OFFICIAL RELEASE: WAEC ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR THE 2026 FIRST SERIES CB-WASSCE FOR PRIVATE CANDIDATES
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has formally ratified the release of results for the 2026 First Series Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates. This announcement follows the successful conclusion of the examination cycle, which transitioned further into digital assessment models to enhance academic integrity and processing speed.
The examination was conducted across 166 centres nationwide from Wednesday, January 28 to Saturday, February 14, 2026. Subsequent coordination and marking of scripts were executed at designated venues in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna between February 26 and March 13, 2026.
CANDIDATE STATISTICS AND ENROLLMENT TRENDS
The 2026 First Series saw a significant surge in participation, reflecting growing confidence in the computer-based testing (CBT) format.
- Total Registered Candidates: 10,523 (An 11.49% increase from the 9,438 candidates in 2025).
- Total Sat: 10,480 candidates successfully completed the assessment.
- Gender Distribution: The cohort showed a slight female majority, with 5,374 females (51.28%) and 5,106 males (48.72%).
- Inclusive Education: The Council supported 43 candidates with special needs, providing tailored assistance for 11 visually impaired candidates, four with hearing impairments, and four albinos.
PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS AND TRENDS
The 2026 First Series recorded a notable upward trajectory in candidate performance compared to the previous year.
- Core Pass Rate: A total of 3,429 candidates (32.72%) obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
- Comparative Growth: This represents a 5.76% improvement over the 26.96% pass rate recorded in the 2025 first series.
- Processing Status: Results for 8,418 candidates (80.32%) have been fully processed. However, 2,062 candidates have pending subjects due to self-attributed errors during the registration or examination process.
EXAMINATION INTEGRITY AND WITHHELD RESULTS
WAEC remains committed to maintaining the sanctity of its certificates. As such, the results of 75 candidates (0.72%) have been withheld due to reported cases of examination malpractice.
These cases are currently under formal investigation. The findings will be reviewed by the appropriate Committee of the Council, and final decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates.
DIGITAL CERTIFICATION AND RESULT CHECKING PROCEDURES
In a major administrative milestone, Digital Copies of certificates have been released concurrently with the results. Candidates are advised to access the official portal within the next 12 hours to view their standing.
HOW TO CHECK YOUR 2026 CB-WASSCE RESULT
- Log on to the official website: https://www.waecdirect.org/
- Examination Number: Enter your unique 10-digit candidate number.
- Examination Year: Select 2026.
- Examination Type: Select PRIVATE CANDIDATES.
- Security Details: Enter your Personal Identification Number (PIN) and Serial Number found on your result checker scratch card or e-pin.
- Submit: Click the "Submit" button to generate your result slip.
CONCLUSION: ADVANCING DIGITAL ASSESSMENT IN WEST AFRICA
The successful release of the 2026 First Series results reinforces WAEC's shift toward technological innovation in education. Candidates are encouraged to print their results and secure their digital certificates immediately for tertiary admission purposes.