The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the 2025 WASSCE provisional results, revealing one of the most alarming declines in student performance in recent years, particularly in Core Mathematics, where pass rates have plunged to their lowest in four years.

The results, announced on Saturday, November 29, 2025, in a press statement signed by John Kapi, Head of Public Relations at WAEC, also exposed a troubling examination integrity crisis, with thousands of results cancelled or withheld and nearly 40 educational personnel implicated in malpractice.

Sharp Decline in Core Mathematics and Social Studies

WAEC’s four-year trend analysis (2022–2025) shows a major slump across all core subjects, with the steepest decline recorded in Core Mathematics:

Core Mathematics

• 2025 Pass Rate (A1–C6): 48.73%
• 2024 Pass Rate (A1–C6): 66.86%
• Drop: 18.13 percentage points
• Fail (F9): 114,872 candidates (26.77%)

Only 209,068 candidates passed the subject, marking a catastrophic reversal of the gains made in previous years.

Social Studies

• 2025 Pass Rate (A1–C6): 55.82%
• 2024 Pass Rate (A1–C6): 71.53%
• Fail (F9): 122,449 candidates (27.50%)

Other Core Subjects Also Decline

WAEC noted persistent “fluctuating trends” across the four-year period, raising concerns about teaching quality, learning conditions, and preparation strategies.

Over 7,000 Candidates Sanctioned for Exam Irregularities

The release was accompanied by stern sanctions following the Ghana Examinations Committee’s 40th Meeting on November 17, 2025.

Sanctions Approved

• 6,295 Subject Results Cancelled
  Reason: Bringing foreign materials—notes, textbooks, printed sheets—into examination halls.
• 653 Entire Results Cancelled
  Reason: Possession of mobile phones in the exam hall.
• 908 Subject Results Withheld
• 158 Entire Results Withheld
  Pending investigations for suspected malpractice.

Additionally, subject results from 185 schools have been withheld over suspected collusion, with final determinations expected by the end of December 2025.

Teachers and Invigilators Implicated; 19 Convicted

In one of the most damning revelations, 35 individuals, including 19 teachers, were found complicit in acts that compromised the integrity of the examination.

Legal Actions

• 19 have already been arraigned and convicted, receiving fines or prison sentences.
• 16 more suspects are yet to be presented before court.

WAEC says the list of implicated teachers will be forwarded to the Ghana Education Service (GES) for further disciplinary measures.

WASSCE 2025 Entry Statistics

A total of 461,736 candidates from 1,021 schools registered for the exam, marking a slight increase of 0.24% from 2024.

Demographic Breakdown

Candidates Advised to Beware of Fraudsters

WAEC urged candidates to stay alert and avoid fraudsters claiming to upgrade results for a fee. The Council emphasized that all results are secured and verifiable through its official results authentication system.

Candidates can access their results online at the official site.