First, a committee of experts draws up a marking guide. All appointed examiners are then thoroughly drilled in all aspects of the marking scheme in a simulated marking exercise called co-ordination. Actual marking does not start until the coordinating officers are satisfied that all examiners know what is required of them. Even when actual marking begins, the examiners are not left entirely on their own.

They are organised into small groups, each being supervised by a highly experienced examiner called a Team Leader. The Team Leader checks and vets the group members' marking progressively to ensure that they are keeping to the guidelines.

The Team Leaders themselves are supervised by more experienced examiners called Chief Examiners. When marking is finally completed, WAEC still goes ahead to employ another group of people called Checkers. The main role of Checkers is to ensure that all marks awarded by examiners are correctly recorded and transferred to the appropriate score sheets.

In the case of the school examination, the prospective candidate must be in the SS 3 class in a recognized school, For the private candidates' examination, any one of the following categories may enter for the WASSCE:

1. Those who have attempted the WASSCE in previous years;
2. Those who have attempted the GCE and obtained a pass in at least three subjects;
3. Those who have passed the Teachers’ Grade two examination.

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:

1. English Language
2. 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.

School candidates collect their certificates from their schools while private candidates obtain theirs directly from WAEC.

WAEC certificates have no expiry date.