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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that a total of 1,973,253 candidates will be sitting for its first-ever Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for school candidates, scheduled to commence nationwide on Thursday, April 24, and end Friday, June 20, 2025.
This revelation was made by the Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, during a press conference at the WAEC headquarters in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday.
A Historic Shift in WAEC Exams
Describing the development as a “paradigm shift in test administration techniques,” Dangut explained that the CB-WASSCE marks a bold and transformative step in WAEC’s effort to modernize examination delivery, reduce malpractice, and improve overall transparency in Nigeria’s educational assessment system.
“The Council has introduced its maiden Computer-Based WASSCE for School Candidates in 2025,” Dangut said. “We are proud to note that this will be the first time in WAEC history that such a large-scale computer-based examination is conducted for secondary school candidates.”
According to the statistics shared, the 2025 registration figure saw an increase of over 158,000 candidates compared to the previous year’s enrolment numbers. Interestingly, female candidates once again outnumbered males, with 994,025 females (50.37%) and 979,228 males (49.63%) registered from 23,554 secondary schools across the country.
Questions Now Personalized for Every Candidate
In a major overhaul of its examination model, Dangut disclosed that no two candidates would receive exactly the same set of questions for any paper, even when seated side by side.
“It will interest you to know that from this year, two candidates will not have the same set of questions per paper. This innovation is part of our strategy to uphold academic integrity and eliminate answer sharing in exam halls,” he explained.
The examination will cover 74 subjects, broken down into 196 individual papers, and will be supervised by over 26,000 senior secondary school teachers who have been deployed nationwide to ensure smooth operations.
Results in 45 Days, Certificates in 90 Days
WAEC also gave an assurance that candidates’ results would be released within 45 days of the conclusion of the final paper, with certificates available within 90 days. Furthermore, candidates will be able to access digital copies of their certificates through the WAEC Digital Certificate platform.
“We are committed to improving efficiency in service delivery. The results will be released 45 days after the last paper, and digital certificates will be available for download soon after,” Dangut confirmed.
Combating Malpractice: Preprinted Paper Assignments
Speaking firmly on the issue of examination malpractice, the WAEC chief warned candidates to stay away from any dishonest practices. He noted that each candidate’s paper variation is preprinted, making impersonation and substitution extremely difficult.
“Any candidate who attempts to write a paper that is different from the one pre-assigned to them will be penalized. We urge candidates and schools to strictly adhere to the rules,” he warned.
He urged school principals, teachers, and guardians to play their part in educating students about the dangers of examination malpractice, referring to it as a “terrible crime against humanity.”
“School principals and teachers should sensitise their students to the dangers of this terrible crime. Parents and stakeholders must also discourage their children from seeking shortcuts. A word is enough for the wise,” he stated.
Digital Support for Candidates
In addition to these measures, WAEC has introduced several digital platforms to aid exam preparation and candidate engagement:
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WAEC E-Study Portal – Offers access to past questions, marking schemes, and structured learning plans.
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WAEC E-Learning Portal – Provides performance analysis and helps address common academic challenges.
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WAEC Konnect – A direct communication platform between WAEC and candidates for updates and exam support.
Furthermore, the council has compiled Past Question Papers and Chief Examiners’ Reports for major subjects to provide insight into examiner expectations and common candidate mistakes.
Warning to Rogue Website Operators
In a strong rebuke to those operating rogue exam websites, Dangut described them as a threat to the future of Nigerian students, urging parents to stop patronizing these illegal operations.
“Parents are hereby cautioned to desist from patronising these evildoers who are hell-bent on frustrating the efforts of WAEC. We shall continue to work with the Nigerian Police Force to track and prosecute offenders,” he said.
Addressing Security Concerns
Dangut acknowledged that WAEC had in the past faced challenges conducting exams in certain conflict-prone areas, but assured Nigerians that improved collaboration with security agencies and state governments has significantly reduced disruptions.
“Conducting examinations in such situations has been challenging but surmountable,” he noted. “The Council has continued to partner with the Nigeria Police Force and various state governments to guarantee a hitch-free conduct of the examination.”
As the first computer-based SSCE for school candidates draws near, WAEC’s leadership says it is confident that the innovations introduced this year will transform Nigeria’s assessment landscape while ensuring fairness, integrity, and efficiency.
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