WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Results, 61.54% Secure Five Credits Including English, Mathematics
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 1,200,514 candidates recording credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The figure represents 61.54 per cent of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat for the examination, according to details announced by the examination body on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.
The release provides an important academic milestone for thousands of Nigerian secondary school leavers preparing to proceed to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions.
According to information surrounding the result release, a total of 1,959,668 candidates were registered for the examination from 24,207 schools, while 1,950,726 eventually sat for the examination.
WAEC also reported that 1,687,378 candidates, representing 86.50 per cent, obtained credits in at least five subjects, whether or not English Language and Mathematics were included.
The distinction is significant because five credits including English Language and Mathematics remain a major benchmark for candidates seeking admission into many tertiary programmes in Nigeria.
94.05% of results released
WAEC said 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 per cent of the total candidates, had their results fully processed and released.
However, results of 116,031 candidates, representing 5.95 per cent, were still being processed at the time of the announcement.
The council’s latest figures indicate that the majority of candidates will be able to access their results, although those whose results remain pending may have to wait for further processing and subsequent release.
Girls outperform boys
The 2026 performance figures also showed a continued gender gap in favour of female candidates.
A total of 641,631 female candidates, representing 32.89 per cent of female candidates who sat the examination, obtained the benchmark of five credits including English Language and Mathematics.
This compared with 558,883 male candidates, representing 28.65 per cent of male candidates who achieved the same benchmark.
Female candidates also constituted the larger share of those who sat the examination, with 997,267 girls compared with 953,459 boys.
Performance records slightly lower than 2025
The 61.54 per cent performance rate represents a 1.42 percentage-point decline compared with the corrected 2025 WASSCE figure of 62.96 per cent.
The 2025 examination results had generated significant controversy after an initial result figure was later revised following WAEC’s review.
The 2026 result therefore comes under close public attention as candidates, parents, schools and education stakeholders assess the latest performance trend.
Candidates can check results online
Candidates who participated in the 2026 WASSCE can check their results through the official WAEC result-checking platform.
To access the result, candidates are required to provide the relevant examination details, including their examination number and result-checking PIN or other required credentials.
Candidates who have misplaced their result-checking details may also use the appropriate WAEC channels to obtain the necessary information before attempting to access their results.
The official result-checking platform is WAEC Direct: “WAEC Result Checker” (https://reference-url-citation.invalid/0)
Candidates are advised to rely on WAEC’s official channels and avoid fraudulent websites or individuals claiming they can alter, upgrade or manipulate examination results.
What the result means for candidates
For candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions, the release of the WASSCE results is particularly important as institutions begin admission processes for the 2026/2027 academic session.
Candidates who meet the required subject combinations and credit requirements can proceed with admission-related processes, subject to the requirements of their chosen institutions and programmes.
Those whose results are still pending are advised to monitor official WAEC updates rather than panic or patronise individuals promising to influence the release of their results.
The latest WASSCE outcome also provides education authorities and schools with another opportunity to assess learning outcomes and identify areas requiring stronger intervention, particularly in core subjects such as English Language and Mathematics.
Global Mirror News gathered that the 2026 WASSCE was conducted as part of WAEC’s continuing transition towards greater use of computer-based examination and digital systems, reflecting the council’s broader efforts to modernise examination administration across its member countries.
With the release of the results, attention will now shift to candidates’ performance at individual school and state levels, as well as the implications of the outcome for the forthcoming tertiary admission cycle.
