The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new initiative allowing students to resit their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) earlier than before.
This change means students can now retake their exams in January and February 2025, instead of waiting for the next private exam session.
According to WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi, the program, known as WASSCE PC1, offers students a quicker chance to improve their grades.
Kapi emphasized the importance of acting promptly, as registration for the exams closes on January 8, 2025, with the exams scheduled to take place shortly after.
“Students, who access their WAEC results now and realise they need to resit one or two papers have until 8th January to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés.
“The exams will take place from 24th January to 15th February 2025.”
To help candidates prepare effectively, Kapi said that WAEC plans to release detailed examiners’ reports, which will provide insights into common mistakes and ways to improve performance. The exams will initially be held in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates, but WAEC hopes the program will expand in the future.
He added that students whose results were canceled are eligible for the resit, provided they have not been banned for malpractice. The initiative is also expected to help students avoid setbacks in their academic journey, enabling them to qualify for higher education admissions within the same year.
“For now, the exams will be conducted in regional capitals due to the limited number of candidates. Prospective participants are urged to complete their registration by the 8th of January to take advantage of this opportunity.”
Felix Oluwaseun Agbesanwa, a key stakeholder and Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools in Ogun State, praised the initiative as timely and beneficial.
He suggested extending the registration period to allow more students to participate, while urging candidates to use this opportunity responsibly.
Agbesanwa expressed hope that the policy would reduce examination malpractice and motivate students to focus on improving their performance. He also emphasized the importance of WAEC maintaining transparency in implementing the initiative.
This development is seen as a progressive step in supporting students’ academic aspirations, providing them with an immediate path to success without unnecessary delays.