There are three categories of officials: supervisors, invigilators and inspectors. Supervisors are teachers nominated by the various State Ministries of Education. They are actually responsible for conducting the exams at the various centres. It is their responsibility to collect question papers from the custodian and return answer scripts to the custodian centres.
Invigilators are usually teaching staff nominated by their school principals to assist the supervisors at the centres, while inspectors are WAEC staff members who go from one centre to another when the examination is in progress.
WAEC discourages direct communication with school candidates. School candidates are expected to send their complaints to WAEC through their school principals, while private candidates contact WAEC directly.
To cater for the needs of candidates and propective candidates alike, WAEC has created the following channels for candidate interaction;
- WAEC Konnect is a mini social media platform for recent WAEC candidates. Log on to https://waeckonnect.com
- For up-to-date practise questions visit our elearning platform here; http://e-learning.waecnigeria.com
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.
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.
A comprehensive list of offences is provided in Council's Regulations & Syllabuses.
- The following, among others, constitute examination malpractice:
- Candidates bringing books or cribs into the examination hall;
- Insulting or assaulting any examination official;
- Swapping of scripts in an examination hall;
- Replacing their answer scripts with another one during or after the examination;
- Impersonation;
- Taking part in mass or organised cheating in the exam hall;
- All other acts that contravene the rules governing the conduct of the 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:
- 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.
