The West African Examinations Council has surprised many stakeholders by delaying its complete switch to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for the Senior School Certificate Examinations.
Moreover, the change has drawn wide attention because the full transition was earlier expected in 2026.
WAEC confirmed that the new date for full CBT implementation will now be 2027.
However, the May/June 2026 WASSCE will still be used as a major pilot test.
During this test run, students will choose either the CBT platform or the familiar paper-and-pen method.
Therefore, no student will be forced into the digital format during the early trial stage.
This update was shared by Hajia Binta Abdulkadir, the Chairman of the Nigeria National Committee of WAEC.
She addressed the issue while speaking at the 63rd Annual Meeting of the NNC.
Meanwhile, the committee, which serves as WAEC’s highest decision-making body in Nigeria, has been reviewing concerns raised by educators and parents about the government’s earlier directive for all exams to adopt full CBT by 2026.
Hajia Abdulkadir assured anxious stakeholders that students would not be placed at a disadvantage.
“I want to assure that no candidate sitting the 2026 WASSCE will be disenfranchised in any form,” she said.
Furthermore, she highlighted the council’s ongoing preparations for a smooth transition.
In addition, she explained that WAEC has been training senior school students through pilot exercises that involve using tablets and digital pens for essay questions.
These early trials were designed to help students understand the CBT system before it becomes the main process.
The WAEC CBT transition also comes at a time when the school curriculum has been reviewed.
Speaking on the changes, Hajia Abdulkadir clarified that candidates would not be limited when selecting subjects from different fields.
She stated, “Science students are not barred from taking Economics as an elective to complete their subject selection.”
Furthermore, WAEC has extended the timeline for uploading Continuous Assessment Scores.
This extension will help schools capture details for every candidate, especially those taking new subjects listed under the Federal Government’s approved structure for the 2026 exam.
Consequently, the new date is expected to give schools more time to prepare, particularly in communities with limited access to digital tools.
