The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative allowing students to resit their West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) papers as early as January and February 2025.
This development marks a departure from the traditional system, where candidates had to wait for the next private examination cycle to retake their papers.
Speaking on JoyNews’ AM Show in Ghana on December 31, the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, explained that the new programme, dubbed WASSCE PC1, offers students an expedited opportunity to improve their grades.
“Students who access their results now and realize they need to resit one or two papers have until January 8th to register online through our website or at WAEC-accredited internet cafés,” Kapi stated. “The exams are scheduled to take place between January 24th and February 15th, 2025.”
To support candidates in their preparations, WAEC plans to release chief examiners’ reports earlier than usual. “These reports will provide comprehensive feedback on common errors made by candidates and offer insights into better examination techniques,” Kapi added.
WAEC has made significant efforts to publicize the initiative through banners, its website, and the results checker platform to ensure that students and parents are well-informed.
Candidates whose results were cancelled due to issues such as malpractice are also eligible to participate in the WASSCE PC1 exams, provided they are not serving a ban period.
“For now, the exams will only be conducted in regional capitals due to the relatively small number of candidates expected. Prospective participants are encouraged to complete their registration by January 8th to take full advantage of this opportunity,” Kapi noted.
WAEC expressed optimism about the new programme, emphasizing its potential to allow students to quickly address academic shortcomings, improve their grades, and meet the requirements for the next admission cycle. This, the council hopes, will prevent the delays in academic progress that many candidates face.
