3 hours ago
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By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has recorded about 56,000 candidates for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for Private Candidates, Second Series, as it intensifies the adoption of computer-based testing to curb examination malpractice.
WAEC’s Head of National Office, Suleiman Kum, disclosed this on Saturday during an inspection of the Computer-Based Test (CBT) English Language examination at the council’s Training and Testing Centre on Ijaiye Road, Ogba, Lagos.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the registered candidates include approximately 272 walk-in candidates who enrolled to remedy individual subjects.
Kum said Lagos State accounted for more than 22,000 candidates, including about 50 walk-in candidates participating in the examination.
He described computer-based testing as an effective means of strengthening examination security, reducing malpractice and improving transparency in the conduct of examinations.
According to him, WAEC introduced CBT in 2024 and has continued to refine the process as part of efforts to protect the credibility of its examinations.
“We have discovered that Computer-Based Test, popularly known as CBT, is truly the best way to conduct examinations because malpractice is drastically reduced,” he said.
Kum explained that candidates were thoroughly screened before entering examination halls to prevent them from bringing unauthorised materials into the examination environment.
He said the measures were designed to protect the integrity of the exercise rather than deliberately create difficulties for candidates.
“We do not set traps for candidates; we want to prevent malpractice by ensuring they enter the examination hall without unauthorised materials,” he said.
The WAEC official reaffirmed the council’s commitment to adopting innovations that would improve examination administration and maintain public confidence in its assessment processes.
“WAEC will continue to improve to ensure that it remains the benchmark for examination integrity and innovation in Nigeria,” Kum said.
He also urged candidates to prepare adequately for their examinations by studying diligently, practising past questions and familiarising themselves with WAEC marking schemes.
Kum particularly advised candidates to study chief examiners’ reports, which provide insights into common mistakes, areas of strength and weakness, and the expected approaches to answering examination questions.
He said using the reports alongside past questions could help candidates understand examination requirements and improve their overall performance.
The 2026 private candidates’ examination forms part of WAEC’s continuing transition towards computer-based testing, a move aimed at modernising examination delivery while strengthening security, transparency and credibility.
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