WAEC examiners are mostly graduate teachers in secondary schools, and some lecturers in colleges of education, universities and polytechnics. A prospective examiner must be a graduate in the subject he is appointed to mark. In addition, he must have a minimum of two years of classroom teaching experience and must be recommended by the principal of the school in which he teaches.
No. Instead it issues statements of result to the owners of lost certificates or, when necessary, confirms their results for a fee.
WAEC also issue attestation of result document for damaged and lost certificates.
Results are cancelled when candidates are found guilty of examination malpractice.
Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of eight (8) and maximum of nine (9) subjects. These must include the following:
- English Language
- General Mathematics
- *Citizenship and Heritage Studies Education
- *Digital Technologies
These are the core subjects. In addition to the above, all candidates must complete their registered subjects from the listed below:
Science: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Agriculture, Further Mathematics, Physical Education, Health Education, Foods & Nutrition, Geography, Technical Drawing
Humanities: Nigerian History, Government, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, One Nigerian Language (Hausa/Igbo/Yoruba), French, Arabic, Visual Art, Music, Literature-in-English, Home Management, Catering Craft
Business: Accounting, Commerce, Marketing, Economics
Trade Subjects: Fashion Design and Garment Making, Livestock Farming, Beauty and Cosmetology, Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs, Solar Photovoltaic installation and maintenance, Horticulture and Crop Production.
Note: *Citizenship and Heritage Studies, and Digital Technologies are new subjects that require the development of new curricula and examination syllabuses and would therefore not be examined until 2028 (after a full implementation of the syllabus).
Candidates registering for WASSCE in 2026 and 2027 would only be able to sit two (2) core subjects, namely:
- English Language
- General Mathematics
In addition to the two (2) core subjects currently available, candidates are to select six or seven other subjects to make a minimum of eight subjects and a maximum of nine subjects.
The Council usually advertises entry periods and entry procedures in national newspapers. In respect of the WASSCE for example, the Council conducts three exams each year; the first in February for private candidates, the second in May/June for school candidates and the third in November/December also for private candidates.
Registration for either School candidates' or the Private candidates' WASSCE is done online. The School candidate's exam is for candidates registered with a school and all entry formalities are undertaken by the schools presenting candidates.
In the case of the private candidates' examination, entry is on an individual basis. A prospective candidate purchases the entry scratch card which enables him/her to complete the entry form on the Council's registration website. A registered candidate subsequently prints out from the website the identification photo card, which contains vital information about the candidate's centre name, location, number and the subjects entered for. The examination timetable and subject syllabuses are also made available to prospective candidates on the website.
It is important to note that once the prescribed fee is paid to the accredited selling agent, a prospective candidate obtains two PINs, one for the online registration and the other for the online checking of results.
Candidates can collect their certificates from WAEC Zonal and Branch offices in charge of the state where they sat for the examination.
A Private candidate sends his/her request for an amendment to WAEC directly, while in the case of a school candidate it is the principal who makes the request. In the two instances, the original copy of the certificate should be sent along with the application for amendment. WAEC charges a fee for the amendment where it is discovered that the error emanated from the candidate, otherwise, it is free.
Yes. Reports about functionaries who are teachers are made to the various State Ministries of Education and All Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) for disciplinary measures. Such functionaries have been disciplined in the past. WAEC has its own procedures for disciplining erring inspectors.
