Ecz Grade 12 Passing Marking Key

The Examinations Administration Department (EAD) is charged with the responsibilities of carrying out all examination administration activities for the Examinations Council of Zambia. It is headed by The Assistant Director who is assisted by two (2) Principal Officers.

The Reporting structure is such the Assistant Director reports directly to the Deputy Director. The activities cover the registration of examination centers and candidates for examinations. The department sets examinations, moderates question papers, prints and distributes examination materials. It also conducts and monitors examinations. It is responsible for conducting and supervising the marking of examination answer scripts as well as processing, production of results and issuance of certificates.

The Examination Administration Department conducts School and Primary Teacher Education examinations. The School examinations are the Grade 7 Composite examination, Junior Secondary School Leaving Examination at Grade 9 and the Joint School Certificate and General Certificate of Education Examination at Grade 12. The Primary Teacher Education Examinations cover Pre-Service, Special Education and Pre-School.

High Level activities for the EAD Department

The annual activities for Examinations Administration Department include the following;

Centre Registration

Applications for registration as a new Examination centre shall be channelled through the District Education Board Secretary who will submit them to the Provincial Education Officer for onward transmission to Examinations Council of Zambia. The Head of the school / principal of the college is responsible for ensuring that the school/college is registered as an Examination Centre.

For Private Schools/Colleges, the application for Examination Centre status shall be accompanied by a copy of certificate of registration by MOESVTEE. The Examination centre status for Private schools/colleges is valid for a period of one year. Application for registration as a new centre shall reach the Examinations Council of Zambia not later than 30th June before the year in which the school/college intends to present candidates for Examinations.

Applications are made on prescribed forms. On the application forms, the requirements are listed and standards officers from the Districts and Province are responsible for centre inspection before recommendations are made

The duly signed application forms by the inspection team, the District Education Boards, Secretary and the Provincial Education Officer are submitted to the Examinations Council of Zambia for consideration and approval by respective Council Committees.

In the case of Grade 7 and Grade 9 the Junior Secondary and Primary Education Committee approves, while Grade 12/ General Certificate of Education (GCE),  the School Certificate Committee approves

Centres for Teacher Education Colleges are approved by the Teacher Education Committee. The response on whether a centre has been approved or not approved as an Examination centre is sent through the same channels i.e. ECZ to PEO and copies to the District Education Board Secretaries.  The centres are  communicated to by the Provincial Education Officer of the decision of the respective Committees.

Candidate Registration 

The Head of the school/principal of the college ensures that the number of candidates registered for Examinations is in line with the guidelines issued by the MESVTEE. The following are taken care of during candidate registration;

  • A pupil who is not enrolled in Grade 7 shall not be entered for Grade 7 Examination.
  • A pupil who is not enrolled in Grade 9 Examination shall not be entered for Grade 9 Examination except for external.
  • Candidates to be entered for Grade 12 Examination must have  Grade 9 certificate.
  • GCE candidates cannot be entered for more than Four subjects.
  • Only schools/centers registered as Examination centers shall present candidates for the Grades 7, 9, 12 and Teacher Education.
  • No late entries shall be allowed.
  • Candidates entered for Teacher Education College Examination should meet the minimum entry qualification of five O-levels as stipulated by the Ministry of Education, Science Vocational Training and Early Education.

Electronic Candidate Registration System (ECRS)

The Electronic Candidate Registration System was used to register candidates starting with Grade 12 in 2009.  The system was a success in 2009 and indeed it is now being used for registration at all levels(i.e. Grade 7,9,12 & T.T) . With the system teachers have been trained on how to use the system by registering candidates at the centre and produce provisional registers which are checked by the candidates before submitting to the Examinations Council of Zambia.  The entries are submitted on CDS together with Provisional Registers which have been consolidated from Districts and Provinces.

Once the CDs have been received at ECZ, the data is loaded by the IT Department. Then the EAD is given access to verify that all candidates with their subjects have been captured. This is part of Quality Assurance. CDs containing the loaded data are then sent to all Provincial Education Officers for information.  After entry statistics have been produced by the IT Department, they are used for ordering of Examination question papers and stationery.