BREAKING: WAEC 2026 Results Out! Here's How To Check Your Grades

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has made significant announcements regarding the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE) results. While the results for school candidates have been officially released, private candidates are expected to have their results released today, August 4, as previously announced by the examination body.

For school candidates, the Head of the WAEC National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, officially released the results in Lagos. A total of 1,959,668 candidates from 24,207 schools across Nigeria, the Benin Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, and Equatorial Guinea registered for the examination, with 1,950,726 candidates actually sitting for it. Impressively, 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54%, obtained credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. This figure, however, reflects a slight decrease of 1.42% compared to the 2025 examination. Breaking down these statistics further, 558,883 males (28.65%) and 641,631 females (32.89%) achieved this benchmark. Overall, 1,687,378 candidates, or 86.50%, secured credits in at least five subjects, regardless of whether English Language and Mathematics were included. The council noted that 953,459 males (48.88%) and 997,267 females (51.12%) sat the examination.

Regarding result processing, WAEC confirmed that 1,834,695 candidates (94.05%) have had their results fully processed and released, while the results of 116,031 candidates (5.95%) are still undergoing processing. Special provisions were made for 1,213 candidates with special needs, including 137 visually impaired, 491 hearing impaired, 55 spastic and mentally challenged, and 41 physically challenged individuals.

A significant concern highlighted was examination malpractice. WAEC withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, accounting for 8.59%, due to various offenses. This is a reduction from the 9.7% recorded in 2025. Dr. Dangut pointed out persistent issues such as the increasing use of cell phones in examination halls despite existing bans and instances of organized cheating in some schools. Supervisors and invigilators found aiding cheating have been arrested and will face sanctions from State Ministries of Education. This 2026 examination marks the second Computer-Based WASSCE for school candidates, and Dr. Dangut's third and final media briefing as Head of the WAEC National Office. WAEC also introduced new measures to enhance the examination process, including the Digital Examiner Mark System (DEMS) for faster marking, serialized question papers to reduce malpractice, and a new portal enabling candidates to generate e-PINs directly for result checking.

For private candidates, whose results are anticipated today, August 4, WAEC provides several convenient methods for checking results. Candidates can check their results online, through the WAEC Result Checker mobile app, or via SMS. To check results online, candidates require their 10-digit examination number, a valid WAEC Result Checker e-PIN with its serial number, and an internet-enabled device.

The seven easy steps to check your WAEC 2026 result online include: visiting the official WAEC result portal, entering your 10-digit examination number, selecting the 2026 examination year, choosing the appropriate examination type, entering your WAEC Result Checker e-PIN and serial number, clicking the “Submit” button, and finally, viewing, printing, or saving your result. Candidates without an e-PIN can purchase one through the WAEC online portal by selecting “Buy WAEC Result Checker,” choosing the examination type, entering details, and completing a ₦5,000 payment. The e-PIN and serial number are issued immediately after payment. Importantly, WAEC states that Result Checker scratch cards from previous years remain valid and can be used up to five times for a single candidate’s examination number, though each candidate must use a separate card.

Alternatively, results can be checked using the WAEC Result Checker mobile app, downloadable from the Google Play Store. After installation, candidates enter their examination details and e-PIN information to view or download results. For those without internet access, results can be checked by SMS. Send a message in the format: WAEC*Examination Number*PIN*Examination Year to 32327 using an MTN, Glo, or Airtel line. Standard SMS charges apply.

WAEC employs a specific grading system. Grades A1, B2, and B3 signify distinction and merit passes. C4, C5, and C6 are classified as credit passes. D7 and E8 are ordinary passes below credit level, while F9 indicates a fail. For admission into most Nigerian universities, candidates are typically expected to secure at least five credit passes, which must include English Language and Mathematics, with C6 being the minimum acceptable credit grade.