WAEC revises exam timings to tackle leakages

The West African Examinations Council has quietly reworked both its question formats and timetable in response to a persistent problem that has long undermined the credibility of its regional examinations, leakages crossing national borders before papers are even opened.

John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, revealed the changes during an appearance on Adom TV’s Badwam, explaining that Ghana and Nigeria had historically written identical examination questions at the same time, an arrangement that created a window for leaked answers to travel between the two countries before all candidates had sat the paper.

“We’ve made adjustments to the questions and timing. Starting earlier helps prevent cross-border leakages,” he said.

Central to the new arrangement is a timing shift that accounts for the one-hour difference between Ghana and Nigeria. Examinations in Ghana, which previously kicked off at 9:00 am, now begin at 8:30 am, with corresponding adjustments made on the Nigerian side. The questions themselves have also been differentiated between the two countries, closing off another avenue through which leaked material could be recycled across borders.

Kapi framed the changes as a necessary step toward preserving the integrity and fairness of a qualification that millions of West African students depend on each year.