WAEC Confirms Full CBT Exams for WASSCE by 2026

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reiterated its intention to transition the West African Senior School Certificate Examination to a completely computer-based testing format by 2026.

Dr. Amos Dangut, the head of WAEC’s National Office, provided this confirmation on Tuesday during an awareness meeting with the National Assembly Committee on Education in Abuja.

He mentioned that the shift, which started with private candidates in 2024, has already shown “significant progress” and will be expanded nationwide before next year’s deadline.

“We have already conducted five examinations, one for private candidates and one for school candidates, and by 2026, the deployment will be extensive,” he stated.

Addressing worries about infrastructure and cyber threats, Dangut reassured stakeholders that WAEC has successfully carried out exams in remote areas without disruptions.

He noted that candidates’ performances in computer-based testing have been “empirically better” than in traditional paper-based examinations.

According to PUNCH Online on January 9, 2024, the examination body eliminated the paper-and-pencil testing model in 2024 and adopted a computer-based testing format for the Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates.

WAEC aims to build upon this earlier implementation to encompass general school candidates.

Additionally, on July 22, 2025, the Federal Government announced that privately operated computer-based test centers, along with those owned by public institutions, would be fully utilized for the school-based Senior School Certificate Examination next year.

Dr. Tunji Alausa, the Minister of Education, commented on the matter, stating, “WAEC and NECO exams are school-based assessments conducted at their respective schools. We will change that.

“It will be similar to how JAMB exams are conducted at computer-based test centers. We have thousands of CBT centers available across the country.

“Those centers will be the ones we utilize. It’s not that students lack the necessary facilities; schools simply do not offer the required amenities.”