The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a shift in the full implementation of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE). The transition, earlier scheduled for 2026, has now been moved to 2027.
However, WAEC confirmed that the May/June 2026 WASSCE will serve as a major pilot phase. During this test run, candidates will be allowed to choose between writing their exams using the new CBT system or the traditional paper-and-pen method.
This update was revealed by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC and the Federal Government’s Nominee, during the 63rd Annual Meeting of the NNC. She acknowledged the concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the Federal Government’s directive for examination bodies to fully adopt CBT by 2026.
“I want to assure that no candidate sitting the 2026 WASSCE will be disenfranchised in any form,” she emphasized.
Hajia Abdulkadir also highlighted several steps WAEC has taken to prepare for the transition, including training senior secondary students using tablets and digital pens to attempt essay questions on computer-based platforms.
Addressing questions about the recently reviewed Basic and Secondary School Curricula, she assured that students will not be limited in their subject choices. In her words, “Science students are not barred from taking Economics as an elective to complete their subject selection.”
Additionally, WAEC has extended the timeline for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS). This extension is intended to ensure accurate record-keeping for all candidates, especially those registering for new subjects introduced under the Federal Government’s updated curriculum for the 2026 WASSCE.
