The West African Examinations Council has released the results of the 2025 Second Series of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates, revealing a noticeable decline in overall performance compared to the previous year.

Akahi News gathered that while female candidates recorded a slight edge over their male counterparts, the general pass rate dropped by over 11 percentage points from 2024 figures.

Performance Drops by 11.47 Percentage Points

In a statement issued by the council’s Head of Public Affairs, Moyosola Adesina, WAEC confirmed that 42.17 per cent of candidates obtained credit passes in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

This marks a decline from the 53.64 per cent recorded in 2024. In 2023, the figure stood at 44.29 per cent.

Out of the 65,752 candidates who sat the examination, 27,727 achieved five credits including English and Mathematics — the benchmark widely regarded as the minimum requirement for tertiary admission in Nigeria.

WAEC noted that performance statistics for private candidates should not be directly compared with those of school candidates, as the private examination category consists largely of individuals outside the formal school system, many of whom combine studies with work or other responsibilities.

Education analysts say the drop may reflect broader challenges within the education sector, including economic pressures, access to digital learning tools, and preparation gaps among private candidates.

Registration Figures and Result Processing

Akahi News learnt that a total of 69,604 candidates registered for the examination, representing a 1.8 per cent increase from the 68,342 recorded in 2024.

Of this number, 65,752 candidates sat the examination across 370 centres nationwide.

WAEC disclosed that 61,943 candidates — representing 94.21 per cent of those who sat the examination — have had their results fully processed and released.

However, 3,809 candidates, accounting for 5.79 per cent, still have some of their subjects being processed due to errors traceable to them. The council assured stakeholders that efforts are ongoing to complete the processing promptly.

Withheld Results Over Alleged Malpractice

In its breakdown, the examination body revealed that 1,899 candidates, representing 2.89 per cent of the total candidates who sat the examination, have had their results withheld over alleged examination malpractice.

WAEC stated that these cases are currently under investigation. According to the council, reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate committee for determination, after which affected candidates will be informed of the outcome.

Experts observe that while malpractice figures appear relatively moderate, sustained efforts in examination integrity remain crucial to maintaining public trust in Nigeria’s certificate system.

Female Candidates Record Slight Advantage

Providing a gender breakdown, WAEC disclosed that 32,005 candidates (48.68 per cent) were male, while 33,747 (51.32 per cent) were female.

Among those who secured five credits including English Language and Mathematics, 13,416 (48.39 per cent) were male, while 14,311 (51.61 per cent) were female.

The figures show that female candidates slightly outperformed their male counterparts in meeting the key credit benchmark.

Education observers say this trend aligns with recent patterns in national examinations where female candidates have demonstrated increasing academic competitiveness, particularly in language and arts-related subjects.

Implications for Tertiary Admissions

The 2025 private WASSCE was conducted between November 11 and December 17, 2025.

Candidates have been advised to check their results through the council’s official result-checking platforms and to proceed with accessing digital copies of their certificates. Hard copies may also be requested through the appropriate certificate portal.

For prospective university applicants, the decline in pass rates may intensify competition for available admission slots, especially among private candidates seeking to regularise previous deficiencies.

As Nigeria continues to grapple with education sector reforms, stakeholders are calling for deeper investment in adult learning, digital infrastructure, and examination preparedness programmes to bridge performance gaps.

WAEC reiterated its commitment to quality service delivery and examination credibility, assuring candidates and stakeholders of continued improvements in its operations.

Akahi News will continue to monitor developments in the education sector and provide verified updates as they unfold.

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