33% pass with 5 credits in WAEC CB-WASSCE

By Gabriel Dike

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on Friday released the results of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates, 2026 first series, with only 33 per cent of candidates obtaining five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

WAEC, in a statement signed by the Acting Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Moyosola Adesina, said 10,480 candidates sat the examination at 166 centres spread across the country.

She said the examination took place between Wednesday, January 28, and Saturday, February 14, 2026, while the coordination of examiners and marking of answer scripts were carried out at three venues in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna, involving 608 examiners.

The spokesperson of the council said 10,523 candidates, representing an 11.49 per cent increase compared to the 2025 entry figure of 9,438, enrolled for the examination, while 10,480 eventually sat for it in 166 centres.

Among the candidates who sat the examination, 43, with varying degrees of special needs, registered. Of this number, 11 were visually impaired, four had impaired hearing, and four were albinos.

The council stressed that candidates with special needs were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.

She said, “Of the total number of 10,480 candidates that sat the examination, 5,106 were males, while 5,374 were females, representing 48.72% and 51.28%, respectively.

Adesina explained that out of 10,480 candidates, 8,418, representing 80.32 per cent, have had their results fully processed and released, while 2,062 candidates, representing 19.68 per cent, have some of their subjects still being processed due to errors traceable to them.

The council noted that efforts are being made to complete the processing promptly to enable affected candidates to have their results fully released.

Analysis of candidates’ performance showed that out of 10,480 candidates who sat the examination, 4,598, representing 43.87 per cent, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics).

According to her, 3,429 candidates, representing 32.72 per cent, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

She disclosed that of this number, 1,847 (53.86 per cent) were male candidates, while 1,582 (46.14 per cent) were female candidates.

She noted that the percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for private candidates, 2024 and 2025 first series—those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics—were 30.95 per cent and 26.96 per cent, respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 5.76 per cent in performance.

The council further revealed that 75 candidates’ results, representing 0.72 per cent of the total number, are being withheld in connection with reported cases of examination malpractice.

“The cases are being investigated, and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates thereafter.

Candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with the results. Candidates will be required to apply for the printing of the hard copies of their certificates online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal (e-Certman). The portal address is https://certrequest.waec.ng/,” she stated.

WAEC advised candidates who sat the examination to check their results and take necessary actions as required.

The council congratulated all candidates who worked hard and achieved good results. It also appreciated governments at all levels, security agencies, ministries of education, staff, supervisors, invigilators, custodians, examiners, and other ad hoc personnel who, despite all odds, contributed to the successful conduct of the examination and marking of scripts.

Adesina said the cooperation of stakeholders is a testament to their dedication and hard work.