The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has extended the registration deadline for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) to March 13, 2026, giving candidates and schools more time to complete their registration.
WAEC announced the extension on Friday through its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
The council explained that the decision followed the approval of Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who allowed the additional time so that candidates facing registration challenges can resolve them before the examination process moves forward.
According to WAEC, the new deadline of Friday, March 13, 2026, is the final date for registration. The examination body therefore urged students, schools, and other stakeholders to take advantage of the extension to complete all necessary registration steps.
WAEC also stressed that no further extension will be granted after the new deadline. Candidates who fail to complete their registration before the closing date may not be able to participate in the 2026 examination.
The 2026 WASSCE will be conducted using a computer-based testing (CBT) format.
This marks another step in the Federal Government’s effort to modernise the examination system and reduce the cases of examination malpractice that have affected traditional paper-based exams over the years.
Education authorities believe that the use of computer-based examinations will improve the credibility, efficiency, and transparency of the testing process.
It is also expected to help speed up marking and result processing while ensuring that students across the country have fair and equal access to the examination.
The WASSCE is conducted every year by WAEC across several English-speaking countries in West Africa.
It remains one of the most important examinations for secondary school students, as it serves as a key requirement for graduation from secondary school and admission into universities, polytechnics, and other higher institutions.
Students and schools are therefore encouraged to complete their registration before the new deadline to avoid missing the opportunity to sit for the examination.
