The release of the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) results brought celebratory news, spotlighting Mariam Yenie Bangura of Providence International School in Freetown as the nation’s top student.

Mariam achieved the best aggregate score, a remarkable seven (7), demonstrating exceptional performance across her subjects.

The aggregate score is calculated by summing the grades of the four core subjects plus the best elective and best optional subject, making a score of seven the closest possible result to a perfect average.

Mariam was closely followed by Aminata B. C. C. of St. Joseph’s Secondary School in Makeni, who was among eight candidates nationwide to achieve an aggregate score of eight.

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Aminata was ranked second overall due to her superior average grade—a metric considered by the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSC) to be a better measure of a candidate’s overall quality, as it is based on all eight subjects taken.

The top candidates underscored a continuing trend of female academic excellence. Not only was Mariam Yenie Bangura the top performer, but 10 out of the 16 best candidates were female, reinforcing the success of girls in the country’s basic education system.

The stellar results from the top students contributed to an overall strong performance for the nation, with the 2025 BECE recording a 94% pass rate for entry into Senior Secondary School (SSS).

This achievement is considered the second-highest pass rate since the examination’s inception. MBSC leadership congratulated Mamma Yearly Bangura and all excelling students, citing their hard work as a key factor in the high national pass rate.