Only 38% passed in English and Math – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has reported a significant decline in student performance in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with only 38.32% of candidates securing credits in five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics

Out of 1,969,313 candidates who sat for the exam, just 754,545 met the minimum benchmark—a staggering 33.8% drop compared to the 72.12% success rate in 2024.

Dr. Amos Dangut, WAEC’s Head of National Office, disclosed the figures during a press briefing on Monday, describing the outcome as deeply concerning.

He also revealed that the results of 192,089 candidates (9.75%) have been withheld due to various forms of examination malpractice. Offenses included unauthorised use of mobile phones and organised cheating in some schools.

“All cases are being investigated and reports will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for consideration and final decisions,” Dangut stated. “Affected candidates will be notified through their schools, and they can also seek redress if they wish.”

Breakdown of 2025 WASSCE Results:

• Total candidates who sat: 1,969,313
• Candidates with 5 credits including English & Maths: 754,545 (38.32%)
• Male candidates among successful: 347,192 (46.01%)
• Female candidates among successful: 407,353 (53.99%)

Students from Nigeria, Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea—countries where the Nigerian curriculum is used—took part in the exam. A total of 1,973,365 students registered from 23,554 schools, with nearly all sitting for the exam.

Reaffirming its commitment to integrity, WAEC maintained its zero-tolerance policy on exam malpractice.

“The Council will continue to sanction all cases of examination malpractice. Schools, supervisors, teachers, and candidates perpetrating this evil are not helping the educational system. WAEC is calling for all hands to be on deck to sanitise the system,” the statement added.

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