Will WASSCE Be Written As A CBT? Here’s What You Should Know

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced that approximately 1.97 million candidates are set to participate in Nigeria’s inaugural Computer-Based Test (CBT) version of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

This development signifies a substantial progression from its initial rollout for private candidates in 2024, during which 8,285 individuals took part in the first series of the computer-based examination.

Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, shared this information during a press briefing held at the council’s national office in Yaba, Lagos, on Thursday.

Mr. Dangut stated that the first edition of the CBT WASSCE is scheduled to take place between Thursday, April 24, and Friday, June 20, across various centers nationwide. He disclosed that the examination will encompass 1,973,253 students from 23,554 schools across the country. Among these candidates, 979,228 are male (49.63 percent), while 994,025 are female (50.37 percent), reflecting a continuous increase in female participation.

The examination will cover 74 subjects and 196 papers, with the involvement of over 26,000 senior secondary school teachers serving as supervisors nationwide.

What WAEC Is Saying About WASSCE 2025

WAEC Nigeria has implemented measures aimed at curbing examination malpractice in the upcoming May/June 2025 WASSCE.
During a news conference on Thursday, Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, stated:
“From this year, two candidates will not have the same questions on each number. We have adopted this innovation for some of the WASSCE codes.
“Any candidate who chooses to write a paper other than the one assigned to him or her will be doing himself/herself a disservice and will bear the attendant consequences,” he said.

Dr. Dangut mentioned that the council has also introduced its inaugural Computer-Based WASSCE (CB-WASSCE) for School Candidates, highlighting that this initiative is part of a broader transformation in the education sector.
He emphasized that, for now, the CB-WASSCE remains optional.

According to Dr. Dangut, the variations in candidates’ papers for the CB-WASSCE 2025 have been pre-printed based on their registration details. This strategy is also aimed at addressing the issue of examination malpractice.

“The CB-WASSCE 2025 is thrown open, so schools that are ready will be given the opportunity to choose between traditional pen and paper examinations or the newly introduced CB-WASSCE in the forthcoming WAEC.
“The adoption of these current test administration techniques is geared towards upholding the academic and moral integrity of the National Policy on Education and is in line with the vision of the Federal Ministry of Education.”

Dr. Dangut also urged parents to refrain from engaging with unauthorized website operators, warning that WAEC will not tolerate such activities during the examination period.
He announced that the council will collaborate with the Nigerian Police Force to prosecute offenders, ensuring that there will be no refuge for them.
Furthermore, he noted that resources have been provided for WASSCE Core Subjects, Arts Subjects, Science Subjects, and Commercial Subjects to assist candidates in their preparation.

“WAEC E-Study Portal is the approved exams preparatory platform, designed for candidates preparing to sit the WASSCE. This enables schools, teachers and students to access past WASSCE questions (multiple-choice or theory-based), learning plans, marking schemes and performance insights.
“Candidates should visit waec.estudy.ng to access the portal. WAEC has made available, via its e-learning portal, resources that will equip candidates’ with the requirements and expectations needed to write and pass their examinations.”

Those Who Won’t Participate in WASSCE 2025 and Why

WAEC Nigeria has withdrawn the licenses of 574 schools found culpable of examination malpractices. These institutions will be barred from conducting examinations as the 2025 WASSCE commences on Thursday, April 24, 2025.
Dr. Amos Dangut, Head of WAEC’s National Office, revealed this during a press briefing on Thursday at the examination body’s headquarters in Lagos.
He stated that WAEC has submitted the list of the affected schools to the federal government.

“This year, we have shared with them a total of 574 schools that have their recognition withdrawn and that is also going to be the same for all examining bodies.
“So, these are those that have got their license revoked as far as the examination centre is concerned. So we will not conduct examinations there. We don’t know them as far as conducting examinations,” Dangut said.

The Shift to CBT in WASSCE: Has It Been Effective?

WAEC commenced its transition to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) with the WASSCE for Private Candidates in the 2024 First Series. This inaugural examination was conducted from January 31 to February 17, 2024, across 140 CBT centres nationwide, with 8,285 candidates participating.
The examination employed a hybrid format: multiple-choice questions were answered directly on computers, while essay and practical sections were presented on-screen, with candidates writing their responses in provided answer booklets.
The results indicated a significant improvement in examination integrity, with only 0.80% of results withheld due to malpractice, a notable decrease from previous years. This successful implementation demonstrated the effectiveness of CBT in enhancing the examination process.

Building on this success, WAEC expanded the CBT option to the WASSCE for School Candidates in 2025, allowing schools equipped for CBT to opt for this mode. This move aligns with global best practices and reflects WAEC’s commitment to modernizing examination administration.