The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has officially announced the release of the 2026 First Series results of the Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates, marking a significant development in the country’s academic calendar.

The examination, conducted between January 28 and February 14, 2026, represents one of the key opportunities for private candidates seeking to obtain or improve their secondary school qualifications.

Akahi News gathered that the marking of scripts and coordination of results were carried out across three major centres located in Lagos, Enugu, and Kaduna, between February 26 and March 13, 2026.

Increase in Candidate Participation

According to official figures released by WAEC, a total of 10,523 candidates registered for the examination, reflecting an 11.49 per cent increase compared to the 9,438 candidates recorded in the 2025 first series.

Out of the registered candidates, 10,480 successfully sat for the examination across 166 centres nationwide, indicating a high turnout rate.

In terms of gender distribution, 5,106 candidates were male, representing 48.72 per cent, while 5,374 were female, accounting for 51.28 per cent of the total number of participants.

Performance Shows Noticeable Improvement

In a notable improvement, 3,429 candidates, representing 32.72 per cent, obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

This marks a 5.76 per cent increase compared to the 26.96 per cent pass rate recorded in the 2025 first series, suggesting gradual progress in candidates’ academic performance.

Akahi News learnt that education stakeholders have described the improvement as encouraging, though they emphasise the need for sustained efforts in teaching quality and examination preparedness.

Inclusion of Candidates with Special Needs

WAEC also disclosed that 43 candidates with special needs participated in the examination. These included 11 visually impaired candidates, four with hearing impairments, and four albinos.

The Council noted that adequate support was provided to ensure a fair and inclusive examination process, reflecting ongoing efforts to promote equal access to education for all candidates.

Results Processing and Withheld Cases

Out of the total candidates who sat for the examination, 8,418 candidates, representing 80.32 per cent, have had their results fully processed and released.

However, 2,062 candidates still have some of their results pending due to errors attributed to the candidates themselves.

In addition, the results of 75 candidates, representing 0.72 per cent, have been withheld in connection with alleged cases of examination malpractice.

WAEC stated that these cases are currently under investigation and will be reviewed by the appropriate committee. Final decisions, the Council assured, will be communicated directly to the affected candidates.

How to Check Results

Candidates who participated in the examination have been advised to check their results online using the official WAEC portal.

To access their results, candidates are required to:

• Log on to https://www.waecdirect.org/
• Enter their examination number
• Select the examination year as 2026
• Choose the examination type as Private Candidates
• Enter their PIN and serial number
• Click submit to view their results

The Council also indicated that candidates can access digital copies of their certificates alongside their results.

The release of the 2026 WAEC GCE First Series results marks another important milestone in Nigeria’s education sector, offering candidates a pathway to academic and career advancement.

While the improved performance figures provide a measure of optimism, stakeholders continue to call for sustained investment in education to further enhance outcomes.

As candidates check their results and plan their next steps, the focus remains on continuous improvement, integrity, and equal opportunity within the examination system.

Akahi News www.akahinews.org