By Ibrahim Awotunde
The West African Examinations Council(WAEC) has released the results of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for private candidates, 2025 – Second Series, revealing an 11.47 per cent decline in performance compared with previous years.
According to a statement issued by the Council’s Acting Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, only 27,727 candidates representing 42.17 per cent of the 65,752 candidates who sat the examination obtained credits and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, the benchmark required for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
The figure represents a marginal decline when compared with the performance recorded in recent years. In the 2023 and 2024 second series of the private candidates’ examination, 44.29 per cent and 53.64 per cent respectively achieved the same benchmark, indicating an 11.47 per cent drop in performance.
The council, however, noted that performance statistics for private candidates should not be directly compared with those of school candidates, as the private examination population consists of candidates outside the formal school system.
Over 65,000 candidates sat examination
The examination was conducted between 11 November and 17 December 2025 across Nigeria, with 69,604 candidates registering, a 1.8 per cent increase from the 68,342 entries recorded in 2024. Out of this number, 65,752 candidates sat the examination at 370 centres nationwide.
WAEC said 61,943 candidates, representing 94.21 per cent, have had their results fully processed and released, while 3,809 candidates are still awaiting full processing due to errors traceable to them.
Of the candidates who sat the examination, 32,005 were males and 33,747 were females, representing 48.68 per cent and 51.32 per cent respectively.
The council also disclosed that 235 candidates with varying degrees of special needs participated in the examination, adding that adequate provisions were made to support them during the exercise.
Results withheld over malpractice
WAEC said 1,899 candidates, representing 2.89 per cent of total candidates, had their results withheld over alleged examination malpractice.
The council explained that the cases are being investigated and that affected candidates would be informed of decisions after review by the appropriate committee.
Result checking and certificates
Candidates were advised to check their results via the WAEC results portal before accessing their digital certificates online. Hard copies of certificates, the council added, can be requested through its online certificate portal.
While WAEC congratulated successful candidates, it thanked education authorities, security agencies, examiners, supervisors, and other officials for supporting the smooth conduct of the examination.
