WAEC records 32.72% pass rate in 2026 private WASSCE
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says 32.72 per cent of candidates who sat the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates obtained credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The examination, conducted nationwide between January 28 and February 14, had 10,480 candidates, out of which 3,429 met the benchmark requirement.
A breakdown of the successful candidates shows that 1,847 were male, representing 53.86 per cent, while 1,582 were female, accounting for 46.14 per cent.
In a statement on Friday via its X handle, WAEC described the outcome as an improvement, attributing the performance to better preparation by candidates and ongoing efforts to enhance examination processes.
“The performance improvement is the result of better preparation by candidates and our continued efforts to enhance the conduct of examinations. We remain committed to promoting academic excellence and maintaining the integrity of our processes,” the council stated.
The 2026 result reflects a 5.76 per cent increase compared to the 26.96 per cent pass rate recorded in 2025, continuing an upward trend from 30.95 per cent in 2024.
The council reiterated its commitment to delivering credible examinations for both private and school-based candidates, while encouraging those who did not meet the benchmark to keep striving.
Meanwhile, WAEC said it withheld the results of 75 candidates over alleged examination malpractice, noting that the cases are under investigation and will be reviewed by the appropriate committee, with decisions to be communicated to affected candidates after due process.
