Frequently Asked Questions about the SSCE
The Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) is the final examination written by students in Nigerian secondary schools at the end of their six years education in secondary school. The SSCE is important for two major reasons.
First, the SSCE is a required examination before the award of the senior secondary school certificate. Also, the SSCE is mandatory for admission into any Nigerian University, Polytechnic, Mono-technic and College of education.
The SSCE is conducted by two different examination boards: the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO). Students have the choice of either writing the two exams WAEC and NECO or just one of them.
What are the differences between the WAEC and NECO exams?
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) is responsible for conducting the senior secondary school examination (SSCE) in several West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WAEC conducts two major examinations in Nigeria.
First, WAEC conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for senior secondary school students. The WASSCE is intended for students writing their final examination in senior secondary school three (SS3). The WASSCE examination is held every year in May and June.
The second exam conducted by WAEC is the Private Candidate Examination often referred to as the General Certificate Examination (GCE). The GCE is held every year in November and December. The GCE is open to anyone who is interested in doing this examination.
The National Examination Council (NECO) is the Nigerian examination board responsible for conducting the SSCE for senior secondary school students. NECO was established by the Nigerian government as an alternative to WAEC. NECO conducts SSCE examinations only in Nigeria.
NECO conducts two examinations in Nigeria. The first is the NECO senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE) which is held in June and July. The NECO SSCE is intended for students in the sixth year of their secondary school education (SS3).
The second examination conducted by NECO is the external SSCE examination which is held in November and December. The second examination is open to anyone who is interested and the NECO equivalent of the GCE.
Am I qualified to sit the NECO or WAEC exam?
The qualification requirements for WAEC and NECO are basically the same. The May/June SSCE organized by WAEC and the June/July SSCE organized by NECO are available for students who are in their third year of senior secondary school often referred to as SS3.
The SSCE is the final examination for secondary school students after six years in school and is required to be awarded the secondary school certificates.
How do I register for the SSCE?
For the May/June SSCE, students can register at their secondary schools for a fixed amount set by the WAEC. Similarly, for the June/July SSCE students can register for the examination at their secondary schools for a fixed amount set by NECO.
It is important to note, that only registered and accredited secondary schools are allowed to register candidates for SSCE. All government-owned secondary schools in Nigeria are allowed to register candidates for SSCE.
Also, some private secondary schools are approved to register candidates for SSCE. If you’re planning to write your SSCE in a private secondary school ensure that your school is approved by the government to register candidates for SSCE.
What subjects can I choose in the SSCE?
The current SSCE curriculum requires students to take a total of 8-9 subjects. Subjects have to be chosen in the following manner:
First, the SSCE is a required examination before the award of the senior secondary school certificate. Also, the SSCE is mandatory for admission into any Nigerian University, Polytechnic, Mono-technic and College of education.
The SSCE is conducted by two different examination boards: the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council (NECO). Students have the choice of either writing the two exams WAEC and NECO or just one of them.
What are the differences between the WAEC and NECO exams?
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) is responsible for conducting the senior secondary school examination (SSCE) in several West African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia and Sierra Leone. WAEC conducts two major examinations in Nigeria.
First, WAEC conducts the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for senior secondary school students. The WASSCE is intended for students writing their final examination in senior secondary school three (SS3). The WASSCE examination is held every year in May and June.
The second exam conducted by WAEC is the Private Candidate Examination often referred to as the General Certificate Examination (GCE). The GCE is held every year in November and December. The GCE is open to anyone who is interested in doing this examination.
The National Examination Council (NECO) is the Nigerian examination board responsible for conducting the SSCE for senior secondary school students. NECO was established by the Nigerian government as an alternative to WAEC. NECO conducts SSCE examinations only in Nigeria.
NECO conducts two examinations in Nigeria. The first is the NECO senior secondary school certificate examination (SSCE) which is held in June and July. The NECO SSCE is intended for students in the sixth year of their secondary school education (SS3).
The second examination conducted by NECO is the external SSCE examination which is held in November and December. The second examination is open to anyone who is interested and the NECO equivalent of the GCE.
Am I qualified to sit the NECO or WAEC exam?
The qualification requirements for WAEC and NECO are basically the same. The May/June SSCE organized by WAEC and the June/July SSCE organized by NECO are available for students who are in their third year of senior secondary school often referred to as SS3.
The SSCE is the final examination for secondary school students after six years in school and is required to be awarded the secondary school certificates.
How do I register for the SSCE?
For the May/June SSCE, students can register at their secondary schools for a fixed amount set by the WAEC. Similarly, for the June/July SSCE students can register for the examination at their secondary schools for a fixed amount set by NECO.
It is important to note, that only registered and accredited secondary schools are allowed to register candidates for SSCE. All government-owned secondary schools in Nigeria are allowed to register candidates for SSCE.
Also, some private secondary schools are approved to register candidates for SSCE. If you’re planning to write your SSCE in a private secondary school ensure that your school is approved by the government to register candidates for SSCE.
What subjects can I choose in the SSCE?
The current SSCE curriculum requires students to take a total of 8-9 subjects. Subjects have to be chosen in the following manner:
- English Language, General Mathematics and Civic Education are mandatory
- A minimum of three and a maximum of four subjects have to be chosen from the students preferred field of study (Sciences & Mathematics, Technology, Humanities or Business Studies)
- At least one trade subject has to be chosen
- The remaining subjects may be chosen either from a different field of study or the trade category
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English Language
General Mathematics
Civic Education
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Biology Chemistry Physics Further Mathematics Agriculture Physical Education Health Education ICT |
Technical Drawing General Metal Work Basic Electricity Electronics Auto-Mechanics Building Construction Wood-Work Home Management Foods & Nutrition Clothing & Textiles |
Nigerian Languages Literature-in-English Geography Government C.R.S. Islamic Studies History Visual Arts Music French Arabic Economics |
Accounting Store Management Office Practice Insurance Commerce |
Trade Subjects
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Auto Body repair and spray painting Auto Electrical work Auto Mechanical work Auto Parts merchandising Air Conditioning Welding & fabrication Engineering Craft Practice Electrical Installation and Maintenance Work Radio, TV and electrical work Block Laying, Brick Laying and Concrete Work Painting and Decoration Plumbing and pipe fitting Machine woodworking Carpentry and Joinery Furniture Making Upholstery Catering and Craft Practice Garment Making |
Textile Trade Dying and Bleaching Printing Craft Practice Cosmetology Leather Goods Manufacturing and Repair Keyboarding Data Processing Store Keeping Book Keeping GSM maintenance Photography Tourism Mining Animal Husbandry Fisheries Marketing Salesmanship |
How is the SSCE structured?
The WAEC SSCE and the NECO SSCE have a very similar format.
The SSCE has two major sections for most subjects – objective questions and theory. The objective questions section is made up of a series of multiple choice questions which give you several answer options. You will be expected to tick the appropriate answer as it relates to the questions.
The theory section is made up of questions where no answer options have been provided. You will be expected to come up with your own solution. For English language, Literature in English, and science related subjects such as Biology, Physics, and Chemistry the examination may have more than two segments. You will be informed about the exact structure before the start of the exam.
How will I be graded?
WAEC and NECO use a similar grading system to determine student score after marking their examination scripts. The maximum score or mark for each subject is 100%. The following grading system will indicate students’ score for each subject when the results are released:
A1 - Excellent - 95 - 100%
B2 - Very Good - 80% - 94%
B3 - Good - 65%- 79%
C4 - Credit - 60% - 64%
C5 - Credit - 55% - 59%
C6 - Credit - 50% - 54%
D7 - Pass - 45% - 49%
E8 - Pass - 40% - 44%
F9 - Fail - 0% - 39%
Students are expected to score at least 5 credits which must include English Language, Mathematics and one science based subject to be considered successful in SSCE.
What can I do to prepare?
In order to prepare well it is important that you familiarise yourself with the SSCE syllabus. At SucceedNG we have collected the relevant syllabi for you. Please click on the button below to acces them.
The WAEC SSCE and the NECO SSCE have a very similar format.
The SSCE has two major sections for most subjects – objective questions and theory. The objective questions section is made up of a series of multiple choice questions which give you several answer options. You will be expected to tick the appropriate answer as it relates to the questions.
The theory section is made up of questions where no answer options have been provided. You will be expected to come up with your own solution. For English language, Literature in English, and science related subjects such as Biology, Physics, and Chemistry the examination may have more than two segments. You will be informed about the exact structure before the start of the exam.
How will I be graded?
WAEC and NECO use a similar grading system to determine student score after marking their examination scripts. The maximum score or mark for each subject is 100%. The following grading system will indicate students’ score for each subject when the results are released:
A1 - Excellent - 95 - 100%
B2 - Very Good - 80% - 94%
B3 - Good - 65%- 79%
C4 - Credit - 60% - 64%
C5 - Credit - 55% - 59%
C6 - Credit - 50% - 54%
D7 - Pass - 45% - 49%
E8 - Pass - 40% - 44%
F9 - Fail - 0% - 39%
Students are expected to score at least 5 credits which must include English Language, Mathematics and one science based subject to be considered successful in SSCE.
What can I do to prepare?
In order to prepare well it is important that you familiarise yourself with the SSCE syllabus. At SucceedNG we have collected the relevant syllabi for you. Please click on the button below to acces them.
