The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released provisional results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, Second Series, while withholding the results of more than 800 candidates over suspected examination malpractice.
According to a press statement issued on February 26, 2026, a total of 41,767 candidates participated in the examination. The figure included 20,036 males and 24,501 females, as well as 16 visually impaired and seven hearing-impaired candidates. WAEC also disclosed that 2,422 registered candidates were absent from the examination.
The Council stated that it has withheld the entire results of 348 candidates, while the subject results of 469 others have also been suspended pending investigations into alleged examination irregularities.
WAEC cited offences such as collusion, impersonation, possession of unauthorized materials in examination halls, and seeking external assistance during the examinations as reasons for the action. The Council emphasized that the withheld results will either be released or cancelled depending on the outcome of ongoing investigations.
Affected candidates have been advised to check their result status through WAEC’s irregularities portal, where details of the alleged violations and required follow-up procedures have been provided.
An analysis of performance in the four core subjects showed mixed results. In English Language, 67.43 percent of candidates achieved grades A1 to C6, while 11.04 percent recorded F9.
In Core Mathematics, 49.84 percent of candidates passed, whereas 27.69 percent failed. Integrated Science recorded relatively weaker performance, with 35 percent passing and 32 percent failing.
Social Studies recorded the best performance, with 81.21 percent of candidates obtaining grades A1 to C6, while 10.42 percent failed.
WAEC also warned the public to be cautious of fraudsters who attempt to exploit candidates during the results release period. The Council warned that individuals claiming they can upgrade results for a fee, often payable via mobile money transfers, should be ignored.
The Council reassured the public that its results database remains secure. Candidates can verify their results through the official WAEC website, while educational institutions have been urged to rely on WAEC’s verification platform to authenticate certificates presented to them.
