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Els MBN360
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the provisional results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), revealing a concerning trend in student performance. Nearly one in four candidates failed Core Mathematics and Social Studies, with failure rates soaring to 26.77% and 27.50%, respectively.
The results show a significant decline in performance compared to 2024, with Core Mathematics recording a 20.67 percentage point increase in failures and Social Studies experiencing an 188% rise. Integrated Science and English Language also saw notable increases in failure rates, at 16.05% and 12.86%, respectively.
The WAEC attributes the decline to specific skill gaps among students, including weaknesses in representing mathematical information in diagrams and solving global mathematics-related problems. The examination council also reported widespread malpractice, resulting in sanctions against thousands of candidates and educational personnel.
A total of 461,736 candidates registered for the examination, with 6,295 having their subject results annulled for bringing unauthorized materials into the examination hall. The results of 653 candidates were canceled entirely for possessing mobile phones.
Even the core literacy and science subjects saw failure rates more than double:
- Integrated Science: The F9 rate climbed from 7.12% in 2024 to 16.05% in 2025, an increase of 8.93 percentage points.
- English Language: The percentage of candidates receiving an F9 more than doubled, moving from 5.88% in 2024 to 12.86% in 2025.
| Core Subject | 2024 F9 Percentage | 2025 F9 Percentage |
| Mathematics (Core) | 6.10% | 26.77% |
| Social Studies | 9.55% | 27.50% |
| Integrated Science | 7.12% | 16.05% |
| English Language | 5.88% | 12.86% |
The release of the provisional results by WAEC on November 29, 2025, was also marred by an unprecedented crackdown on examination malpractice.
The Ghana Examinations Committee approved severe sanctions against thousands of candidates and dozens of educational personnel.
Key sanctions include:
- Subject Results Cancelled: 6,295 candidates had their subject results annulled for bringing unauthorized materials like notes, textbooks, and printed material into the examination hall.
- Entire Results Cancelled: The results of 653 candidates were canceled entirely for the possession of mobile phones in the examination hall.
- Withheld Results: The subject results of 908 candidates and the entire results of 158 candidates remain withheld pending investigations into various suspected offences.
- School Collusion: Results for candidates from 185 schools were withheld for alleged collusion.
In addition, 35 persons, including 19 teachers, who compromised the integrity of the examination face legal and disciplinary action. Already, 19 of those individuals have been arraigned before court and convicted to fines or prison terms.
