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.

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 does not prepare candidates for its examinations by establishing secondary schools or tutorial centres, and no such institutions are affiliated to the Council.

WAEC provides feedback in the form of Chief Examiners' Report on candidates' perofrmance in the various papers for each examination diet, which helps schools and private candidates to prepare adequately for subsequent examinations. The Chief Examiners' Reports are avialable for sale at the Council's offices nationwide.

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.

No. The marking of scripts is handled by examiners appointed by WAEC. They are usually educationists who are familiar with the classroom situation and their identities are not supposed to be disclosed.

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.