In this article, we take a look at 10 interesting facts you may never have known about The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), West Africa’s most prestigious examinations body.

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According to Wikipedia, The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an examination board established by law to determine the examinations required in the public interest in the English-speaking West African countries, to conduct the examinations and to award certificates comparable to those of equivalent examining authorities internationally. Established in 1952, the council has contributed to education in Anglophonic countries of West Africa (Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia), with the number of examinations they have coordinated, and certificates they have issued. They also formed an endowment fund, to contribute to the education in West Africa, through lectures, and aid to those who cannot afford education.

1.  WAEC was established in 1952 and serves the following Anglophonic countries of West Africa: Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia.

2. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an examination board that conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for universities in five West African countries and the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB)which is an entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions in Nigeria.

 

3. The council conducts the following four different categories of examinations:

• International Examinations
• National Examinations
• Examinations conducted in collaboration with other examining bodies
• Examinations conducted on behalf of other examining bodies

4. WAEC conducts examination in West Africa on behalf of the following international examination bodies.

• University of London GCE
• Scholastic Aptitude Test for Educational Testing Service, Princeton, USA
• Graduate Record Examinations for Education Testin Service, Princeton, US
• JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board) examination in countries outside Nigeria

5. WAEC also coordinates examinations in collaboration with the following examination bodies:

• City and Guilds of London Institute
• Royal Society of Arts

6. Candidates are required to enter and sit for a minimum of 6 core subjects which include the following:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• At least one Nigerian Language (a waiver has been given in by the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigerian since 2003)
• At least one science subject (Physics, Chemistry or Biology)
• Literature in English, History or Geography
• Agricultural Science or at least one vocational subject

7. In addition to the above, every student must take and sit for two or three of the subjects listed below that are 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 & 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

 

8. The West African Senior School Certificate (WASSC) is conducted twice a year, May-June and November-December.

9. WAEC Grading Scale is as follows:

Grade  Description

A1        Excellent

B2        Very good

B3        Good

C4        Credit

C5        Credit

C6        Credit

D7        Pass

E8        Pass

F9         fail

10. The West African Senior School Certificates Examination certificates are issued only once.