The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the official timetable for the 2026 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
This guide provides everything you need to know about the WAEC 2026 examination schedule.
When Does WAEC 2026 Start?
According to WAEC, the May/June 2026 WASSCE examination is scheduled to:
Start Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026 (or April 30, 2026 depending on final confirmation)
End Date: Friday, June 19, 2026 (or June 24, 2026)
Duration: Approximately 8 weeks
Note: Always confirm the exact dates from the official WAEC website or your school.
How the WAEC Timetable Works
The WAEC timetable contains:
Exam Date: Specific day for each subject
Subject Name: The paper to be written
Paper Type: Objective, Essay, or Practical
Duration: Time allocated for each paper
Exam Time: Start and end time
Types of WAEC Papers
Most subjects have multiple papers:
Paper
Type
Description
Paper 1
Objective
Multiple choice questions
Paper 2
Essay/Theory
Written answers
Paper 3
Practical
Lab work (for Science subjects)
Key Subjects Schedule (Sample)
Here’s a general pattern for major subjects (confirm with official timetable):
Science Subjects
Mathematics: Objective & Theory papers
Physics: Objective, Theory & Practical
Chemistry: Objective, Theory & Practical
Biology: Objective, Theory & Practical
Further Mathematics: Objective & Theory
Arts Subjects
English Language: Objective & Essay
Literature in English: Objective & Essay
Government: Objective & Essay
History: Objective & Essay
CRS/IRS: Objective & Essay
Commercial Subjects
Economics: Objective & Essay
Commerce: Objective & Essay
Accounting/Financial Accounting: Objective & Theory
Office Practice: Objective & Essay
Important WAEC Rules
Time Rules
If the duration on the question paper differs from the timetable, follow the question paper
Arrive at the exam hall at least 30 minutes before start time
No candidate is allowed after 30 minutes into the exam
Papers Given in Advance
Some papers are distributed before the exam date:
Paper 3A Instructions: Given 2 weeks before
Paper 3B Questions: Given 2 weeks before
Paper 3C Projects: To be completed within 6 months
Special Needs Candidates
Blind, deaf, and candidates with special needs are allowed 1.5 times the standard time.
How to Prepare Using the Timetable
1. Create a Study Schedule
List your subjects in order of exam dates
Allocate more time to difficult subjects
Start with subjects coming first
2. Practice with Past Questions
Time yourself using the exam duration
If WAEC gives 2 hours, finish past papers in 2 hours