The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE), revealing that 1,200,514 candidates obtained the minimum benchmark of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics—the academic requirement for admission into most Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The figure represents 61.54 percent of candidates whose results have been processed, marking a 1.42 percentage-point decline compared to the 2025 examination performance.
The announcement was made on Wednesday in Lagos by the Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, during the official presentation of the examination results.
While the overall performance remains above the 60-percent threshold, the latest statistics raise questions about the persistent challenges facing Nigeria’s secondary education system despite significant investments in digital examination technologies aimed at improving assessment credibility and reducing examination malpractice.
Nearly Two Million Candidates Registered Across Four Countries
According to WAEC, 1,959,668 candidates from 24,207 secondary schools spread across Nigeria, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire and Equatorial Guinea registered for the 2026 school examination.
Out of the registered candidates, 1,950,726 eventually sat for the examination conducted between April 24 and June 19, 2026, representing one of the largest examination exercises coordinated by the Council in recent years.
WAEC disclosed that 1,687,378 candidates, representing 86.50 percent, earned credits in at least five subjects irrespective of English Language and Mathematics.
However, when the compulsory subjects were included, the number dropped to 1,200,514 candidates, underlining the continued importance of English and Mathematics as the decisive factors for university admission eligibility.
Female Candidates Outperform Male Counterparts
An analysis of the released statistics indicates that female candidates maintained a stronger performance than their male counterparts.
Among candidates who secured five credits including English and Mathematics:
- 641,631 females (32.89%) achieved the benchmark.
- 558,883 males (28.65%) attained the same standard.
Overall participation also showed a slight female dominance.
WAEC recorded:
- 953,459 male candidates (48.88%)
- 997,267 female candidates (51.12%)
Education analysts say the figures continue a growing trend of improved academic performance among female students in national examinations.
More Than 94 Percent of Results Released
WAEC confirmed that results for 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 percent, have been fully processed and released.
However, 116,031 candidates (5.95 percent) will have to wait longer as their results remain under processing.
The Council did not specify the exact reasons behind the delay but assured candidates that the outstanding results would be released after necessary verification procedures are completed.
Digital Examination Reforms Under the Spotlight
The 2026 examination marked the second edition of the Computer-Based WASSCE for school candidates, reflecting WAEC’s gradual transition from traditional paper-based examinations to digital assessment systems.
Dr. Dangut said the Council introduced several technological innovations aimed at strengthening examination integrity and accelerating result processing.
Among the reforms are:
- Deployment of the Digital Examiner Mark System (DEMS) to enhance speed and accuracy in marking.
- Introduction of serialised question papers designed to discourage organised cheating.
- Launch of a new electronic result-checking portal, enabling candidates to generate electronic PINs directly online.
Candidates can also request digital certificates within 48 hours of checking their results through WAEC’s online platform.
Education stakeholders believe these reforms represent a major shift toward modern examination administration but caution that technology alone cannot solve deep-rooted integrity challenges within the education sector.
Malpractice Cases Reduce, But Cheating Remains a Major Concern
Despite recording a decline in examination malpractice, WAEC expressed concern over the persistent use of technology-assisted cheating.
The Council withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59 percent of the total candidates who sat for the examination, over alleged examination malpractice.
Although the figure is lower than the 9.7 percent recorded in 2025—a reduction of 1.11 percentage points—WAEC insists that examination fraud remains a serious threat.
According to Dr. Dangut:
“The increasing use of cell phones in the examination hall, in spite of the existing ban, and organised cheating in some schools, are other nagging issues.”
He disclosed that several supervisors and invigilators allegedly involved in facilitating examination malpractice had already been apprehended and would face disciplinary measures through their respective State Ministries of Education.
Education experts argue that while technology has improved monitoring, stronger institutional accountability and stricter enforcement remain necessary to restore confidence in public examinations.
Candidates with Disabilities Receive Inclusive Examination Support
WAEC also highlighted its continued efforts to make examinations more inclusive.
The Council reported that 1,213 candidates living with disabilities participated in the examination.
The breakdown includes:
- 137 visually impaired candidates
- 491 hearing-impaired candidates
- 55 candidates with spastic or mental disabilities
- 41 physically challenged candidates
The Council reiterated its commitment to providing equal examination opportunities for all candidates regardless of physical limitations.
Certificates, Registration and New Services
WAEC announced several additional services accompanying the release of the results.
These include:
- Online result access expected within 12 hours.
- Hard-copy certificates available within 90 days.
- Digital certificates obtainable within 48 hours.
- Ongoing registration for the 2026 Second Series WASSCE for Private Candidates at ₦37,500.
- Continued availability of walk-in registration.
- Compiled WAEC past questions and answers now available at ₦5,200 per subject combination.
The Council also disclosed that 102,708 examiners marked examination scripts across 88 marking centres nationwide, underscoring the scale of the assessment exercise.
States Owing WAEC Risk Delaying Candidates’ Results
WAEC warned that candidates sponsored by state governments indebted to the Council may experience delays in accessing their results.
According to the examination body, results linked to indebted state governments will remain inaccessible until the outstanding financial obligations are settled.
The development could affect thousands of students awaiting admission into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education across Nigeria.
Education observers have repeatedly urged state governments to prioritise prompt settlement of examination fees to prevent students from becoming victims of administrative delays.
Analysis: Digital Progress Meets Structural Challenges
The 2026 WASSCE results present a mixed picture for Nigeria’s education sector.
On one hand, WAEC has successfully expanded digital examination administration, accelerated result processing and reduced reported examination malpractice.
On the other hand, the slight decline in candidates meeting university admission requirements, the continued prevalence of organised cheating, delayed result processing and financial indebtedness by some state governments highlight enduring structural weaknesses requiring urgent policy attention.
Education policy experts argue that improving examination outcomes will require broader reforms extending beyond technology to include teacher quality, school infrastructure, curriculum delivery, student welfare and stronger ethical standards across the education system.
As Nigeria continues to modernise its examination process, the credibility of public assessments will increasingly depend on the country’s ability to balance innovation with accountability.
The release of the 2026 WAEC Computer-Based WASSCE results marks another significant milestone in Nigeria’s transition toward digital examination administration. While over 1.2 million candidates successfully attained the benchmark for higher education admission, the modest decline in performance and the continued prevalence of examination malpractice underscore the need for sustained reforms. As students, schools and policymakers digest the latest figures, the results provide both evidence of progress and a reminder that improving educational quality requires coordinated action far beyond examination halls.
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