WAEC vs NECO: differences, which is accepted, and can you combine them?
Nigerian universities accept both WAEC (WASSCE) and NECO (SSCE) results, and many allow you to combine them from two sittings. Here is how the two exams differ.
WAEC and NECO both award the senior secondary school certificate used for admission in Nigeria. Universities and JAMB accept both.
The main differences
- Who runs it: WAEC is a West African body that also runs the exam in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. NECO is Nigeria's own National Examinations Council.
- When: WAEC's school exam (WASSCE for school candidates) is usually around May and June, with a private (GCE) series later in the year. NECO's internal SSCE is usually around June and July, with an external series around November and December.
- Objective questions: WAEC objective papers have four options (A to D). NECO objective papers have five options (A to E), which makes guessing harder and careful reading more important.
- Result checking: WAEC results are checked on waecdirect.org with a serial number and PIN; NECO results on results.neco.gov.ng with a token.
Which is better? Neither is 'better' for admission. What matters is that you have the credits your course needs. Both use the A1 to F9 grading scale.
Can you combine them? Many universities accept O'Level results from at most two sittings, and those two can often be one WAEC and one NECO result. Some courses (often Medicine and related courses) accept only one sitting, so check your course before you plan to combine.
Should you write both? Some students write both to have a second chance at a missing credit. If you do, prepare for each exam's own style rather than treating them as the same.
Practise WAEC and NECO questions separately on AdmitMe, each in its own exam style.
Source: WAEC (waecdirect.org) and NECO (results.neco.gov.ng)· Checked by AdmitMe on 23 Oct 2026
Written by the AdmitMe team. AdmitMe is independent of WAEC, JAMB, NECO and every university. Always confirm dates, requirements and fees on the official website before you act.
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