WAEC Releases 2026 GCE Results for Private Candidates; The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on Friday, 27 March 2026. According to WAEC, 32.72% of candidates obtained at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, making it a key highlight of the result release.
WAEC GCE 2026 Result Summary
A total of 10,523 candidates registered for the examination, while 10,480 candidates sat for it across the country.
WAEC noted that this represents an 11.49% increase compared to the 9,438 candidates recorded in 2025.
Out of those who sat for the exam:
- 3,429 candidates (32.72%) obtained five credits, including English Language and Mathematics
- 4,598 candidates (43.87%) obtained five credits, with or without English Language and/or Mathematics
Performance Compared with Previous Years
WAEC reported an improvement in performance over recent years.
- 2024: 30.95%
- 2025: 26.96%
- 2026: 32.72%
This reflects a 5.76% increase compared to 2025.
When and Where the Exam Was Held
The examination was conducted between 28 January and 14 February 2026 across 166 centres nationwide.
Marking of scripts took place in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna, with a total of 608 examiners involved in the process.
How to Check WAEC GCE Results
Candidates who participated in the examination can check their results through the WAEC result checking portal.
Steps to Check the Result
- Visit the WAEC result checking portal
- Enter your examination number
- Select the examination year as 2026
- Choose the examination type as PRIVATE CANDIDATES
- Enter your PIN and serial number
- Click “Submit” to view your result
Released Results and Pending Subjects
WAEC disclosed that not all results have been fully processed.
- 8,418 results (80.32%) have been released in full
- 2,062 candidates (19.68%) still have some subjects being processed due to errors traceable to them
Withheld Results Over Alleged Malpractice
The council revealed that 75 candidates (0.72%) had their results withheld due to alleged examination malpractice.
WAEC stated that these cases are currently under investigation, and findings will be presented to the appropriate committee for final decisions.
Gender Breakdown of Candidates
The gender distribution of candidates is as follows:
- Male: 5,106 candidates (48.72%)
- Female: 5,374 candidates (51.28%)
About WAEC and WASSCE
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is a regional examination body responsible for conducting standardised secondary school examinations across West Africa, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia.
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) remains a key requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria and other member countries.
As part of ongoing reforms, WAEC has introduced computer-based examinations for private candidates to reduce malpractice and speed up result processing. The council also provides digital certificates, allowing candidates to access and verify their results online.
