BECE cheat sheet

The BECE is a national examination taken at the end of three years of Junior High School (JHS 3) in Ghana; it is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) on behalf of the Ghana Education Service.

Standard BECE subjects: English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Ghanaian Language, French (optional), Basic Design and Technology (BDT), Information and Communications Technology (ICT), and Career Technology under the current curriculum.

Core subjects for progression are English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies; a candidate must pass all four to qualify for Senior High School placement.

Grading follows a nine-point scale (1 = highest, 9 = lowest); aggregate score = sum of grades in the best six subjects, with the four core subjects always included.

Continuous assessment contributes 30% and the external examination contributes 70% of the final subject score under the school-based assessment (SBA) structure.

A subject pass is generally grade 1–6 (equivalent to Grades A–D); grades 7–9 are treated as failures for placement purposes.

School candidates register through their JHS; private candidates register directly with WAEC at designated centres and sit the same papers.

Examination malpractice - including impersonation, smuggling of notes, or mobile phones in the exam hall - leads to cancellation of results and possible disqualification for a stated period.

Placement into Senior High Schools is handled by the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) based on aggregate score and candidate choices.

Private candidates are those who are not enrolled in a recognised school at the time of registration; they sit the same BECE papers as school candidates.

Private candidates register online through the WAEC Ghana portal or at designated WAEC offices; registration requires a valid national ID or birth certificate and passport-sized photographs.

Private candidates pay the full examination fee themselves; school candidates' fees are typically paid or subsidised through the school.

Continuous assessment (SBA) scores are not normally available to private candidates; WAEC may apply a moderated or examination-only score in lieu of SBA.

Private candidates must select an examination centre from WAEC's approved list; the centre cannot be changed after the registration deadline without an administrative fee.

Late registration attracts a penalty fee and may not be accepted after the published cut-off; candidates should confirm the deadline on the WAEC portal.

Results are released to private candidates via the WAEC online results portal using the candidate's index number and a scratch card or e-voucher.

Private candidates who need placement into Senior High School must participate in the CSSPS self-placement process; they are not automatically placed by a school.

Re-sit candidates can register for individual subjects to improve grades; the best six subjects (with all four core subjects passed) determine the aggregate.