WAEC: 56,000 candidates register for 2026 private WASSCE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says no fewer than 56,000 candidates registered for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates (Second Series).

The Head of WAEC National Office, Suleiman Kum, disclosed this during an inspection of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) English Language examination in Lagos on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

Kum said the registered candidates included about 272 walk-in candidates who enrolled to remedy individual subjects.

Kum revealed that Lagos State recorded more than 22,000 candidates, including about 50 walk-in candidates sitting for the examination.

The WAEC official said the adoption of CBT was enabling to curb examination malpractices, strengthen the credibility of the exercise and promote transparency.

He added that WAEC introduced CBT in 2024 and had continued to improve the process to strengthen examination security and reduce malpractice.

“We have discovered that Computer-Based Test, popularly known as CBT, is truly the best way to conduct examinations because malpractice is drastically reduced,” Kum said.

Kum said candidates were thoroughly searched before entering examination halls, to prevent prohibited materials from being taken inside and safeguard the integrity of the exercise.

“We do not set traps for candidates; we want to prevent malpractice by ensuring they enter the examination hall without unauthorised materials,” Kum said.

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Kum said WAEC would continue to adopt innovations to improve examination administration and sustain its reputation for integrity.

“WAEC will continue to improve to ensure that it remains the benchmark for examination integrity and innovation in Nigeria,” Kum said.

He advised candidates to study diligently, practise WAEC past questions and marking schemes, and read chief examiners’ reports to improve their performance.

“The chief examiners’ reports show candidates’ weaknesses, strengths and how they should answer questions, which can greatly improve their performance,” he said.