The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially announced the release of the 2026 Computer-Based-WASSCE (CB-WASSCE) First Series results for private candidates.
In a statement issued on Friday, March 27, 2026, from its national headquarters in Yaba, the council confirmed that the results were processed in record time following the conclusion of the computer-based examinations held between January and February.
According to the council, a total of 10,480 candidates sat for the 2026 CB-WASSCE across 166 centers nationwide.
It was gathered that the 2026 CB-WASSCE was held in Nigeria between Wednesday, January 28, and Saturday, February 14, 2026. The Coordination of Examiners and Marking of Candidates’ Scripts was carried out at three Marking Venues in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna from Thursday, February 26, to Friday, March 13, 2026. A total of 608 Examiners participated in the Coordination and Marking Exercise.
“The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, wishes to announce to candidates, stakeholders, and the general public that the result of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB WASSCE) for Private Candidates, 2026—First Series, has been released,” the statement read.
10,523 candidates, representing an 11.49% increase, when compared with the 2025 entry figure of 9,438, enrolled for the examination, while 10,480 candidates sat the examination at 166 centres spread across the country.
The statement continued: “Among the candidates who sat the examination, 43 candidates, with varying degrees of Special Needs, registered for the examination. Out of this number, 11 were visually impaired, four had impaired hearing and four were Albinos. All these candidates, WAEC said, were equipped with special needs that were adequately provided for in the administration of the examination.
“Of the total number of 10,480 candidates that sat the examination, 5,106 were males while 5,374 were females, representing 48.72% and 51.28% respectively.”
WAEC said out of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, 8,418 candidates, representing 80.32% have their results fully processed and released while 2,062 candidates, representing 19.68 % have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them.
However, WAEC said efforts are being made to speedily complete the processing to enable all the affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released, subsequently.
The analysis of the statistics of the candidates’ performance shows that out of the 10,480 candidates who sat the examination, 4,598 representing 43.87% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics) while 3,429 representing 32.72% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
WAEC added that of this number, 1,847 i.e., 53.86% were male candidates, while 1,582 i.e., 46.14% were female candidates. The percentage of candidates in this category in the WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2024 and 2025 – First Series, that is, those who obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, were 30.95% and 26.96% respectively. Thus, there is a marginal increase of 5.76% in performance in this regard.
Furthermore, 75 candidates’ results, representing 0.72% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.
“The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates, thereafter,” the statement read.
This development comes as WAEC is working to transition from paper-test examination to computer-based examinations.
