WASSCE 2026: Performance Statistics Show Social Studies Leads as English Declines

Performance statistics released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) show Social Studies recording the strongest performance among the four core subjects, while English Language continues to decline.

Social Studies recorded 78.04% of candidates obtaining grades A1 to C6, making it the best-performing core subject in 2026.

The figure represents a sharp recovery from 55.82% in 2025 and is also the highest performance recorded by any of the four core subjects between 2023 and 2026.

Core Mathematics also recorded an improvement, with the proportion of candidates obtaining A1 to C6 increasing from 48.73% in 2025 to 60.75% in 2026. Integrated Science similarly improved from 57.74% to 62.08%.

English Language, however, recorded another decline. The proportion of candidates obtaining A1 to C6 fell from 69.00% in 2025 to 62.40% in 2026, continuing a four-year downward trend from 73.11% in 2023.

The four-year statistics show that Social Studies recorded 76.76% in 2023, 71.53% in 2024, 55.82% in 2025, and 78.04% in 2026.

Mathematics recorded 62.23% in 2023, 66.86% in 2024, 48.73% in 2025, and 60.75% in 2026. Integrated Science moved from 66.82% in 2023 to 58.77% in 2024, 57.74% in 2025, and 62.08% in 2026.

English Language recorded 73.11% in 2023, 69.52% in 2024, 69.00% in 2025, and 62.40% in 2026, making it the only core subject to record a progressive decline across the four-year period.

Meanwhile, WAEC reported that 8,295 candidates had their results cancelled or withheld following investigations into examination irregularities.

Subject results were cancelled for 7,434 candidates for bringing foreign materials, including prepared notes, textbooks and printed materials, into examination halls. The entire results of 861 candidates were cancelled for possessing mobile phones in examination halls.

WAEC also withheld the subject results of 957 candidates and the entire results of 270 candidates over various suspected offences.

In addition, some subject results of candidates from 169 schools remain withheld over alleged collusion. WAEC said investigations into these cases are expected to be completed by October 30, 2026, after which the results may either be released or cancelled depending on the outcome.

A total of 512,862 candidates from 1,022 schools registered for the 2026 WASSCE, representing an 11.07% increase over the 461,736 candidates who registered in 2025. Of the candidates registered, 5,049 were absent.

The performance statistics are based on candidates who obtained grades A1 to C6 in the respective core subjects.