The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has a grading system for the WASSCE administered to secondary school students. Knowing the grading system and working hard to achieve your educational and examination goals with the grade ranges in mind can be of help to students.
As another examination year draws nearer for final-year students at the secondary school level, it is prudent that students become informed about the WAEC Grading System and Interpretation (by Percentage) Grade Definition, which will be used to grade and rank their performance.
While the grading system might seem daunting, students who diligently work hard during their studies and in the examination can achieve the best results imaginable. Each year, students excel in the examination; hence, you do not need to be afraid of the grading system.
In all, there are nine score ranges, with each range representing one grade. While the best grade is A1, the worst grade is F9.
Students who obtain scores from 75/100 to 100/100 obtain grade A1, which is the highest grade awarded by WAEC.
The second grade is B2 and is obtained by students who score from 70/100 to 74/100.
For students who score from 65% to 69%, the grade they obtain is B3.
The next grade is C4, which is assigned to all scores from 60% to 64%.
C5 is awarded for scores from 55% to 59%, while grade C6 is awarded for any score from 50% to 54%.
Technically, these grades above are the most preferred by tertiary institutions for admission purposes. Students who obtain any grade in any subject lower than the above stand a chance of being denied admission into any university in their country or anywhere in the world.
Let us look at the remaining grades, which can be described as weak. These include D7 (Pass, 45% – 49%), E8 (Pass, 40% – 44%), and F9 (Failure, 0% – 39%).
Students who want to open doors of opportunity in their countries and globally must not secure grades worse than C6. Often, other institutions such as Colleges of Education, Nursing Training Colleges, Polytechnics, and Technical Universities also demand better grades, typically nothing less than C6, mostly in the core subjects. This means that WASSCE candidates who achieve any grade weaker than C6 in Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and English may not gain admission to any tertiary institution and would have to resit such papers.
Now that you know all the details about the WAEC Grading System and Interpretation for WASSCE, let it serve as a guide for you as you work toward the next WASSCE exam as a school or private candidate.
READ: Top Ten Examination Tips for WASSCE and BECE Candidates
Below is the full WAEC grading system and Iinterpretationfor WASSCE:
A1 Excellent 75% – 100%
B2 Very good 70% – 74%
B3 Good 65% – 69%
C4 Credit 60% – 64%
C5 Credit 55% – 59%
C6 Credit 50% – 54%
D7 Pass 45% – 49%
E8 Pass 40% – 44%
F9 Failure 0% – 39%
Work hard to attain the best grades. You can do it.