WAEC Registration Fees, Dates, & Deadlines 2026/2027

Lets discuss now: WAEC Registration Fees, Dates, & Deadlines 2026/2027. In todays article we are going to talk about several things relating to the topic which includes, How to Register WAEC Online, WAEC Registration Fees, Dates Deadlines, study tips & Secrets that No One Told You, so stay tunned.

Did you know that in 2025, over 1.6 million candidates registered for WAEC in Nigeria alone yet over 300,000 failed to complete the process correctly?. WAEC is no joke, especially when it’s your first attempt.

I recall that I was in secondary school and I was doing physics practicals, morning preps, and sports tournaments preparations, at the same time struggling not to forget what my center code was in the exam center. When I say I know what you are going through I really know.

However, here is the better side – I will take you through all that you need to know regarding WAEC registration in the year 2026.

In this blog post there few things which you are going to learn and the Includes:

• What is WAEC & a quick history
• The difference between WAEC and SSCE
• Importance of WAEC certificate
• 2026/2027 WAEC registration fee update
• Things you MUST know before registering WAEC
• Choosing your courses the right way
• Step-by-step WAEC registration for school and private candidates
• How to register WAEC online
• Understanding WAEC scratch cards
• Tips for succeeding after your WAEC registration
• Popular WAEC terminologies and what they mean
• WAEC result grading system
• WAEC exams calendar
• WAEC marking scheme
• How to get updated WAEC Q &A booklets
• Popular WAEC questions & answers

Online registration procedures, private and school candidates, how to purchase your WAEC scratch card, what subjects to take in your dream career (no regrets like I almost made), etc. This guide will make you be ahead of the pack.

WAEC Brief History

WAEC is an acronym used to refer to the West African Examinations Council. It is an institution that was founded in the year 1952 and administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.

The examination examines in both core and elective courses and it is usually the primary qualification which students use to secure admission at the universities in Nigeria. WAEC is over 70 years old now.

WAEC vs SSCE: What’s the Difference?

SSCE (Senior Secondary Certificate Examination)

The name SSCE denotes any certificate that is given at the end of senior secondary school.
SSCE is issued by different examining bodies in Nigeria such as WAEC and NECO.

Purpose The outcomes of these examinations are necessary to get into universities, polytechnics, and other institutions of higher learning.

WAEC (West African Examinations Council)

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) is responsible for conducting the senior secondary school examination (SSCE) in several West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WAEC conducts two major examinations in Nigeria.

First, WAEC conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for senior secondary school students.  The WASSCE is intended for students writing their final examination in senior secondary school three (SS3). The WASSCE examination is held every year in May and June. 

The second exam conducted by WAEC is the Private Candidate Examination often referred to as the General Certificate Examination (GCE). The GCE is held every year in November and December. The GCE is open to anyone who is interested in doing this examination. 

WAEC and SSCE are often used interchangeably, but here’s the truth:

WAEC is the body that conducts the SSCE (Senior Secondary Certificate Examination). So when someone says, “I’m writing WAEC,” they mean they’re sitting for the SSCE exams administered by WAEC.

he difference is that SSCE is a type of certificate, while WAEC is one of the organizations that conducts it in Nigeria and other West African countries. WAEC conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which is a specific type of SSCE for students in the region. Other bodies, like Nigeria’s NECO, also issue their own Senior School Certificate (SSCE) examinations

Why Your WAEC Certificate Is So Important

• University or polytechnic admissions
• NYSC documentation
• Job applications (many ask for your result slip or certificate)
• Visa applications, in some cases.

WAEC Registration 2026/2027 Fee

This year, WAEC fees range from ₦18,000 to ₦30,000, depending on: If you’re a school or private candidate Your exam center (some centers charge additional logistics fees) Whether you’re registering early or late.

WAEC 2026/2027 Registration Requirements.

• Have a valid NIN (National Identification Number)
• Understand your career path so you can pick the right subjects
• Know the minimum number of subjects (at least 7, including Maths & English)
• Meet your school deadlines or WAEC deadlines if registering privately

Also, make sure you get familiar with exam policies. Many students make costly mistakes here.

What subjects can I choose in the SSCE?

In secondary school, I did not know what to wanted to do in future, but I had a good inclination towards science and was a good table tennis player. I was not aware of the fact that subject choices were critical to my future.

My suggestions to students: is to decide on the career you want, investigate what the subject will demand, meet with a school counselor and do not take subjects because of peer influence. Be tactical in decisions.

The current SSCE curriculum requires students to take a total of 8-9 subjects. Subjects have to be chosen in the following manner:

• English Language, General Mathematics and Civic Education are mandatory
• A minimum of three and a maximum of four subjects have to be chosen from the students preferred field of study (Sciences & Mathematics, Technology, Humanities or Business Studies)
• At least one trade subject has to be chosen
• The remaining subjects may be chosen either from a different field of study or the trade category

Category	Subjects
Core Mandatory	English Language, General Mathematics, Civic Education
Sciences & Mathematics	Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Further Mathematics, Agriculture, Physical Education, Health Education, ICT
Technology	Technical Drawing, General Metal Work, Basic Electricity, Electronics, Auto-Mechanics, Building Construction, Wood-Work
Home Economics	Home Management, Foods & Nutrition, Clothing & Textiles
Humanities	Nigerian Languages, Literature-in-English, Geography, Government, C.R.S., Islamic Studies, History, Visual Arts, Music, French, Arabic
Business & Commercial	Economics, Business Studies, Accounting, Store Management, Office Practice, Insurance, Commerce

Trade Subjects
Auto Body Repair and Spray Painting
Auto Electrical Work
Auto Mechanical Work
Auto Parts Merchandising
Air Conditioning
Welding & Fabrication Engineering Craft Practice
Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work
Radio, TV and Electrical Work
Block Laying, Brick Laying and Concrete Work
Painting and Decoration
Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
Machine Woodworking
Carpentry and Joinery
Furniture Making
Upholstery
Catering and Craft Practice
Garment Making
Textile Trade
Dying and Bleaching
Printing Craft Practice
Cosmetology

How to Register for WAEC 2026/2027 Step-by-Step (School Candidate).

• Get your personal details ready (NIN, name, gender, DOB)
• Pay the required fees to your school
• Collect your registration PIN
• Fill in your subjects and personal details
• Upload passport photograph and biometrics
• Verify details before final submission

How to Register for WAEC 2026/2027 Online (Private Candidate)

• Go to the official WAEC registration portal: www.waeconline.org.ng
• Click “Start Registration”
• Enter your registration PIN
• Fill in your personal and subject information
• Upload passport photo and fingerprint (biometric data)
• Submit and print acknowledgment slip

WAEC Grading System 2026/2027

The SSCE has two major sections for most subjects – objective questions and theory. The objective questions section is made up of a series of multiple choice questions which give you several answer options. You will be expected to tick the appropriate answer as it relates to the questions.

The theory section is made up of questions where no answer options have been provided. You will be expected to come up with your own solution. For English language, Literature in English, and science related subjects such as Biology, Physics, and Chemistry the examination may have more than two segments. You will be informed about the exact structure before the start of the exam.  

WAEC and NECO use a similar grading system to determine student score after marking their examination scripts. The maximum score or mark for each subject is 100%. The following grading system will indicate students’ score for each subject when the results are released:

Grade	Description	Score Range
A1	Excellent	95% – 100%
B2	Very Good	80% – 94%
B3	Good	65% – 79%
C4	Credit	60% – 64%
C5	Credit	55% – 59%
C6	Credit	50% – 54%
D7	Pass	45% – 49%
E8	Pass	40% – 44%
F9	Fail	0% – 39%

Understanding WAEC Scratch Card

Results are checked online with the help of the WAEC scratch card that is priced between N1,500 and N3,000, registering personal exams, and recovering forgotten exam information. One can buy it at WAEC offices, at the accredited banks, or online via Remita and OPay.

The students may even take WAEC in another school, particularly the privately schooled ones which accept external students- simply ensure that you are early and pay the fees.

To attain 70 percent or above following registration, one must attend tutorials or night preps, practice past questions, form study groups, emphasize on objective questions (which have more marks), and not overlook practicals and oral English. Hard work and discipline including taking midnight preps can help a lot.

WAEC Terms & Definition

Exam Number

The WAEC Exam Number is a unique 10-digit candidate number made up of your 7-digit center number and 3-digit candidate number, used to access examination results and services on the WAEC portal or via SMS

Center Number

A WAEC Center Number is a 7-digit code assigned to a specific examination center where a candidate writes their WAEC exam. This number, combined with your 3-digit candidate number, forms your 10-digit examination (or Index) number, which you need to check your results on the WAEC Result Checker.

WAEC PIN

A WAEC PIN is a unique electronic Personal Identification Number (e-PIN) found on a WAEC result checker card or scratch card that allows a candidate to access their West African Examinations Council (WAEC) results online. The PIN, along with the examination number and year, is entered on the WAEC Result Checker Portal to view a candidate’s results up to five time.

• READ ALSO:
• How to Change the Date of Birth on Your WAEC Certificate
• How to Buy WAEC Scratch Cards Online 2026/2027
• How to Check WAEC Result 2026/2027 Online and Offline
• How To Prepare And Pass WAEC 2026/2027
• WAEC Registration 2026/2027 Form, Fee, Dates, Deadlines, Instructions, and Guidelines

Frequently WAEC Asked Questions and Answers