The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, has officially released the results of the 2025 Second Series Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates. The announcement was made on Monday, February 17, 2026, through a statement signed by Ms. Moyosola F. Adesina, Acting Head of Public Affairs at the WAEC National Office in Lagos.
If you sat for the CB-WASSCE examination between November 11 and December 17, 2025, your result is now available and accessible online. This article covers everything you need to know, including how to check your score, performance statistics, what to do if your result is withheld, and how to obtain your certificate.
What Is the CB-WASSCE for Private Candidates?
The Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) for Private Candidates is a special version of the WAEC examination designed for individuals who are outside the formal school system. This includes candidates who may have previously failed their WAEC exams and want to improve their results, those who were unable to write the examination during their school years, and adults seeking to obtain their West African Senior School Certificate for career, academic, or personal development purposes.
Unlike the standard WASSCE for school candidates, the CB-WASSCE is conducted in a computer-based format and is offered in two series annually. The recently released result covers the Second Series for 2025.
Examination Conduct and Marking
The 2025 Second Series CB-WASSCE was conducted across 370 examination centres nationwide between Tuesday, November 11 and Wednesday, December 17, 2025. A total of 3,361 examiners were involved in the coordination and marking exercise, which was carried out across seven marking venues located in Lagos, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Uyo, Jos, and Kaduna. The marking process spanned from Wednesday, January 14 to Tuesday, February 3, 2026.
Registration and Candidate Statistics
A total of 69,604 candidates registered for the examination, representing a 1.8 percent increase compared to the 68,342 candidates recorded in 2024. Out of the registered figure, 65,752 candidates sat for the examination across 370 centres nationwide. 36ng
The gender breakdown of candidates who sat for the examination shows that 32,005 candidates (48.68%) were male, while 33,747 candidates (51.32%) were female, with females slightly outnumbering their male counterparts.
Additionally, special provisions were made for 235 candidates with special needs, including visually impaired, hearing-impaired, and albino candidates, ensuring equitable access to the examination. The Boss Newspaper
2025 CB-WASSCE Performance Analysis
The overall performance for the 2025 Second Series reflects a mixed picture, with some candidates meeting the university entry benchmark while others fell short.
The breakdown of the result analysis shows that 27,727 candidates, representing 42.17%, obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. Thirty-three thousand, nine hundred and eighty-nine (33,989) candidates representing 51.69% obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and Mathematics). Team Babs Reporting
Among the 27,727 candidates who met the key university admission benchmark (five credits including English and Mathematics), 13,416 (48.39%) were male while 14,311 (51.61%) were female, indicating that female candidates slightly outperformed their male counterparts in this critical category.
In terms of results processing, results for 61,943 candidates, representing 94.21 percent of those who sat the examination, had been fully processed and released. However, 3,809 candidates still had some subjects pending due to errors linked to them. TV360 Nigeria WAEC assured that efforts are ongoing to conclude processing for affected candidates.
Performance Compared to Previous Years
One notable finding from the 2025 release is the decline in performance when compared to previous years. WAEC noted that performance in this category declined compared to previous years, where 44.29 percent and 53.64 percent achieved the benchmark in 2023 and 2024 respectively, indicating a drop of 11.47 percent. 36ng
This decline underscores the need for better preparation strategies among private candidates and raises questions about the challenges faced by individuals outside the formal school system. WAEC was careful to note, however, that performance comparisons should not be made with the WASSCE for school candidates, as the private candidates’ examination population consists largely of individuals outside the formal education system.
Results Withheld Due to Malpractice
Not all results have been released. 1,899 candidates’ results, representing 2.89% of the total number of candidates that sat the examination, are being withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice. The cases are being investigated and reports of the investigations will be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination. The Committee’s decisions will be communicated directly to the affected candidates, thereafter. Team Babs Reporting
If your result is among those withheld, WAEC advises you to wait for official communication from the council. Avoid making premature conclusions and ensure you do not engage with individuals claiming to help resolve malpractice cases on your behalf, as this could expose you to fraud.
How to Check Your 2025 CB-WASSCE Result Online
Checking your result is straightforward. WAEC has made the result available online through the official result-checking portal. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the official WAEC result portal at www.waecdirect.org using any internet-enabled device.
Step 2: On the homepage, select the examination type. Choose “CB-WASSCE for Private Candidates” and select the 2025 Second Series.
Step 3: Enter your examination number and other required details such as your date of birth or examination year.
Step 4: Click on the “Check Result” button to view your scores.
Step 5: Review your result carefully across all the subjects you sat for. Take note of any subjects with pending results or any status flags on your result page.
It is important to check your result on the official WAEC portal only. Avoid third-party websites that may display inaccurate or fabricated results.
How to Access Your WAEC Digital Certificate
Following the release of results, WAEC has simultaneously released digital certificates for candidates whose results have been fully processed. Candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to ascertain their status before visiting the Digital Certificate platform (www.waec.org) to access the digital copies of their certificates, which have been released along with the results. Team Babs Reporting
This is part of WAEC’s broader digital transformation agenda. WAEC has launched the full-scale implementation of its innovative WAEC DigiCert digital certificate services, revolutionising access to exam results and credentials for candidates across its five member countries: Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone. TheBoss Newspaper The mobile and web-based platform allows users to access, request, verify, share digital versions of their original certificates, and even recover lost WAEC examination numbers — all from their smartphones or computers.
How to Apply for a Hard Copy (Printed) Certificate
If you prefer or require a physical copy of your certificate, you will need to make a formal application online. Candidates will be required to apply for the printing of the hard copies of their certificates online, through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal (e-Certman). The portal address is https://certrequest.waec.ng/. Team Babs Reporting
Visit the portal, create an account or log in, and follow the step-by-step instructions to submit your application for certificate printing. Note that there may be associated fees for certificate processing and printing.
WAEC has assured candidates that the introduction of digital certificates does not eliminate the production of physical certificates, so candidates can choose either or both options based on their needs.
What to Do If Your Result Is Incomplete or Has Errors
If you notice that some of your subjects are missing or have not been processed, it may be because you fall within the 3,809 candidates (5.79%) whose results are still being finalized. WAEC has stated that these delays are due to errors traceable to the candidates, and the council is working to resolve them as quickly as possible.
In this case, you should periodically return to www.waecdirect.org to check the status of your result. If your result remains incomplete for an extended period, visit the WAEC National Office or any of its state offices with your examination documents for further assistance.
Tips for Candidates Who Did Not Meet the Benchmark
If your result does not meet the minimum requirement for university admission (five credits including English Language and Mathematics), do not be discouraged. There are several options available to you.
You can register for another sitting of the CB-WASSCE, which is conducted twice a year, and retake the subjects in which you did not score a credit. You can also use this time to better prepare with past questions, textbooks, and online learning resources. Alternatively, explore other tertiary education pathways such as polytechnic admission, college of education, or pre-degree programmes that may have different entry requirements.
Remember, a large number of successful Nigerians have had to retake WAEC multiple times before gaining admission. Persistence and proper preparation are key.
WAEC’s Advice to All Candidates
In its official statement, WAEC urged all candidates to carefully check their results and take necessary actions promptly. Candidates whose results have been fully released are advised to proceed to access their digital certificates and apply for hard copies through the e-Certman portal. Those with pending results should exercise patience while WAEC concludes processing.
WAEC also extended congratulations to all candidates who achieved outstanding results, acknowledging the dedication and hard work that made their success possible.
Final Thoughts
The release of the 2025 CB-WASSCE result for private candidates marks a significant milestone for tens of thousands of Nigerians who sat for the examination. Whether you are celebrating a pass, planning to retake certain subjects, or waiting for your result to be fully processed, the most important next step is to visit www.waecdirect.org and check your status today.
Stay informed, act promptly, and use the available digital tools WAEC has provided to access your results and certificates efficiently.
