Exam period: Wednesday 28 Jan – Saturday 14 Feb 2026 — this series is ongoing or just completed as of early February.

WAEC CB-WASSCE 2026 (Private Candidates, First Series)

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) administers the Common-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE). In 2026, WAEC is holding a “First Series” specifically for private candidates — this is basically a January/February exam cycle outside the regular school session, intended for those seeking certification, grade improvement, or first-time entry.

📆 Official Exam Dates

📅 Start: Wednesday, 28 January 2026

📅 End: Saturday, 14 February 2026

This full exam window runs for about 18 days, with different subjects scheduled on specific dates.

🧠 Why It’s Important

This First Series is vital for students who are:

Private candidates (not enrolled full-time in a secondary school)

Repeaters wanting to improve WAEC results

Adults returning to complete their SSCE qualification

Tertiary admission seekers needing WAEC results for university/college entry

Unlike the larger May/June series (usually for school candidates), this January/February series lets candidates sit examinations earlier in the year.

🖥 Format of the Exam

Computer-Based Testing (CBT): This series is conducted fully via CBT — meaning multiple-choice questions and some objective components are answered online at designated CBT centres.

Hybrid Papers: Subjects requiring essay answers or practical work may involve a written component or alternative to practical questions where you answer theory-based versions of practical tasks.

📌 Sample Timetable Highlights

Here’s what the early part of the schedule looks like (note: times and durations are as per the official WAEC timetable):

📅 28 January 2026 — Wednesday

Hausa (Essay & Objective)

Igbo (Essay & Objective)

Yoruba (Essay & Objective)
Candidates sit the paper only for the language(s) they registered for.

📅 29 January 2026 — Thursday

Biology (Essay, Objective & Alternative to Practical)

📅 30 January 2026 — Friday

Financial Accounting (Theory & Objective)

📅 31 January 2026 — Saturday

General Mathematics / Mathematics (Core) (Essay & Objective)

📅 3 February 2026 — Tuesday

Agricultural Science (Essay, Objective & Alternative to Practical)

📅 4 February 2026 — Wednesday

Christian Religious Studies

Islamic Studies

📅 5 February 2026 — Thursday

Physics (Essay, Objective & Alternative to Practical)

📅 6 February 2026 — Friday

Geography (Essay, Objective & Physical geography/practical)

📅 7 February 2026 — Saturday

English Language (Essay, Objective & Oral test)

(The full timetable continues through Chemistry, Literature-in-English, Further Mathematics, Economics, Government, Commerce, and Civic Education — all concluding by 14 February.)

📍 Key Candidate Requirements
📌 Registration

Registration for the First Series typically closed by late January 2026, with the timetable published and circulated before exams began.

📍 Practical / Oral Components

Practical Subjects: Some sciences and vocational subjects have “Alternative to Practical Work” papers — this means that instead of doing hands-on lab work, candidates answer theory-based questions about practical processes.

English Oral: For English Language, there may be an oral/test of orals element scheduled separately on the exam day.

📍 Important Tips for Candidates

✔ Make sure you double-check your personal timetable — WAEC provides a personalized timetable to each candidate showing exact dates, paper codes, and times.
✔ Arrive early at the CBT centre — at least 30 minutes before the start time.
✔ Bring your WAEC exam slip and valid ID.
✔ Follow all rules strictly — WAEC enforces a zero-tolerance policy on malpractice.

🧠 Summary

Exam window: 28 Jan → 14 Feb 2026

Format: Computer-Based Test (CBT) with hybrid elements

Purpose: Gives private candidates a chance to sit WAEC outside the main May/June series

Key subjects: Language, sciences, maths, socials, arts, practicals & orals