Cause for withholding results

The results of 191,053 candidates who sat for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) are being withheld, a decision directly linked to alleged involvement in various forms of examination malpractice. This figure represents 9.7% of the total number of candidates who took the exam.

The Cause of Withheld Results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has a zero-tolerance policy for examination malpractice, and the withheld results are a direct consequence of their efforts to maintain the integrity of the examination. The primary causes for withholding the results are:

  • Collusion and Organized Cheating: WAEC reported that despite new, stricter anti-malpractice measures, there were still instances of organized cheating in some schools. The serialization of objective test papers in key subjects like English Language and Mathematics was designed to make collusion difficult, but some students and schools still attempted to find ways around it.
  • Use of Banned Mobile Devices: A persistent issue cited by WAEC is the use of mobile phones and other electronic devices in examination halls. These devices are often used to receive or transmit answers, which is a major form of malpractice.
  • Involvement of Rogue Website Operators and Supervisors: WAEC has also been actively working to apprehend rogue website operators and compromised supervisors who aid and abet cheating. The withheld results are part of a broader effort to sanction all individuals and centers involved in such fraudulent practices.

The Withholding Process

When results are withheld, it means an investigation is ongoing. The results are not immediately canceled. The cases of malpractice are reviewed by the Council’s appropriate committee. Once the committee concludes its review, it will make a final decision, which can range from releasing the results to outright cancellation. Affected candidates and their schools are notified of the decision.

For candidates whose results are being withheld, WAEC has an online portal where they can view the reasons for the action.

WAEC releases corrected results

The biggest news is that WAEC has released corrected results following the discovery of a significant grading error.

Here’s a breakdown of the key developments:

  • Initial Error and Low Pass Rate: WAEC initially released results on August 4, 2025, which showed a mass failure with only 38.32% of candidates achieving five credits, including English Language and Mathematics. This led to widespread public concern and outrage.
  • Discovery of a Technical Glitch: During an internal review, WAEC discovered that a wrong serialised code file was used in the printing of the English Language Objective paper. This led to the use of incorrect marking keys, which significantly affected the results of many candidates. This error was a result of new anti-malpractice measures, which involved the serialization of objective test papers in core subjects.
  • Correction and Apology: On Friday, August 8, 2025, WAEC’s Head of National Office, Dr. Amos Dangut, held a press conference to announce the release of the reviewed results and apologize for the error. He acknowledged the emotional distress caused to candidates, parents, and other stakeholders.
  • Improved Pass Rate: The corrected results show a substantial increase in performance. The pass rate for candidates with at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, has now risen to 62.96%, a significant improvement from the initial 38.32%.
  • Withheld Results: The results of 191,053 candidates (9.7% of the total) are still being withheld due to various cases of examination malpractice under investigation. This is a lower percentage than the previous year.
  • Action for Candidates: WAEC has advised all candidates to recheck their results on the official portal, www.waecdirect.org. They also stated that candidates can apply for their digital certificates 48 hours after their results are verified, with hard copies becoming available in 90 days.
  • Unpaid Fees: WAEC also mentioned that some candidates sponsored by state governments are still unable to access their results because of unpaid examination fees. They appealed to the relevant authorities to settle their debts.

The corrected results have brought a sense of relief to many, but the incident has highlighted the need for more robust systems and quality control in the administration of public examinations. Sources

Stay tuned for more updates

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