WAEC GCE 2026 (First Series) Registration for Private Candidates Begins; The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the commencement of registration for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates – First Series.
The registration fee for the examination is N27,000, and registration will close by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, January 30, 2026. Candidates are advised to read all registration guidelines carefully to ensure a successful application.
Mode of Registration
Registration for the 2026 WAEC GCE First Series will be conducted online. After obtaining the Registration PIN, candidates are required to log on to:
The registration process includes biometric data capture, which will be used for candidate verification at examination centres.
Registration Period
- Normal registration deadline: Friday, January 30, 2026
Candidates are advised to complete their registration within this period to avoid late registration charges.
Registration Fee and Payment Details
Candidates are required to pay a registration fee of Twenty-Seven Thousand Naira (N27,000) only.
An additional bank/accredited agent commission of N500 will also be paid at the point of transaction.
Approved Banks for Payment
Candidates can obtain the Registration PIN from any branch of the following banks or accredited agents:
- Access Bank Plc
- Ecobank Plc
- Fidelity Bank Plc
- First Bank of Nigeria
- First City Monument Bank (FCMB)
- Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank)
- Heritage Bank
- Jaiz Bank
- Polaris Bank
- Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc
- Standard Chartered Bank Plc
- Sterling Bank Plc
- Union Bank of Nigeria Plc
- United Bank for Africa (UBA)
- Unity Bank Plc
- Wema Bank Plc
- Zenith Bank Plc
Cashless Payment Channels
Candidates may also procure registration tokens using credit or debit cards through approved cashless payment platforms, including:
Bancwize Limited, Bring Africa, Broadshift Technologies Ltd, Citiserve Ltd, Xpress Payment, Paga, Palmpay, Paycom, SystemSpecs Ltd, Interswitch, Coralpay, Etranzact, IQ Pay, Cyberspace Ltd, Fidelity Bank, Itex, Unified Payments, UBA, Capricorn Ltd, and Kudi.
Walk-In Candidates
Candidates who register after the normal registration deadline may be allowed to sit for the examination as Walk-In Candidates, provided they register at least 24 hours before the paper(s) they intend to write.
- Walk-In registration fee: N45,000
Candidates With Special Needs
Candidates with special needs are required to register online like other candidates but must clearly indicate their impairment, such as:
- Visual impairment
- Low vision
- Spastic condition
- Speech impairment
- Hearing impairment
This will enable WAEC to make adequate examination arrangements.
Where to Register
Candidates can purchase Registration PINs and complete registration at:
- Accredited banks
- Cyber cafés
- WAEC offices
- Official WAEC registration points nearest to them
Completion of Registration
- Candidates must complete registration within two weeks of first accessing the registration website
- Candidates must carefully verify their names, gender, date of birth, subjects, and passport photograph
- Candidates must print the Admission Notice, which serves as identification during the examination
- The Result Checker PIN will be included on the Admission Notice
- The approved fingerprint scanner is the UareU DigitalPersona fingerprint device
Examination Format and Mock Test
- The examination will be computer-based
- Objective papers will be fully CBT
- Essay and practical papers will be conducted in hybrid mode, where questions are displayed on screen and answers written in booklets
- An online mock examination will be organised for interested candidates
- The date and details of the mock exam will be communicated via SMS, email, and official platforms
Important General Information
- Registration fees are non-refundable
- Candidates should regularly check the website for the official examination timetable
- Passport photographs must be captured with a digital camera (Microsoft HD 3000 specification)
- Photographs must be clear, in JPEG format, 275 × 314 pixels, 72 dpi, with a contrasting background
- Defaced or poor-quality photographs will invalidate a candidate’s entry
- Candidates must study the WAEC Regulations and Syllabuses available on the WAEC portal
- Candidates must attend examinations in mufti; uniforms are not allowed
- Multiple centre registrations will lead to cancellation of results
- Smoking is prohibited in examination halls
- Possession of mobile phones or electronic gadgets will result in total cancellation of results
- WAEC will not entertain correction requests after submission
- Candidates must present their original Admission Notice at the examination venue
- Examination malpractice attracts cancellation of results and possible prosecution
- Candidates must provide valid email addresses and telephone numbers during registration
This announcement is intended to guide intending private candidates on the 2026 WAEC GCE First Series registration process and requirements.
