Key takeaways from 2025/26 PLE, O-Level national exams

Rwanda’s 2025/2026 national examination results show a marked improvement in performance at both primary and Ordinary Level, even as the number of candidates taking the examinations increased significantly. The results, released on Thursday, August 20, cover the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and Ordinary Level (O-Level) examinations held in July. Here are the key takeaways. ALSO READ: National exams: Kirehe leads top-performing districts 1. Pass rates rose sharply The national PLE pass rate rose to 88.21 per cent, up from 75.64 per cent in 2024/25. At O-Level, the increase was even larger, with the pass rate rising to 85.70 per cent from 64.35 per cent last year. That represents increases of 12.57 percentage points at PLE and 21.35 percentage points at O-Level. Last year, 166,334 of the 219,900 graded PLE candidates passed, while 95,674 of 148,676 graded O-Level candidates passed. ALSO READ: Top exam performers reveal secrets behind their success This year, 243,958 candidates passed the PLE and 127,702 passed O-Level. 2. The number of PLE candidates jumped by more than 56,000 A total of 276,579 candidates sat the PLE this year, compared with 219,926 who sat the examination last year. That is an increase of 56,653 candidates, or about 26 per cent. At O-Level, however, the number remained almost unchanged, with 149,015 candidates sitting this year's examination compared with 148,702 last year. ALSO READ: Record number of primary, O-Level candidates pass national exams Minister of State for Education Claudette Irere attributed the sharp increase in the number of learners at primary level partly to the effects of disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected the normal progression of learners through school. She said the increase in numbers had not been accompanied by a similar increase in available school infrastructure. “Despite the increase in numbers, the performance increased as well,” she said. 3. Kirehe has maintained its dominance Kirehe has retained its position as the country's strongest-performing district in both PLE and O-Level national examinations. In the 2024/25 results, Kirehe had recorded more than 97 per cent in PLE and above 91 per cent in O-Level, leading both rankings. This year, its performance rose to 99.88 per cent in PLE and 99.98 per cent in O-Level. In PLE, Kirehe was followed by Ngoma at 95.27 per cent, Musanze at 93.90 per cent, Rusizi at 93.58 per cent and Karongi at 92.75 per cent. At O-Level, Musanze followed Kirehe at 96.63 per cent, with Karongi at 94.77 per cent, Rusizi at 94.32 per cent and Nyagatare at 91.69 per cent. 4. Mathematics staged a recovery Mathematics was one of the biggest stories in this year's PLE results. Only about 27 per cent of candidates had passed Mathematics last year, making it the weakest-performing subject at primary level. This year, the Mathematics pass rate jumped to 81.1 per cent. That is an increase of about 54 percentage points in one year. The other PLE subjects also recorded substantial improvements. English rose from 50 per cent to 75 per cent, Science and Elementary Technology from 72.4 per cent to 95 per cent, Social Studies and Religious Education from 68.4 per cent to 98.4 per cent, and Kinyarwanda from 71.2 per cent to 98.1 per cent. 5. The improvement was not limited to the overall pass rate The distribution of marks also shifted towards higher score bands. At PLE, 27.62 per cent of candidates scored between 60 and 70 per cent. Another 50,423 scored between 70 and 80 per cent, while 32,846 scored between 80 and 90 per cent and 11,333 scored between 90 and 100 per cent. The lower score bands also became considerably smaller. For example, candidates scoring between 40 and 50 per cent fell from 18.91 per cent of candidates last year to 10.07 per cent this year. Those scoring between 30 and 40 per cent fell from 4.96 per cent to 1.59 per cent. At O-Level, the 40-50 per cent band fell from 18.91 per cent last year to 12.58 per cent this year, while the 30-40 per cent band fell from 4.96 per cent to 1.64 per cent. 6. New practical science examinations were introduced This year's examination cycle introduced practical examinations in science subjects. The practical exams in the sciences gave candidates enough time to conduct research and prepare, which contributed significantly to the improved results, said Bernard Bahati, Director General of National Examination and School Inspection Authority (NESA). He also attributed part of the improvement to the increase in the pass mark introduced the previous year. Bahati said NESA had also assessed learners through other tests conducted during the academic year rather than relying solely on national examinations. 7. The top scores were also higher than last year The best PLE candidate this year, Rwego Mutijima Bruno Ricky of Ecole Internationale La Racine in Bugesera, scored 99.6 per cent. Several candidates followed with 99.4 per cent. Last year's top PLE performer had scored 99.4 per cent. At O-Level, this year's top performer, Uwamariya Leontine of ISF Nyamasheke, scored 98.7 per cent, while Musonga Isimbi Olla of FAWE Girls School also scored 98.7 per cent. Last year's O-Level winner had scored 98.67 per cent. 8. Boys had a higher pass rate Girls accounted for the majority of candidates who sat both examinations, but boys recorded higher pass rates. At PLE, girls made up 55.65 per cent of candidates. Yet the male pass rate was 89.59 per cent, compared with 87.1 per cent among females. At O-Level, girls represented 57.22 per cent of candidates. The male pass rate was 89.8 per cent, against 82.63 per cent for females. 9. Improved results are putting more pressure on boarding schools The stronger performance means more learners are progressing to the next level, creating additional pressure on available places, especially in boarding schools. For Senior One, all 243,958 successful PLE candidates were placed in secondary education, including 17,412 in boarding schools. In Senior Four, 76,220 learners were placed in general education, 43,845 in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and 7,645 in professional education. Irere said the increase in both the number of learners and their performance would affect how candidates were distributed because school capacity had not expanded at the same pace. “If the number of students has increased and their performance has increased, it affects the distribution of schools they join, because the rooms did not increase,” she said. 10. Demand for some schools is far above available places NESA's placement data illustrates the pressure on popular schools. For example, GS Saint Aloys received 28,221 requests for 120 available placements, while Ecole des Sciences de Musanze received 22,456 requests for 105 places. E.S. Kayonza Modern received 19,842 requests for 140 places, while College Saint Andre had 18,896 requests for 118 places. Lycée de Kigali received 17,981 requests for only 65 places. NESA said placement decisions are based on three factors: candidates' scores, school capacity and candidates' choices. 11. Schools urged to prepare for new learners and rainy weather As schools prepare to receive new learners, education officials have urged adminstrators to address overcrowding, unsafe buildings and other shortcomings, while also strengthening their preparedness for heavy rains and windstorms. Irere said inspections had identified schools where buildings posed risks to learners, as well as cases of overcrowding and unsuitable arrangements involving young children. She urged schools to work with NESA to meet the required standards and called on parents to check whether schools their children are joining meet those requirements. Irere also called on schools to prepare for heavy rains and strong winds by strengthening roofs and ensuring drainage systems and waterways are functional. “As the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management indicated, there are expected to be heavy rains and windstorms, so there is a need to have schools prepared,” she said. She further urged schools, particularly boarding schools, to maintain proper hygiene in dormitories and refectories. 12. 243 suspected cases of malpractice under investigation The improved results came alongside investigations into examination malpractice. Irere said 243 suspected cases of malpractice were still under investigation. Candidates whose results were affected by suspected malpractice were not included in the results released on Thursday, with investigations continuing. Authorities said disciplinary action would follow once the investigations are completed. 13. Candidates have different deadlines to appeal Candidates, parents and guardians who have concerns about grading, school placement or learning pathways have 14 days from the publication of the results to submit an appeal. Appeals concerning grading must be submitted within 30 days. Placement and learning-pathway appeals can be submitted online through the School Data Management System (SDMS), while appeals concerning examination grading must be submitted through SDMS by the respective head teachers.

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Key takeaways from 2025/26 PLE, O-Level national exams