The West African Examinations Council has revealed that 32.72 percent of candidates who participated in the 2026 Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination for Private Candidates (First Series) achieved credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
According to the council, 3,429 out of 10,480 candidates who sat for the nationwide examination attained the benchmark. The examination was conducted between January 28 and February 14, 2026.
A breakdown of the successful candidates shows that 1,847 were male (53.86 percent) while 1,582 were female (46.14 percent), indicating a relatively balanced performance between both genders.
Reacting to the outcome, WAEC described the results as encouraging. In a post on its X account on Friday, the council attributed the improvement to better candidate preparation and ongoing efforts to strengthen the examination process.
WAEC stated that the 2026 pass rate marks a 5.76 percent improvement compared with the 26.96 percent recorded in 2025, reflecting gradual progress in the performance of private candidates over the years.
The council also noted that the increase from 30.95 percent in 2024 to the current figure further highlights a steady upward trend in results among private candidates.
WAEC reaffirmed its commitment to providing credible and fair examinations for all candidates, whether private or school-based, while maintaining regional academic standards. The council also congratulated candidates who met the required benchmark and encouraged others to remain determined in their pursuit of success.
Meanwhile, the examination body disclosed that results of 75 candidates have been withheld over allegations of examination malpractice.
WAEC explained that the suspected cases are currently being investigated and that reports will be presented to the appropriate committee of the council for review and final decisions.
It added that once the review process is completed, the outcomes will be communicated directly to the affected candidates in accordance with due process.
