Local doctor, Dr Misheck Ruwende, has some advice for 2025 ZIMSEC O-Level candidates, whose results were released yesterday. Dr Ruwende shared on social media:

‘O’ level results out, tsamba kuvanin’ina nevabereki.

. Munin’ina, you are now at the point of choosing the career path you may have to follow for life, choose wisely, don’t rush, ask around especially to those already in your area of interest.

. You only need 3 subjects to secure your degree of choice at university be it Lawyer, doctor, engineer, accountant etc

. Don’t be over-excited, do not succumb to peer pressure to be going for more than 3 subjects, those extras don’t really matter, i did 4 ,never used the fourth one, Further Mathematics.

. The general advice from our circles is that you go for more 3 subjects to get a scholarship, well that may disappoint you, it used to work when a few would pass with more than 3. Do not go for more than 3 subjects sorely in anticipation of a scholarship.

. When you decide more than 3, be sure the first 3 you will secure your 3As- difficult to tell but your teachers can assist you, not your relatives. Also consider your school, you are likely to excel in those top (academic) schools- they “nurture your nature”, i was at St Faith Boys, scoring 3As plus was easier- the school invested in academics for decades.

. Choose the best school you can get for A level, the best you can with your results and finances, some schools do so well at O but not at A level, study the previous years trend, the information is available on internet

. When you have passed all the subjects, choose the 3 that you didn’t put much effort to pass and that which you really enjoyed, i chose Biology over Physics because i didn’t put much effort in Biology, although I had an A in Physics and B in Biology.

. You won’t go wrong with traditional combinations eg, Mathematics Biology Chemistry or Mathematics Physics Chemistry, those fancy ones- avoid.

. Parents don’t dictate your own subjects to the child, because person A in neighborhood is a successful engineer does not mean your child will equally be successful if he or she goes for subjects which leads to engineering. Just provide guidance, exposure and as much fair information as possible. His/her ‘O’ level teachers can give the best advice in terms of which subjects could be best kumwana.

. Stick to one specialty, Sciences, commercials, arts, don’t mix, e.g mixing Mathematics, Biology, Accounts these are considered 2 subjects in most degrees, when you come to university not 3 meaning if you get all 3As that will be 10 points not 15,

. If a good combination is not coming up you have 2 great options:

Either 1)To repeat, work harder this time, correct your mistakes, if you fail again don’t waste time, just avoid getting married or having a child then go to option 2

Or 2)

i) Go to the polytechnic

ii) Apprenticeship

iii) Teachers college – diploma

iv) Registered general nurse- diploma, Primary Care Nurse-certificate, 3 intakes per year

v) Police, prisons, army, among other civil servants. You can still advance to a degree from the 5 options.