Importance of BECE Results

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is a mandatory examination for students in the ninth year of their basic education class and third year of the Junior Secondary School.

Why is the BECE important?

There are three main reasons why the BECE is important for you:

• It decides the selection of students that will promote from Junior High School (JHS) to Senior High School (SHS)
• It is necessary to be awarded the basic education certificate
• It is a requirement for SHS school selection.

Registered students are given the chance to choose four senior high schools they would love to attend.

School placement is done by the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) and successful candidates are given schools base on their grades. Meanwhile, candidates who fail to qualify would have to find their own placement in schools with vacancies.

Who Conducts The BECE in Ghana?

The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is conducted by the West African examination council (WAEC).

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) is authorized to conduct the BECE for all public secondary schools and approved private secondary schools in Ghana. Candidates in the third year of the Junior High School are qualified to sit for the WAEC BECE in June of every year.

When can you sit for the BECE?

In Ghana, the BECE is held twice a year usually in February and June for private and school candidates respectively.

How is the BECE Structured?

Just like every other WAEC administered examination, the BECE has its own structure and format.

The BECE is structured into two major parts for all subjects. The first is the test of objective questions. The objective question contains a list of questions and options for possible answers.  Candidates are expected to tick the appropriate answers as it relates to the questions. The objective questions tests are usually written with a pencil and paper.

The second part is the theory segment. The theory segment contains questions that students are expected to provide answers for. The theory segment does not contain any answer options. Students are expected to write the correct answers. The theory segment is usually written with a ballpoint pen and paper.

How do you Register for the BECE?

Students who are qualified to sit for the BECE can register for the examination either as a private or school candidate. All public or government-owned secondary schools in Ghanaian register candidates for the BECE.

School Candidates

School candidates are expected to be registered by schools duly recognised by the Ministry of Education. The candidates should be bonafide students of the Junior High Schools registering them.

Private Candidates

Private candidates are to register individually within the period specified by the Council.

Registration will be done electronically as prescribed by the Council

What are the subjects in the BECE?

Nine subjects are administered at the BECE level. A candidate is expected to sit for all of them. The following are the major subjects in the BECE:

• Mathematics
• English Language
• French Language
• Ghanaian Language
• Social Studies
• Religious and Moral Education
• Integrated Science
• Basic Design and Technology
• Information and Communication Technology

How is the BECE Graded?

The WAEC BECE has a unique grading system. Candidates are graded based on their performance in the external examination (objective and written) and Continuous (Internal) Assessment marks provided by the schools. A nine-point numerical scale is used in grading the candidates with Grade 1 denoting the highest performance and Grade 9 the lowest.

Candidates will be graded on a nine-point scale as follows:

1. Highest
2. Higher
3. High
4. High Average
5. Average
6. Low Average
7. Low
8. Lower
9. Lowest

To pass any subjects in the BECE candidates are expected to have a grade of Pass or above.