BGCSE results reflect stable performance amid structural changes

Pini Bothoko | Monday April 6, 2026 06:00

A total of 35,366 candidates sat for the 2025 examinations, marking a 4.20 per cent decrease from the 36,917 who wrote in 2024. Of the 2025 cohort, female candidates constituted the majority at 59.18 percent (22,930), while male candidates accounted for 40.82 percent (14,436).

According to the results, overall performance remains steady despite notable structural changes in the examination system. BEC reported that 95.65 percent of all grades awarded were Grade G or better, while 78.68 percent were Grade E or better. The proportion of candidates attaining Grade C or better was 37.07 per cent, with only 3.01 per cent achieving Grade A or better.

However, another set of performance indicators showed slightly lower figures, with 94.65 percent of grades at Grade G or better, 75.61 percent at Grade E or better, 33.81 percent at Grade C or better, and 2.71 percent at Grade A or better.

Despite these variations, BEC maintained that overall performance trends have remained largely consistent over the past five years. The 2025 examination cycle marked a significant shift in curriculum structure, with the number of available subjects increasing from 31 to 46. This includes 21 legacy BGCSE subjects and 25 new Botswana Senior Secondary Education (BSSE) subjects, which were assessed for the first time.

BEC cautioned that due to these structural changes, direct comparisons with previous cohorts are not applicable. The introduction of the BSSE subjects represents a transitional phase in Botswana’s education system, aimed at broadening subject offerings and aligning assessment with evolving educational goals.

In light of the structural changes, BEC adopted a revised criterion for determining outstanding performance. Candidates were required to achieve at least six A* grades to be classified as top performers.

Using this benchmark, a provisional total of 11 candidates from seven centres achieved outstanding results in 2025. This represents a decline compared to 2024, when 22 candidates from 10 centres met the same criterion.

The top-performing candidate in the 2025 cohort achieved seven A* grades, two A grades, and two C grades across 11 syllabuses. Additionally, 78 candidates achieved a numeric aggregate of 48 points, reflecting high academic achievement at the upper end of the performance spectrum.

In terms of aggregate scores, 28.94 percent of candidates obtained 36 points and above, while 54.28 percent scored 30 points and above. Furthermore, 71.58 percent of candidates achieved 24 points or above, indicating that a significant proportion of students attained moderate to strong performance levels.

Another dataset showed slightly lower figures, with 18.58 percent of candidates attaining 36 points and above, and 35.14 percent achieving 30 points and above. Despite these differences, the overall trend indicates stable performance outcomes across the cohort.

The results once again highlight a consistent trend in gender performance, with female candidates outperforming their male counterparts. The proportion of female candidates achieving Grade C or better stood at 35.74 percent, compared to 30.42 percent for male candidates. This reflects an improvement of 2.96 percentage points for females, up from 32.69 percent in 2024.

Male performance, on the other hand, showed only a marginal increase from 29.43 percent to 30.42 percent. A similar pattern is observed in aggregate scores. Among candidates obtaining 36 points and above, 19.75 percent were female, compared to 16.89 percent of male candidates.

Performance across examination centres varied significantly, with Naledi Senior Secondary School recording the highest proportion of candidates attaining 36 points and above at 49.20 percent. In contrast, Tsabong Unified Secondary School recorded the lowest proportion at 12.00 percent. Out of the 34 government centres, 19 centres had at least 25 percent of their candidates achieving 36 points and above, indicating a relatively balanced distribution of performance across institutions.

Furthermore, BEC reported a total of nine examination-related incidents during the 2025 cycle. Of these, five were cases of maladministration, while four involved suspected malpractice. This marks a slight increase in malpractice cases compared to three reported in 2024.

BEC revealed that all reported cases have since been investigated and resolved, and noted that measures will be strengthened to further reduce incidents of malpractice in future examination cycles.

On a positive note, improvements were observed in the submission of coursework marks through the Malepa system. Most centres complied with the set deadlines, although a few failed to meet them.

BEC indicated that it will continue to provide support to centres to enhance compliance, while also working closely with the Ministry of Child Welfare and Basic Education to strengthen the implementation of coursework.

The 2025 BGCSE results reflect a stable performance landscape despite a period of transition in Botswana’s secondary education system. While candidature declined slightly and fewer candidates met the threshold for outstanding performance, the overall consistency in results suggests resilience within the system.

The introduction of new BSSE subjects marks a significant step in educational reform, though it also complicates direct comparisons with previous years. As the system continues to evolve, stakeholders will be closely monitoring future cohorts to assess the long-term impact of these changes on student performance.