The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced the release of the results for the 2026 first series Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates.
This examination recorded a marginal increase in the performance of those who obtained credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola F. Adesina, confirmed this development in a statement issued from the council headquarters at Yaba on Friday.
Exam Details
The examination took place across 166 centres in Nigeria between January 28 and February 14. A total of 10,480 candidates sat the examination, with 3,429 candidates representing 32.72 per cent obtaining credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Performance Improvement
The performance recorded in the current diet showed a 5.76 per cent improvement when compared to the 26.96 per cent pass rate recorded in the 2025 first series. This indicates a notable increase in candidate performance.
Special Needs Candidates
43 candidates with special needs participated in the exercise. The council provided adequate support for 11 visually impaired persons, four candidates with hearing impairments, and four albinos during the administration of the test.
Results Processing
8,418 candidates, representing 80.32 per cent, have their results fully processed. However, the remaining 2,062 candidates have a few subjects still being processed due to errors traceable to the candidates themselves.
Examination Malpractice
The council has withheld the results of 75 candidates, representing 0.72 per cent of the total entry, in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. These cases are being investigated, and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination.
Next Steps
Candidates are encouraged to visit the official website to ascertain their status and access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released alongside the results. The coordination and marking of scripts were conducted at three venues in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna, where 608 examiners participated in the exercise between February 26 and March 13.
According to Adesina, 'The results are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff and examiners. We wish all the candidates the best in their future endeavours.'
- Total candidates: 10,480
- Candidates with credits in five subjects: 3,429 (32.72%)
- Candidates with special needs: 43
- Results fully processed: 8,418 (80.32%)
- Results withheld due to malpractice: 75 (0.72%)