Yes, but only if (s)he is a school candidate. No provision is made for a private candidate in this regard. Even then, a school candidate does not write directly to WAEC. It is her/his principal who, knowing the candidate's ability, forwards a request for the review of the candidate's scripts. Of course, there is a specified fee to be paid on every paper to be reviewed. Such requests should be sent in within sixty days of any examination.
No. The marking of scripts is handled by examiners appointed by WAEC. They are usually educationists who are familiar with the classroom situation and their identities are not supposed to be disclosed.
Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of eight (8) and a maximum of nine (9) subjects. These must include the following :
- English Language
- Mathematics
- At least one Nigerian Language (see footnote)
- At least one of Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
- At least one of Literature-in-English, History and Geography.
- Agricultural Science or at least one vocational subject.
These are the core subjects. In addition to the above, every student must offer any three of the underlisted subjects not already offered as core subjects: Biology, Economics, Physics, Book-Keeping, Chemistry, Typewriting, Further Mathematics, Shorthand, Commerce, History, Geography, Literature-in-English, Agricultural Science, Woodwork, Health Science, Auto-Mechanics, Building Construction, Music, Clothing and Textiles, Art, Christian Religious Knowledge, French, Islamic Studies, Physical Education, Arabic Studies, Government, Metal Work, Applied Electricity, Electronics, Foods and Nutrition, Technical Drawing Home Management.
NOTE: The Federal Ministry of Education has given a waiver in respect of Nigerian Languages during the 2003 examination. This implies that candidates' entries are valid with or without a Nigerian language for the period of the waiver.
No. Accreditation is carried out by the Federal Ministry of Education alone.
A comprehensive list of offences is provided in Council's Regulations & Syllabuses.
- The following, among others, constitute examination malpractice:
- Candidates bringing books or cribs into the examination hall;
- Insulting or assaulting any examination official;
- Swapping of scripts in an examination hall;
- Replacing their answer scripts with another one during or after the examination;
- Impersonation;
- Taking part in mass or organised cheating in the exam hall;
- All other acts that contravene the rules governing the conduct of the examination.
First, a committee of experts draws up a marking guide. All appointed examiners are then thoroughly drilled in all aspects of the marking scheme in a simulated marking exercise called co-ordination. Actual marking does not start until the coordinating officers are satisfied that all examiners know what is required of them. Even when actual marking begins, the examiners are not left entirely on their own.
They are organised into small groups, each being supervised by a highly experienced examiner called a Team Leader. The Team Leader checks and vets the group members' marking progressively to ensure that they are keeping to the guidelines.
The Team Leaders themselves are supervised by more experienced examiners called Chief Examiners. When marking is finally completed, WAEC still goes ahead to employ another group of people called Checkers. The main role of Checkers is to ensure that all marks awarded by examiners are correctly recorded and transferred to the appropriate score sheets.
Results are partially released due to queries arising from one or a combination of the following mistakes:
- Wrong transfer of examination numbers in one or more papers;
- Failure to shade examination numbers;
- Shading objective sheets with biro pens instead of pencil;
- Mistakes in entries leading to duplication of subjects.
Candidates can collect their certificates from WAEC Zonal and Branch offices in charge of the state where they sat for the examination.
