WAEC Releases 2025 WASSCE Results: Only 38.32% Pass English and Mathematics

Only 38.32% of candidates passed English and Mathematics in the 2025 WASSCE, marking the worst performance in recent years, with WAEC citing exam malpractice, delays, and systemic challenges while assuring that results are now accessible online, including for all special needs candidates.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially announced the release of the 2025 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results. The results were made public during a press briefing at the WAEC National Office in Yaba, Lagos, on Monday, August 4.

Out of 1,969,313 students who sat for the exams, only 754,545 candidates—representing 38.32%—achieved credit-level passes in at least five core subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This marks a dramatic decline from the 2024 figure of 72.12%, making it the worst recorded performance in recent years.

The examination period, which spanned eight weeks and one day, was marred by controversy—especially over the English Language paper. Many candidates were reportedly made to sit for the paper late at night due to delays, prompting public calls for the exam’s cancellation.

Of the total candidates:

• 976,787 were male (49.6%)
• 992,526 were female (50.4%)

WAEC also disclosed that results for candidates sponsored by state governments will be withheld until outstanding exam fees are settled.

Candidates will be able to access their results online within 12 hours through WAEC’s portal and download digital certificates, while physical certificates will be sent to schools at a later date.

Exam Malpractice & Withheld Results

A total of 192,089 candidates’ results (9.75%) are currently being withheld due to alleged malpractice, which WAEC is still investigating. This figure is a drop from last year’s 11.92%, a change WAEC attributes to the introduction of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in subjects like English, Mathematics, Biology, and Economics.

WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, acknowledged that the exam body is grappling with rising operational costs, driven by inflation and increased fuel and material prices. He also lamented the growing trend of students relying on so-called leaked answers or “expo,” often facilitated by rogue websites and social media platforms.

WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing penalties for malpractice, including sanctions against candidates, invigilators, schools, and administrators involved in any form of misconduct.

Special Needs Candidates

Dr. Dangut confirmed that all 12,178 special needs candidates had their results released. This includes:

• 112 visually impaired
• 615 hearing impaired
• 37 physically challenged
• 52 others with various conditions

How to Access Results

Students can check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org using the Smart Identity Cards they used during the exams. Digital certificates are also available on www.waec.org and can be shared or verified by institutions and organizations through the same platform.

Dr. Dangut thanked the Federal Government, security agencies, and exam officials for their role in the conduct of the exams and expressed hope that efforts to improve exam integrity and performance would continue.

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SOURCES: ALLSCHOOL, TRIBUNE