In a landmark shift for Nigeria’s education sector, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the commencement of the first-ever Computer-Based Test (CBT) version of the WASSCE for school candidates, starting Thursday, 24 April, to Friday, 20 June 2025.
This historic rollout follows the successful pilot for private candidates in 2024, which saw 8,285 participants. Now, 1,973,253 candidates from 23,554 schools across Nigeria are set to participate in the digital examination, with a nearly equal gender split: 979,228 males (49.63%) and 994,025 females (50.37%), a testament to the rising female participation in education.
The exam will cover 74 subjects and 196 papers, and over 26,000 senior secondary teachers will be deployed nationwide as supervisors.
According to WAEC’s Head of National Office, Mr. Amos Dangut, the adoption of CBT is a move to enhance exam integrity and reduce malpractice. Each candidate will receive uniquely pre-printed papers to prevent cheating, with varied question sets even within the same exam code.
Crackdown on Cheating
WAEC has already revoked the licenses of 574 schools implicated in exam malpractice. Candidates have been warned against attempting to write papers not assigned to them and from patronizing rogue websites.
Security and Support
WAEC is collaborating with the Nigerian Police and state authorities to ensure secure exam environments. To help students adapt, WAEC has launched digital tools such as:
WAEC E-Study Portal
WAEC E-Learning Portal
These provide access to past questions, marking guides, and exam tips.
Results and Certificates
WAEC promises to release results within 45 days post-exams and make digital certificates available in 90 days through the WAEC Digital Certificate Platform.
Mr. Dangut reaffirmed WAEC’s commitment to a credible, secure, and student-friendly examination process in line with Nigeria’s National Policy on Education.