so helpfull

  104. justice sigauke

    umm thanks papa

  105. Anderson fox

    Thanks

  106. Nepile

    Help me w mathematics written june

  107. Nepile

    Writing

  108. anonymous

    please download exam papers . keep it up good job

  109. HEREDITY MBUNDIRE

    help in english olevel nw ts 5 yrs ndichinyora ndichiita D

  110. tafadzwa

    good stuff

  111. faith shava

    Its helpful to use technology, am assisting my child in preparing zimsec exams and I hope she pass with flying colours. Thanks for all the information.

    1. Anonymous

      gys ndpeiwo maths and physics latest papers

  112. Jabu

    Hi Guys you can go on http://www.shashaiseminar.com

  113. Rodney

    Gud wrk

  114. diana

    Zimsc you want technology but no past papers online

  115. result91.com

    as long as their is someone we love their will be the hope to save them & to protect the mwe will con

  116. collen jnr

    guyz did maths bs n ecoz zvakaoma err pa A level

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