GCE 2026: Overall Performance Rate Drops by 7.58%

GCE 2026: Overall Performance Rate Drops by 7.58%

The overall performance rate in the 2026 General Certificate of Education (GCE) examinations has declined, with the national success rate falling by 7.58 percentage points compared with 2025.

The results were officially released on Friday, 21 August 2026, by the Minister of Secondary Education, Prof Pauline Nalova Lyonga.

A total of 208,741 candidates registered for the examinations across the four examination streams. Of these, 196,579 candidates sat the examinations, while 133,429 passed, representing an overall success rate of 67.88 per cent, down from 75.46 per cent in 2025.

Both GCE Advanced Level and GCE Ordinary Level recorded declines in performance, while the Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVEE) stream recorded significant improvements.

The decline was particularly pronounced at the GCE Advanced Level.

Of the 70,739 candidates registered, 69,947 sat the examinations and 43,211 passed, giving a success rate of 61.78 per cent, compared with 79.39 per cent in 2025 — a drop of 17.60 percentage points.

At the GCE Ordinary Level, 98,040 candidates registered, 88,053 sat and 65,539 passed, representing a 74.43 per cent success rate, down from 78.57 per cent in 2025.

GCE Board Publication

In addition to the Minister’s statement, a press communique released from the GCE Board’s headquarters in Buea by the Transition Management Team (TMT), comprising Mrs Ndi Bernadette Frinwie Ntemna, Mr Shutang Jonathan Nimumingo and Mrs Evelyn Mesame Ngole, brings to a close a highly monitored and rigorous examination session.

Candidates across the national territory can now consult their performance profiles at their respective registration centres, tune in to official radio broadcasts, or access the centre-by-centre results published on the GCE Board\'s official portal.

Technical Education Records Improvement

While the general GCE streams recorded declines, performance improved in technical and vocational education.

The TVEE Intermediate Level recorded a 60.50 per cent pass rate, up from 52.10 per cent in 2025, representing an increase of 8.39 percentage points.

At the TVEE Advanced Level, the success rate rose to 72.89 per cent, compared with 71.19 per cent in 2025, representing a 1.70 percentage-point increase.

The figures also showed variations across the general and technical streams. The Advanced Level Technical examinations recorded an 89.34 per cent pass rate, while the Advanced Level General stream stood at 78.36 per cent.

At the Ordinary Level, the Technical stream recorded 67.34 per cent, compared with 62.15 per cent for the General stream.

Honour Rolls

Despite the overall decline, several candidates recorded exceptional performances.

The GCE Board’s Official Honour Roll reveals that 194 candidates achieved the maximum possible score of 33 points, equivalent to 11 Grade A passes, at the GCE Ordinary Level.

At the GCE Advanced Level, 114 candidates nationwide achieved the top score of 25 points, equivalent to five Grade A passes.

Prominent institutions producing top achievers include Saint Benedict College, Mvolyé Yaoundé; Sacred Heart College, Mankon, Bamenda; Du Vaal Bilingual Comprehensive College, Douala; Ladybird English Secondary School, Yaounde; Laval Bilingual College Makepe, Douala; Saker Baptist College, Limbe; and Saint Stephen\'s International College, Yaounde.

Additionally, 32 examination centres registering at least 10 candidates achieved a 100 per cent pass rate at the Advanced Level.

They were led by Saker Baptist College, Limbe, with 126 candidates sitting; Jesus and Marie College Simbock, Yaounde, with 94 candidates; and Sacred Heart College Mankon, Bamenda, with 93 candidates.

National Performance Overview

A total of 208,741 candidates registered for the 2026 session across all four examination subsystems: GCE Ordinary Level, GCE Advanced Level, TVEE Intermediate Level and TVEE Advanced Level.

Out of the 196,579 candidates who sat the examinations, 133,429 passed, yielding an overall global success rate of 67.88 per cent. This represents a 7.58 percentage-point drop compared with the 75.46 per cent global pass rate recorded in 2025.

The comparative statistical breakdown across all sub-systems highlights contrasting performance trajectories between general and technical education.

GCE Ordinary Level

Some 98,040 candidates registered, of whom 88,053 sat and 65,539 passed, resulting in a 74.43 per cent pass rate — a 4.13 percentage-point decrease from 78.57 per cent in 2025.

GCE Advanced Level

A total of 70,739 candidates registered, with 69,947 sitting and 43,211 passing, achieving a 61.78 per cent pass rate — a steep decline of 17.60 percentage points from 79.39 per cent in 2025.

TVEE Intermediate Level

Registered were 29,054 candidates, with 27,775 sitting and 16,804 passing, giving a 60.50 per cent pass rate — an 8.39 percentage-point surge from 52.10 per cent in 2025.

TVEE Advanced Level

Registered were 10,908 candidates, with 10,804 sitting and 7,875 passing. This yielded a 72.89 per cent pass rate — a 1.70 percentage-point rise from 71.19 per cent in 2025.

School Versus External Candidates

Regular school candidates maintained a major lead over external applicants across all examination streams.

Overall, regular school candidates registered a 73.76 per cent pass rate, with 109,091 passing out of 147,892 who sat.

In contrast, external candidates recorded a 49.40 per cent pass rate in general education, with 18,543 passing out of 37,533 who sat, and 51.95 per cent in technical education.

External candidates at the GCE Advanced Level recorded the lowest success rate, standing at 42.55 per cent.

Institutional Classification

Institutional classification at the GCE Ordinary Level saw denominational schools leading nationwide with a 91.25 per cent success rate, with 7,081 passes out of 7,760 candidates who sat.

Non-denominational private institutions followed with 81.22 per cent, with 26,555 passes out of 32,694 candidates who sat.

Public Government secondary schools recorded 71.91 per cent, with 22,218 passes out of 30,896 candidates who sat.

At the GCE Advanced Level, denominational schools again topped institutional performance with an 86.06 per cent success rate, followed by Government schools at 68.97 per cent and non-denominational private schools at 67.42 per cent.

Regional Leaderboards

Performance rankings varied across regions depending on the examination level.

In the GCE Ordinary Level Regional Chart, the Centre Region claimed first place nationwide with a 78.95 per cent pass rate, with 17,375 passes out of 22,007 candidates who sat.

It was followed by Littoral (78.30 per cent), West (74.99 per cent), North-West (74.79 per cent), South-West (69.54 per cent), East (68.70 per cent), Adamawa (66.94 per cent), South (64.47 per cent), Far North (52.47 per cent) and North (47.63 per cent).

In the GCE Advanced Level Regional Chart, the South-West Region clinched the top position nationwide with a 64.98 per cent pass rate, with 9,157 passes out of 14,093 candidates who sat.

It was followed by West (64.27 per cent), North-West (64.11 per cent), Adamawa (63.00 per cent), Centre (61.80 per cent), Littoral (58.98 per cent), South (55.47 per cent), East (53.81 per cent), North (49.19 per cent) and Far North (45.88 per cent).

Under the TVEE Regional Leaderboard, the North Region led the Intermediate TVE level with a 92.00 per cent pass rate, while the West Region led the Advanced TVE level with 76.79 per cent.

Divisional Leaderboards

At the administrative division level, Manyu Division in the South-West Region achieved the highest pass rate nationwide at the Ordinary Level, with 90.10 per cent.

Koung-Khi Division in the West Region topped the Advanced Level chart with an 88.89 per cent success rate.

Subject Mastery

Subject-by-subject statistics at the Ordinary Level were led by Logic (91.06 per cent), Special Bilingual Education French (89.65 per cent), Food and Nutrition Studies (87.26 per cent) and Geography (78.36 per cent).

Core compulsory subjects and the remaining subject-by-subject performance statistics were contained in the official GCE Board results.

Mixed Performance

The sharp decline in Advanced Level performance has been linked, in part, to disruptions caused by leaked examination questions and the subsequent rewriting of affected papers.

The 2026 results have consequently presented a mixed picture, with significant declines in the general GCE streams but improved performances in technical and vocational education.

Students, parents and schools across the country are now assessing the outcome of this year’s examinations, as successful candidates prepare to pursue further studies and professional opportunities.

 

By Lasha Kingsly