This study aimed to explore the challenges facing secondary schools in students’ national examination performance at Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region, Tanzania. The research was guided by three objectives; to explore the challenges facing secondary school in students’ national examination performance, to determine the efforts that schools and students should take to improve students’ Performance in National examination and to determine the intervention measures of addressing the challenges. The study employed a mixed research method with descriptive survey design. A sample size of 160 participants was involved. A total of 50 teachers were interviewed and 110 students were involved in questionnaire part. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used to analyze quantitative data while descriptive analysis was used for qualitative data. Pilot study was conducted to ensure validity and reliability of the instrument and the instrument was valid and reliable for the study. The study found that, most schools are faced with; shortage of teachers, inadequate teaching and learning facilities, financial constraints, poor infrastructure, truancy, language problem among students, irrelevant textbooks, lack of dormitories, lack of teachers’ houses. Also the study found different suggested efforts on improving students’ national examination performance which include; weekly and monthly tests, remedial class program, temporary dormitories, coverage of syllabus on time. Also the study found the following suggestions on addressing the challenges; improving school infrastructure, providing enough funds on time, increasing and providing relevant text books, increasing cooperation with teachers and parents providing basic needs to their children. Finally the study conclude that, effective teaching and learning largely depend on a friendly and conducive environment such as good infrastructure including laboratories, library, dormitories, and availability of teaching and learning facilities.