The Council usually advertises entry periods and entry procedures in national newspapers. In respect of the WASSCE for example, the Council conducts two exams each year; the first in May/June for school candidates and the second in October/November for private candidates.

Registration for either May/June or the November/December WASSCE is done through the Internet (online). The May/June exam is for school candidates 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-www.waeconline.org.ng. 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 scratch cards, one for the online registration and the other for the online checking of results.

Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of nine (9) subjects. These must include the following :

• English Language
• Mathematics
• At least one Nigerian Language (see footnote)
• At least one of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
• At least one of Literature-in-English, History and Geography.
• Agricultural Science or at least one vocational subject.

These are the core subjects. In addition to the above, every student must offer any three of the underlisted subjects not already offered as core subjects: Biology, Economics, Physics, Book-Keeping, Chemistry, Typewriting, Further Mathematics, Shorthand, Commerce, History, Geography, Literature-in-English, Agricultural Science, Woodwork, Health Science, Auto-Mechanics, Building Construction, Music, Clothing and Textiles, Art, Christian Religious Knowledge, French, Islamic Studies, Physical Education, Arabic Studies, Government, Metal Work, Applied Electricity, Electronics, Foods and Nutrition, Technical Drawing Home Management.

NOTE: The Federal Ministry of Education has given a waiver in respect of Nigerian Languages during the 2003 examination. This implies that candidates' entries are valid with or without a Nigerian language for the period of the waiver.

Results are partially released due to queries arising from one or a combination of the following mistakes:

• Wrong transfer of examination numbers in one or more papers;
• Failure to shade examination numbers;
• Shading objective sheets with biro pens instead of pencil;
• Mistakes in entries leading to duplication of subjects.

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. Accreditation is carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education alone.

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.