15 Facts on The West African Examinations Council (WAEC); www.waecdirect.org
If you are an admissions officer at a school or college or an international credential evaluator, an officer at a professional licensing board, or an employer reviewing credentials from West Africa, you have come across certificates issued by the West African Examinations Council. For some, these certificates and their authenticity pose confusion and may be challenging if unfamiliar with the nature and purpose of the Examinations Council.
In this blog, we will share some facts to help you with the review and evaluation of WAEC certificates.
1. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an examination board that conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for universities in five West African countries and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) which is an entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions in Nigeria.
2. WAEC was established in 1952 and serves the following Anglophonic countries of West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia.
3. The council conducts the following four different categories of examinations:
- International Examinations
- National Examinations
- Examinations conducted in collaboration with other examining bodies
- Examinations conducted on behalf of other examining bodies
4. The International exams are exams taken in the five countries with the WAEC ordinance intended for WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination).
5. The National examinations are taken in individual countries and include the following:
- Junior Secondary School Certificate for Nigeria and the Gambia
- Junior and Senior High School Certificate Examinations for Liberia
- National Primary School and Basic Education Certificate Examinations for Sierra Leone
- Basic Education Certificate Examinations for Ghana
- Senior School Certificate Examinations for Ghana
6. WAEC also coordinates examinations in collaboration with the following examination bodies:
- City and Guilds of London Institute
- Royal Society of Arts
7. WAEC conducts examination in West Africa on behalf of the following international examination bodies.
- University of London GCE
- Scholastic Aptitude Test for Educational Testing Service, Princeton, USA
- Graduate Record Examinations for Education Testin Service, Princeton, US
- JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board) examination in countries outside Nigeria
8. Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of 6 core subjects which include the following:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- At least one Nigerian Language (a waiver has been given in by the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigerian since 2003)
- At least one science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Biology)
- Literature in English, History or Geography
- Agricultural Science or at least one vocational subject
9. In addition to the above, every student must take and sit for two or three of the subjects listed below that are not already offered as core subjects
- Biology
- Economics
- Physics
- Book Keeping
- Chemistry
- Typewriting
- Further Mathematics
- Shorthand
- Commerce
- History
- Geography
- Literature-in-English
- Agricultural Science
- Woodwork
- Health Science
- Auto-Mechanics
- Building Construction
- Music
- Clothing & Textiles
- Art
- Christian Religious Knowledge
- French
- Islamic Studies
- Physical Education
- Arabic Studies
- Government
- Metal Work
- Applied Electricity
- Electronics
- Foods and Nutrition
- Technical Drawing
- Home Management
10. The West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) is conducted twice a year, May-June and November-December.
11. The WASSC is open to students in the third year of senior secondary school, or those who have taken the examinations previously, or those with three GCE O Level passes, or any other qualification deemed equivalent.
12. WAEC Grading Scale is as follows:
Grade Description
A1 Excellent
B2 Very good
B3 Good
C4 Credit
C5 Credit
C6 Credit
D7 Pass
E8 Pass
F9 fail
13. Students that complete the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) exam must submit a WAEC scratch card. The scratch card is needed in order to verify that the student has completed the equivalent of a U.S. high school diploma.
14. Admissions officers, evaluators, employers, licensing boards in receipt of the WAEC WASSC must request the WAEC scratch card from the candidate in order to verify the exam results which can be done online through this link https://www.waecdirect.org/
15. Students can purchase the WAEC scratch card at the national Office of WAEC and any of its zonal and branch offices in the respective 5 countries.
For individuals who have sat for the WAEC West African Senior School Certificate and need their credentials evaluated by ACEI, the following must be submitted: completed ACEI Application, original WAEC WSSC, WAEC scratch card.
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