Why SSCE candidates sat for exams at night – WAEC

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has said its efforts to prevent examination malpractice were responsible for the delays experienced during the administration of the 2025 English Language paper.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the examination body acknowledged the disruption encountered by candidates during the conduct of Paper 2 of the English Language examination.

The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates began on April 24 and is set to end on June 20, 2025.

Although the English Language paper was scheduled for May 28, it was conducted hours behind schedule at many centres nationwide, resulting in late-night examinations and widespread frustration among students.

WAEC explained that its focus on curbing question paper leakage unintentionally caused logistical setbacks that delayed the process.

“While we succeeded in safeguarding the examination materials, this inadvertently affected the timeliness and smooth execution of the process,” WAEC’s spokesperson, Moyosola Adesina, told TheCable.

The council also pointed to additional factors such as logistical difficulties, security concerns, and sociocultural issues that contributed to the delays.

WAEC said it is working in collaboration with security agencies to prevent a recurrence of such disruptions in the future.

The examination body apologised to students, schools, and parents for the inconvenience caused and expressed gratitude to all stakeholders for their patience and understanding during what it described as a “challenging period.”

Reaffirming its commitment to upholding examination integrity and promoting academic excellence, WAEC assured the public of its dedication to improving the examination process.

“We understand the importance of conducting examinations on schedule, and recognise the impacts delays have on candidates, their schools, and their families,” Adesina added.