2023 WAEC GCE Registration Guideline, Fees and Instructions

The Registration for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for private candidates’ 2023 Second Series started on the 10th of July, 2023. The 2023 WASSCE examination has thirty-six (36) available subjects, and prospective candidates can confirm available towns and subjects at the official WAEC platform, www.waecnigeria.org.

Applicants who are interested in the WASSCE GCE registration should know that they have to verify their biometrics for validation at the nearest WAEC exam centres in their area. Candidates should take note that the WAEC GCE registration period ends on the 15th of October, 2023.

The WASSCE (WAEC) GCE registration fee is Eighteen thousand Naira (18,000). Candidates must finalize registration within two weeks of first accessing the website, to avoid duplicate registration or deletion of previously inserted data.

2023 WAEC GCE Registration Quick Overview.

Name of EXAM	West African Examination Council (WAEC)
EXAM Details	WASSCE for Private Candidates 2023 – Second (2nd) Series
Registration Date	Registration starts on July 10, 2023, and ends on 15th October 2023
Registration Fee	Eighteen Thousand Naira (N18,000) Only
Walk-in Registration	Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred Naira (N30,500)
Subjects Offered	Thirty-six (36) subjects are available to all candidates.
Registration Requirements	National Identification Number (NIN) and biometric features
How to Apply	Pay the registration fee, obtain the WAEC registration PIN, and begin your application at registration.waecdirect.org

What is WAEC GCE 2nd series?

In December 2017, WAEC announced that it will begin to hold WAEC GCE exams twice a year; the first set to be held by January/February (which will be called the 1st series) while the second set will be held by August/September (2nd series). However, the WAEC GCE exams were held only once a year.

The sales of the WAEC GCE 2nd series registration form usually commence around July while the exam is held from August to September. Although this year’s is different. The examination starts in October and ends in December 2023.

When is WAEC GCE Result 2nd series released?

After writing the WAEC GCE exams, the WAEC GCE results are usually released within forty (40) to forty-five (45) days.

Why is WAEC GCE 2nd Series Important?

Candidates who either failed their WAEC SSCE exam or NECO SSCE exam (or any core subject related to their course) and still want to get admitted in this academic session, can use the WAEC GCE exam as a backup plan.

Candidates must complete the WAEC GCE registration within two weeks of accessing the GCE registration portal before the deadline.

Where to Buy WAEC GCE Registration Pin.

The pin is used for the registration. When you purchase the WAEC GCE pin, you will be given an information VCD. You can purchase the WAEC GCE Registration PIN from the following commercial banks listed below. Go to the nearest one in your area to purchase one.

Online platforms like Opay, Remita, etc.
Access Bank Plc.
Ecobank Ltd.
Fidelity Bank Plc.
First Bank Of Nigeria.
Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO).
WEMA Bank.
First City Monument Bank (FCMB).
Heritage Bank.
JAIZ Bank.
Sterling Bank.
Polaris Bank.
Stanbic IBTC Bank.
Standard Chartered Bank.
Union Bank of Nigeria.
Zenith Bank.
United Bank of Africa (UBA).
Unity Bank PLC.

How to Register for the WAEC GCE Examination?

Unlike JAMB registration where you must go to an approved CBT registration centre near you, which is usually crowded and time-wasting, WAEC GCE registration is exactly the opposite. You can easily register for the WAEC GCE Examination from the comfort of your home, or by going to a cyber cafe close to you.

Contact Information.

Note that you are required to supply your contact information during registration which usually include the following:

Your Telephone Number,
Your email address,
Your residential address,
Your residential city,
Your residential state,
Your postal address,
Your city,
Your state.

Step 1: Purchase the WAEC GCE Registration Pin

Visit any of the stipulated outlets to purchase the WAEC GCE registration pin or you can choose to purchase it online using trustworthy vendors like Opay, Remita, etc. The Cost of the WAEC GCE pin is between N18,000 to N19,500 depending on where you purchase it from.

Step 2: Download the WAEC Biometrics Data Capture Software.

The West African Examination Council has a special software it uses to capture candidates’ biometrics, you can download the software from here. However, this software will work on Laptops/PC that has biometric scanners.

Step 3: Fill in your Name and Capture your Thumb and Face.

After downloading the WAEC biometrics data capture software, fill in your correct surname, first name and middle name. Also, enter your correct date of birth and gender. Make sure you fill all parts of the forms with the correct information as required.

Note: Make sure you use your correct Date of Birth and other information when filling the form, because there’s the possibility that you canot change it after submission.

You will be required to enter a username and password for your WAEC profile creation. You will need this in step 4. Capture your fingerprint using a fingerprint scanner and capture your face using a webcam.

Step 4: Select your Exam Town and Subjects.

When you are done with Step 3, a profile will be created for you on the WAEC SSCE registration portal. Follow the steps below to continue with your WAEC GCE registration.

Visit the WAEC registration portal here.
Log in with the username and password you entered in Step 3.
After you’ve successfully login, select the subjects of your choice you’re good at, and the town where you want to write the exam.
Before clicking on the Submit button to submit the Registration form, see Step 5 below.

Step 5: Preview the Information.

You should endeavour to go through the information you filled in so far and cross-check if you made any errors while filling out the WAEC GCE registration form. Make sure your names are correct, and the subjects you chose are in line with the course you want to study at a tertiary institution.

If the information you provided is correct and accurate, then you can proceed by clicking on the SUBMIT button to submit the registration form.

At this stage, a WAEC examination number and exam centre will be generated for you.

Step 6: Print your WAEC Exam Photocard.

You can easily print out your WAEC exam photocard by clicking on the print button or ctrl+p on your keyboard to print your WAEC exam photocard.

The WAEC Exam Photocard is mandatory for all candidates and will be used to gain entry into the exam hall.

The WAEC examination photocard contains important details about you, including your:

WAEC Exam Nmber,
Your Name,
List/Number of Subjects you are attempting in the exam,
Free WAEC result checker PIN.

I’ll recommend you make a photocopy of the WAEC Exam photocard and keep it somewhere safe, or upload it to your Google Drive/email where you can always and freely access it anytime and anywhere.

General Information for WAEC GCE Exam.

WAEC GCE board will not refund your Examination registration fees after you’ve purchased the PIN.
Candidates should view the VCD they were given after the purchase of the PIN before they register for the examination.
Candidates should ensure they print out the WAEC GCE examination Timetable after completing the WAEC GCE registration. This is to ensure they know the exam date and time of subjects they’re attempting in the examination.
Entries must be uploaded with good-quality passport-size photographs, not “wait and get” photographs. Make sure the photograph is clear, and the background of such photographs MUST NOT BE BLUE OR RED. The size should be 275 by 314 pixels. Submission of unacceptable passport photographs will be rejected by the registration portal.
I’d recommend that all WAEC GCE candidates go through the WAEC GCE Syllabuses and regulations as well as the Timetable for the examination which they can be downloaded directly from the WAEC’s website (www.waeconline.org.ng) using your registration PIN.
Candidates should go to the exam hall with the mufti. Uniforms of any kind are not allowed in the examination hall.
The entire subjects (result) of candidates who sit for the exam in more than one examination centre will be withheld.
Smoking and alcohol are not allowed in the examination hall.
Mobile phone, or electronic or communication gadgets are prohibited. Candidate found with any of these devices will have his/her entire results cancelled.
It is crucial that all candidates sitting for the WAEC GCE examination uploaded their correct details. The WAEC GCE board will not be held responsible for errors in candidates’ particulars. Request for correction will be entertained on any information which a candidate voluntarily gives at the point of registration as soon as the examination commences.
All candidates sitting for the WAEC GCE examination must come into the examination hall with their original photo cards.
Candidates caught in examination malpractice will have their results cancelled and reported to the Nigerian police force.

Important Tips for 2023 WAEC GCE Candidates.

1. Choose the Right Subject Combination.

Choosing the wrong subject combinations during your WAEC G.C.E registrations will have serious implications when applying for admission into any tertiary institution. You can’t mix Art, Science, Commercial, or social science subjects.

Your subject combination should tally with the course you want to study in a higher institution. Both English Language and Mathematics have been automatically selected for you because they are compulsory.

Before buying the WAEC G.C.E registration Form/PIN, you should check the subject combination of the course you want to apply for in tertiary institutions first and see the core subjects needed for that particular course. This would help you avoid future mishaps.

Some of the mandatory subjects you should include in your Subject Selection include;

Art candidates: Mathematics, English Language, Literature in English and Government.

Commercial candidates: Mathematics, English Language, Economics, Commerce, Accounting and Government.

Science candidates: Mathematics, English Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Geography.

2. Cross Check your Biodata.

This is very important. When filling out the Registration form, candidates should endeavour to cross-check their biodate. bio-data includes your names, date of birth, state of origin and local government of origin.

After you’ve filled the registration form, ensure that before you click on the SUBMIT button, that you cross-check if this information was filled in correctly. You can check your birth certificate to see how your names are arranged and your date of birth to avoid making any mistakes during your registration.

3. Making Good Grades in One Sitting.

Some tertiary institutions prefer candidates with good grade in one sittings. Which is why I always advise candidates sitting for their o’level (WAEC, GCE, NECO) examination, to try their possible best and get good grades in their core subjects in one sitting.

Making good grades in one sitting is very favorable when applying for admission into any Tertiary institution of your choice. One good result will make it easier for you when applying for tertiary education, you can use a single result instead of combining two results.

Some schools give bonus marks to candidates who apply with one O’level result.

4. Keep Safe Your WAEC Exam Number.

We’ve had issues of candidates either misplacing their WAEC exam numbers after writing the WAEC GCE exam or just forget about it. This could be an issue when you need to check your result or collect your original WAEC certificate. The original WAEC result/certificate is mandatory when you’ve been admitted into any tertiary institution in Nigeria.

5. Have a Copy of WAEC GCE Timetable.

There is no retaking of an examination in WAEC GCE if you failed to come on that day. This is why I highly recommend that you download the WAEC GCE timetable PDF to your device, allowing you to access it anytime without internet bundle. You could also print the timetable out for easier access.

Click here to download the WAEC GCE exam timetable.