The 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) will introduce candidates to a new examination framework under Ghana’s revised senior high school curriculum. As preparations continue, students, teachers and school authorities are expected to understand the rules governing the 2027 WASSCE examination and the consequences of breaking them.
2027 WASSCE Key Rules
2027 WASSCE Candidates Eligibility Requirements
Under the rules, WASSCE for school candidates is intended for students in their third or final year in recognised Senior High Schools across Ghana. The regulations specifically state that it is illegal to register students who are not members of the school, are not in Form Three or are resit candidates. Also, according to WAEC Ghana, students writing the 2027 school examination must complete the full three year Senior High School programme and have the required Continuous Assessment records uploaded to the Council’s system.
2027 WASSCE Candidates Continuous Assessment
One of the important features of the new WASSCE structure is the inclusion of Continuous Assessment in the final assessment. According to the WAEC’s rules, Continuous Assessment contributes 30 percent of the total assessment, while the external examination contributes the remaining 70 percent. This means WASSCE candidates cannot afford to focus exclusively on the final examination. Their academic performance throughout Senior High School will also matter.
Usage Of Mobile phones And Electronic Devices
WAEC’s regulations state that when a candidate is found with a mobile phone or another electronic communication device in the examination hall, the candidate’s entire results will be withheld pending investigation. This is different from simply forgetting to bring a particular examination material. The presence of a prohibited electronic device can trigger an investigation involving the candidate’s entire examination results.
WASSCE candidates should therefore avoid taking mobile phones or other unauthorised electronic communication devices into the examination hall.
Writing With The Wrong Material
WASSCE candidates are required to write their answers in ink. Only blue ink may be used, while pencils may be used for diagrams. The regulations further state that writing with pencil instead of ink, or shading with ink instead of pencil in contravention of the instructions, may result in the relevant subject result being withheld pending investigation. If it cannot immediately be established that the incident is the only examination malpractice involved, the candidate’s entire results may be withheld.
WASSCEC candidates should therefore read the instructions provided for each examination carefully before starting their work.
Cheating And Collusion
A WASSCE candidate who passes notes, gives or receives assistance, talks with another candidate or otherwise colludes with another candidate may have their entire results withheld pending investigation. The same principle applies where collusion is established from candidates’ scripts.
This means students should not attempt to communicate with other candidates during an examination, even if they believe the communication is minor.
Impersonation
Where a person is found impersonating a candidate, the person may be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for prosecution. The genuine candidate whose identity was used may also face prosecution if apprehended. In addition, the results of the candidate involved may be withheld pending investigation. Both the impersonator and the person being impersonated may also be barred from taking WAEC examinations for a period of not less than two years.
Mass Cheating
WAEC’s regulations define mass cheating as a situation where more than half of the candidates offering a subject at a centre are involved in collusion. Where mass cheating in a subject is established, the results of candidates at the centre may be withheld pending investigation. If mass cheating occurs in more than one subject, a school may face de-recognition for at least one year, alongside other measures.
Where mass cheating is established in three or more subjects, the rules provide for withdrawal of the school’s or public centre’s recognition.
Respect For Examination Officials
WASSCE candidates are expected to follow the instructions of supervisors and invigilators throughout the examination.
Insulting or assaulting an examination official can result in the candidate’s entire results being withheld. The candidate may also be barred from taking WAEC examinations for at least two years and may be handed over to the Ghana Police Service for prosecution.
Additionally, these rules also contain sanctions for school officials who assault or encourage the assault of examination officials.
What 2027 WASSCE Candidates Should Do
- The safest approach for WASSCE candidates is to prepare thoroughly and understand the examination regulations before entering the examination hall.
- Candidates should make sure their registration information is correct. They should also take Continuous Assessment seriously, follow instructions on examination materials and avoid prohibited devices.
- Most importantly, candidates should not rely on leaked questions, unauthorised assistance or communication during examinations. WAEC Ghana has previously reminded stakeholders that its revised malpractice rules include provisions relating to inscriptions, live examination questions posted online, misconduct by examination officials and multiple registration of candidates.
- The 2027 WASSCE rules make clear that examination malpractice can have serious consequences. With the new curriculum placing greater emphasis on skills, understanding and assessment, candidates will need consistent preparation rather than last minute approaches to examination success. A T-TEL report on Ghana’s new WASSCE framework notes that the assessment is designed to place greater emphasis on conceptual understanding, strategic reasoning and critical thinking.
For students preparing for the 2027 WASSCE, understanding the rules is therefore just as important as studying the subjects themselves.
