The release of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results for school candidates by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has revealed a notable decline in performance compared to previous years. This year, only 38.32% of candidates obtained the minimum of five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, which marks a significant drop from the previous year’s performance of 72.12%.
This article provides an in-depth analysis of the WAEC 2025 May/June results, shedding light on the key performance statistics, the reasons behind the performance decline, and how candidates can access their results.
WAEC 2025: Performance Statistics
A total of 1,969,313 candidates sat for the WAEC 2025 examination across 23,554 schools in West Africa. After rigorous evaluation and processing, the results show a marked difference in the pass rate, particularly in core subjects like English and Mathematics.
- Pass Rate: Of the total candidates, only 754,545 candidates (representing 38.32%) obtained a minimum of five credits in subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This signifies a 33.8% drop from last year’s performance of 72.12%.
- Number of Candidates: A total of 1,517,517 results (approximately 77.06%) were processed and released, while 451,796 (or 22.94%) candidates still have their results under processing due to technical issues.
- Examination Malpractice: The total number of results withheld for examination malpractice was 192,089, representing 9.75% of the total candidates. This is an improvement compared to 2024, where 11.92% of results were withheld for similar offenses.
Why Did the Performance Decline?
At a press briefing held on August 4, 2025, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, addressed the reasons behind the performance dip. He revealed that the new approach of serializing objective test papers in critical subjects such as English, Mathematics, Biology, and Economics contributed to the drop in the overall pass rate.
According to Dr. Dangut, this new method was introduced to combat examination malpractice, particularly collusion, by making it significantly more difficult for candidates to cheat. The results showed that objective papers, which are often the subjects most prone to malpractice, experienced a decline in performance. However, the essay papers remained consistent with performance trends from previous years, highlighting the importance of individual preparation.
Examination Malpractice: A Persistent Challenge
Examination malpractice remains one of the significant challenges WAEC continues to face. The 2025 WASSCE saw 192,089 results withheld for various malpractice offenses, including the use of banned mobile phones, collusion, and other irregularities. This represents 9.75% of the total candidates, a slight improvement from the 11.92% recorded in 2024.
WAEC has continually worked to reduce examination malpractice by implementing stricter monitoring measures. These include real-time digital scoring systems that improve the speed and accuracy of result processing, ensuring that exams are conducted with integrity.
How to Check Your WAEC 2025 Result
For those who sat the 2025 May/June WASSCE, checking your results is simple. Candidates can access their results online through the official WAEC result checker portal. You can also read about the 3 different ways to check your Waec Result here
Here’s how to check your WAEC 2025 result:
- Go to the official WAEC result portal: waecdirect.org.
- Enter your examination details:
- Select your Examination Year (2025).
- Enter your WAEC Examination Number.
- Input the Card Serial Number found on your WAEC Scratch Card.
- Submit the details and your result will be displayed on the screen.
The WAEC Scratch Card can be purchased at an affordable price. For inquiries and assistance, candidates can contact us on whatsapp on 07077704912 or email admin@myschoolguild.com.ng
WAEC 2025 Result Processing and Release Timeline
The WAEC 2025 examination was conducted between April 24 and June 20, 2025, and the marking process took place between July 3 and 21, 2025. WAEC has implemented a real-time digital scoring system to speed up result processing. This innovation is aimed at improving the accuracy and speed of result releases, although some results are still under processing due to technical issues, which WAEC has assured will be resolved in the coming days.
What Does This Mean for Future Candidates?
As WAEC continues to tighten its approach to curbing malpractice, future candidates will be expected to prepare more effectively for the examinations. The WAEC 2025 result statistics emphasize the importance of individual effort, particularly in subjects such as English and Mathematics, which are critical for obtaining five credits. Candidates must focus on study techniques, time management, and exam strategy to perform well in the forthcoming years.
Conclusion
The WAEC 2025 May/June results have shed light on the challenges faced by candidates and the evolving strategies by WAEC to ensure fair and accurate assessment. With only 38.32% of candidates passing with five credits, the significant drop in performance is a clear message that students need to take their preparation seriously. WAEC’s commitment to improving result processing and combating malpractice is a step in the right direction, but it also highlights the growing need for candidates to rely on hard work and dedication rather than shortcuts.
For candidates yet to check their results, the process is easy and accessible through the official WAEC portal. Stay prepared, stay focused, and make the best use of available resources to ensure academic success in the future.