The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released new updates on the compulsory subjects that candidates sitting for the May/June 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and future editions must register for.
The council also clarified that science students are allowed to register for and sit for Economics as one of their elective subjects.
This was disclosed by the Head of the National Office of WAEC Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, during a press briefing held after the 63rd Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee (NNC) of WAEC in Umuahia, Abia State.
The NNC, which is WAEC’s highest decision-making body in Nigeria, comprises major education stakeholders and meets annually, rotating across all 36 states and the FCT.
Dr. Dangut emphasized that students will not be restricted from choosing subjects outside their designated fields. He noted specifically that science students are free to include Economics among their electives.
He advised schools and guidance counsellors to properly direct candidates during registration to avoid wrong subject combinations, especially with the introduction of the newly reviewed federal government–approved subject structure.
According to him, subjects have now been grouped into five categories: core subjects, science subjects, humanities subjects, business subjects, and trade subjects.
He explained that the core subjects—considered compulsory—are now five: English Language, General Mathematics, Citizenship and Heritage Studies Education, Digital Technologies, and Vocational Trade Subjects.
However, Citizenship and Heritage Studies Education and Digital Technologies will not be examined in 2026 or 2027, as new curricula and syllabi for these subjects are still under development. They will be examined starting from 2028.
This means that for the 2026 and 2027 WASSCE, candidates are only required to sit for three compulsory subjects: English Language, General Mathematics, and one trade subject.
Candidates will then choose an additional five or six subjects, making a total of eight or nine subjects for registration.
Dr. Dangut also noted that the number of trade subjects has been reduced from 26 to six. Some have been renamed, but their syllabus content remains unchanged, and students will be examined accordingly.
He clarified that WAEC does not create or modify school curricula; that responsibility rests with the government. WAEC only assesses students based on the approved curriculum.
On the planned transition to computer-based testing (CBT), Dangut said schools have been divided into three categories to ensure a smooth shift. While some rural schools may not use CBT immediately, many urban schools may operate a hybrid of CBT and paper exams. Some centers may fully adopt CBT by 2026 as part of a pilot phase.
He assured that all candidates will be accommodated and none will be assigned to exam centers more than two kilometers from their homes.
He also urged schools to administer at least three Continuous Assessment Tests (CAT) per student to fulfill the Continuous Assessment Scores (CASS) requirement. WAEC has extended the deadline for uploading CASS to ensure a seamless process and maintain exam credibility.
