WAEC GCE 2026 First Series: Final CBT Timetable & Registration Details
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially published the international timetable for the 2026 WASSCE Private Candidates (First Series). Notably, this series continues WAEC’s transition toward a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format for private candidates.
Core Examination Schedule
- Start Date: Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
- End Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026.
- Format: Objective papers are fully digital (CBT), while Essay and Practical papers remain in a hybrid format (digital questions with physical answer booklets).
High-Priority Exam Dates
| Date | Subject/Paper | Time (GMT+1) |
| Wed, Jan 28 | Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba (Essay & Objective) | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Thu, Jan 29 | Biology (Essay, Obj & Alt to Practical) | 9:30 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Sat, Jan 31 | General Mathematics (Essay & Objective) | 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Sat, Feb 7 | English Language (Essay, Obj & Oral) | 9:30 AM – 2:45 PM |
| Thu, Feb 12 | Economics (Essay & Objective) | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Sat, Feb 14 | Civic Education (Essay & Objective) | 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM |
Registration & Walk-in Status
- Normal Registration: Officially closed on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.
- Walk-in Candidates: If you missed the deadline, you can still register as a “Walk-in” candidate up to 24 hours before your specific paper.
- Walk-in Fee: ₦45,000.00.
- Standard Fee: ₦27,000.00 (plus ₦500 commission).
Important Note: Candidates must bring their Admission Notice to the exam hall as evidence of registration. Since this is a CBT-led exam, arriving at least 30 minutes early to your assigned centre is critical for biometric verification.
WAEC 2026 Exam CBT Practice Guide
This video provides a walkthrough of the CBT practice software which is essential for getting familiar with the digital exam environment WAEC is using this year.