The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for private candidates.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Friday, 27 March 2026. According to the council, 32.72% of candidates scored at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.
Summary of the 2026 WAEC GCE Results
- WAEC explained that 10,523 candidates registered for the examination, while 10,480 candidates actually sat for the exam across the country.
- The council noted that this number is 11.49% higher than the 9,438 candidates who sat for the same exam in 2025.
- Out of the candidates who wrote the exam, 3,429 candidates (32.72%) obtained five credits or more, including English Language and Mathematics.
- WAEC also revealed that 4,598 candidates (43.87%) scored at least five credits, either with or without English Language and Mathematics.
Performance Compared With Previous Years
WAEC said the performance improved compared to recent years.
- 2025: 26.96% of candidates obtained five credits including English and Mathematics.
- 2024: 30.95% achieved the same result.
- 2026: 32.72% reached this level.
This shows an increase of 5.76% compared to 2025.
When and Where the Exam Was Held
The examination took place from 28 January to 14 February 2026 in 166 centres across Nigeria.
Marking of the scripts was done in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna by 608 examiners.
How to Check the WAEC GCE Result
Candidates who wrote the exam can check their results on the WAEC result-checking portal.
Steps to check the result:
- Visit the WAEC result checking portal.
- Enter your examination number.
- Select 2026 as the examination year.
- Choose PRIVATE CANDIDATES as the exam type.
- Enter your PIN and serial number.
- Click Submit to see your result.
Released Results and Pending Subjects
WAEC stated that 8,418 results (80.32%) have been fully released.
However, 2,062 candidates (19.68%) still have some subjects being processed. The council said the delay was caused by errors linked to the candidates during the exam process.
Results Withheld Over Examination Malpractice
The council also disclosed that 75 candidates (0.72%) had their results withheld because of suspected examination malpractice.
WAEC explained that these cases are still being investigated, and the final decision will be made by the council’s appropriate committee.
Gender Breakdown of Candidates
The statistics released by WAEC show that:
- 5,106 candidates (48.72%) were male
- 5,374 candidates (51.28%) were female
About WAEC and WASSCE
The West African Examinations Council is responsible for conducting standardised secondary school examinations in West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination is an important requirement for gaining admission into universities and other higher institutions in these countries.
WAEC has recently introduced computer-based exams for private candidates to help reduce exam malpractice and make result processing faster. Candidates can also access and verify their certificates online through WAEC’s digital system.
