The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the provisional results for the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates, revealing one of the most troubling performances in recent years across the core subjects.
The results, published in a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs, John K. Kapi, show significant declines, especially in Core Mathematics and Social Studies—two subjects that recorded their worst outcomes in four years.
WAEC announced that it has provided login details to heads of schools to access their candidates’ results, while individual students may check their results through the Council’s official website.
“The Council would like to caution all its stakeholders to be wary of fraudsters who promise to upgrade results for a fee. Candidates are to note that WAEC results are secured and can be authenticated using its results verification system”.
John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC
A total of 461,736 candidates—comprised of 207,415 males and 254,321 females from 1,021 schools—registered for the 2025 examination. This represents a marginal increase of 0.24 percent over the 2024 entry figure of 460,611. Out of the total registered candidates, 5,821—representing 1.26 percent—were absent.
The performance statistics paint a worrying picture. In English Language, 69 percent of candidates secured grades between A1 and C6, slightly lower than the previous year’s 69.52 percent. The distribution also shows that 8.18 percent scored D7, 9.23 percent obtained E8, while 12.86 percent failed with F9.
The most alarming decline occurred in Core Mathematics, where only 48.73 percent achieved grades A1 to C6. This marks a steep fall from the 66.86 percent recorded in 2024 and represents the poorest performance in the four-year data provided by WAEC.
Additionally, 11.62 percent scored D7, 12.25 percent obtained E8, and a staggering 26.77 percent recorded F9, signalling widespread struggles among candidates.
Integrated Science also witnessed a marginal decline, with 57.74 percent scoring within the A1 to C6 range, compared to 58.77 percent in 2024. The failure rate stood at 16.05 percent.
Similarly, Social Studies recorded a significant dip, with 55.82 percent attaining A1 to C6, down sharply from 71.53 percent the previous year. The subject registered one of the highest failure rates, with 27.50 percent of candidates obtaining F9.
The four-year performance statistics from 2022 to 2025 further highlight the instability in academic outcomes. English Language fluctuated between 60.39 percent and 73.11 percent, settling at 69 percent in 2025.
Core Mathematics showed a consistent upward trajectory from 61.39 percent in 2022 to 66.86 percent in 2024, before plummeting dramatically to 48.73 percent in 2025. Integrated Science and Social Studies also showed inconsistent performance patterns, with Social Studies experiencing the most drastic decline over the period.
Examination Malpractice
In addition to the concerning academic performance, WAEC reported several cases of examination malpractice that resulted in severe sanctions. Following investigations, the Ghana Examinations Committee at its 40th meeting on November 17, 2025, approved the cancellation of subject results for 6,295 candidates found to have brought prohibited materials—including prepared notes and textbooks—into examination halls.
Furthermore, the entire results of 653 candidates were cancelled for possessing mobile phones during the examination. WAEC is also withholding the subject results of 908 candidates and the entire results of 158 others pending further investigation into suspected irregularities. The Council added that the subject results of candidates from 185 schools have been withheld over allegations of collusion.
“We are working around the clock to ensure that the withheld results of these candidates are published before the end of December 2025 depending on the outcome of investigations.”
John K. Kapi, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC
The Council further revealed the involvement of 35 individuals, including 19 teachers, in activities that compromised the integrity of the examination. Nineteen of them have already been prosecuted and convicted, receiving fines or prison sentences.
The remaining 16 are yet to be presented before court. WAEC indicated that beyond the judicial processes, the names of the implicated teachers will be forwarded to the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service for additional disciplinary action.
In concluding the statement, WAEC expressed its gratitude to all stakeholders who supported the successful conduct of the 2025 WASSCE. The Council acknowledged the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, security agencies, school heads, supervisors, invigilators, examiners and others who contributed to ensuring the administration of the examination.
Despite the efforts of all stakeholders, the 2025 performance trends raise critical concerns about teaching and learning outcomes across the country, particularly in subjects essential to tertiary education admission and national development.
As WAEC finalises investigations into withheld results and prepares for the next examination cycle, the troubling statistics are expected to trigger national conversations on the state of Ghana’s education system and the interventions needed to reverse the decline.
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