The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially disclosed that WAEC is ready for the conduct of the 2026 BECE. The Junior High School leaving examination starts on Monday, 4th May, 2026, and ends on Monday, 11th May, 2026.
In all, WAEC expects 619,985 candidates from private and public schools as well as private candidates to sit for the examination.
According to data released by WAEC, 304,273 male candidates and 315,712 female candidates will take the national examination that will play a critical role in determining their access to Free SHS in Ghana.
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BUY TOP 2026 BECE MOCKS AND ANSWERSPer the news report filed by 3news.com, John Kapi, the WAEC public relations officer, disclosed the facts during an interview on Onua FM.
BECE 2026 Materials Delivery Plan
According to John Kapi, WAEC examination materials will be delivered to all metropolitan and district education offices nationwide a week before the examination.
“We are set; materials are ready and will be dispatched to the various metropolitan and district education offices nationwide next week.
BECE 2026 Exam Fee Outstanding To Be Paid By Government
With over 600,000 candidates to write the 2026 BECE, financing the examination has become the sole responsibility of the government. for all public school candidates. Mr. Kapi indicated during the interview that the government owes WAEC 30% of the total cost of the examination. The 30% is for the marking of the papers, he indicated.
“Government has released 70% of our budget; the remaining 30% will be received after the exams, which will cater for the marking of examination papers and others,” he said.
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BUY CHEAP DATA NOWPlans To Deal With Examination Malpractice at the BECE
He furthered that the Ghana Education Service and WAEC will work together in providing supervision. The Ghana Police Service and other state security agencies will be available before, during, and after each paper to ensure the rules governing the examination are observed.
On examination malpractice, he cautioned all invigilators and supervisors against any form of malpractice, stressing that offenders would be dealt with under WAEC Act 719, and warned that exam malpractice undermines the credibility of the education system and distorts student assessment outcomes.
“Anyone caught will be severely punished under WAEC Act 719,” he added.
2026 BECE Exam Timetable Schedule (May 4 – May 11)
| Date | Subjects |
|---|---|
| Monday, May 4, 2026 | English Language (Essay & Objective) Religious & Moral Education (RME) |
| Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | Social Studies Creative Arts & Design |
| Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | Integrated Science Career Technology |
| Thursday, May 7, 2026 | Mathematics (Essay & Objective) Ghanaian Language & Culture (e.g., Asante-Twi, Fante) |
| Friday, May 8, 2026 | French Computing |
| Monday, May 11, 2026 | Arabic |
Key Notes for 2026 Candidates
Special Needs: Candidates with visual or hearing impairments will receive an additional 50% of the allotted time.
Exam Structure: Both the essay and objective papers for each subject are taken in one sitting without a break.
Duration Discrepancies: If the duration on the question paper differs from the timetable, the question paper’s time should be followed.
12 BECE 2026 “Sins” (Examination Malpractices)
Academic Integrity: The Only Path to Success
To ensure your results are not cancelled by WAEC, every candidate must strictly avoid these 12 prohibited acts:
- Mass Collusion: Engaging in “chorus” answering or group discussions within the exam hall.
- “Apor” Consumption: Searching for, buying, or circulating leaked question papers on Telegram, WhatsApp, or other social media.
- Smuggling Foreign Materials: Bringing in “bullets” (prepared notes), textbooks, or pieces of paper hidden in pockets or socks.
- Body Writing: Writing formulas, keywords, or answers on palms, thighs, or any part of the body.
- Electronic Devices: Bringing smartphones, smartwatches, or programmable calculators into the examination room.
- Impersonation: Arranging for someone else (a “ghostwriter”) to sit for the exam on your behalf.
- Script Swapping: Exchanging answer booklets with another candidate to copy or complete work.
- Tearing Answer Sheets: Removing pages from the official WAEC answer booklet, which triggers immediate suspicion of fraud.
- Insulting Invigilators: Showing disrespect or threatening examiners and supervisors; this leads to instant disqualification.
- Double Scripting: Submitting two different answer scripts for the same subject under different names or index numbers.
- Using “Miracle” Pens: Using disappearing ink or special pens intended to trick the marking process.
- Pre-written Answers: Bringing in an answer script already filled out before the exam has even started.
Warning: WAEC uses advanced biometric and AI-based detection. Don’t throw away three years of hard work for five minutes of cheating.
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FAQs
When is the 2026 BECE starting?
The examination starts on 4th May and ends on 11th May, 2026.
How many candidates will write the 2026 BECE?
According to WAEC’s PRO, Mr. John Kapi, a total of 619,985 candidates from private and public schools as well as private candidates will sit for the examination.
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