Why Your Child with Aggregate 9 Might Not Get SHS Placement (And What to Do Next)

The BECE results are out, and the anxiety surrounding the Senior High School (SHS) placement is palpable. You see your child’s results—a fantastic aggregate 9 or any of the best grades yet he or she is not placed automatically. Why did students with the same aggregates and raw scores choose the same school but one was not placed?

You breathe a sigh of relief, thinking they are guaranteed a spot in their first-choice school and get disappionted. You think this is wrong? Keep reading.

But then, the placement is released, and your child’s name isn’t on any list. They haven’t been automatically placed. The confusion and frustration are immense. How can a student with such a good grade not get a school? It’s a common and heartbreaking scenario.

The truth is, the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) is more complex than just looking at the final aggregate. Let’s break down why a student with aggregate 9, or even better, might miss out on automatic placement.

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Understanding How the CSSPS Really Works

Many people believe that getting a single-digit aggregate is a golden ticket into any school. While it’s an excellent achievement, it’s only one piece of the puzzle. The CSSPS is a competitive system that considers several factors simultaneously to place students.

Here’s what the computer looks at:

Aggregate Score: The sum of your best six subjects. This is the first filter.
Raw Score: This is the most crucial factor after the aggregate. It is the total score obtained in all subjects before they are graded. Two students can have the same aggregate (e.g., 9), but the one with the higher raw score gets priority.
School Choices: The order in which you rank your five chosen schools is vital.
Program Choice: The specific program (e.g., General Science, Visual Arts) you choose in a school.
Competition: The number of students applying for the same school and program.

Key Reasons a Student with Aggregate 9 Is Not Placed

Now, let’s dive into the specific reasons why a great aggregate might not be enough.

1. The Raw Score Tie-Breaker

This is the most common reason. Let’s imagine Mfantsipim School’s General Science program has only 100 spots left, and there are 200 applicants with an aggregate of 7 competing for them.

The CSSPS will not pick them randomly. It will rank all 200 students based on their total raw scores. The 100 students with the highest raw scores will get the spots. The remaining 100, despite also having aggregate 7, will be pushed to their second-choice schools. The same principle applies to a student with aggregate 9 competing against others with the same grade. If your child’s raw score is lower than others applying for the same spot, they will lose out.

Example:

Student A (Aggregate 9): Raw Score Total = 490
Student B (Aggregate 9): Raw Score Total = 475

If both students choose PRESEC-Legon as their first choice and there is only one spot left, Student A will be chosen because their raw score is higher.

2. Intense Competition at Top Schools (Category A)

Schools in Category A are the most sought-after in the country. They receive tens of thousands of applications, many from students with aggregates from 6 to 10.

When your child chooses a Category A school, they are entering a fierce competition. These schools often fill up with students who have aggregate 6. By the time the system gets to students with aggregate 7, 8, or 9, the vacancies are extremely limited and are decided by the raw score tie-breaker mentioned above.

3. The “All Category A Schools” Mistake

A very common and risky strategy is selecting all five schools from Category A. While ambitious, it can easily backfire.

If your child doesn’t get into their first-choice Category A school due to competition, the system moves to their second choice. But that second-choice school is also a Category A school facing the exact same intense competition. The cycle repeats for all five choices. If the student’s aggregate or raw score isn’t high enough for the first choice, it’s unlikely to be high enough for the other four top-tier schools. This leaves the student with no placement at all.

4. Not Meeting Program-Specific Requirements

Sometimes, the issue isn’t the overall aggregate but the grade in a specific subject. For instance, a school’s General Science program might require at least a Grade 2 in Integrated Science. If your child got a Grade 3 in that subject, they are automatically disqualified from that program, even if their overall aggregate is 9.

READ: How To Change 2025 School Placement: Guide for unhappy students and parents

So, What Happens Next? The Self-Placement Module

If your child was not automatically placed, do not panic! This is not the end of the road. The Ghana Education Service (GES) provides a second opportunity through the Self-Placement Module.

Here’s how it works:

The GES releases a list of schools that still have vacancies after the automatic placement.
You can log into the CSSPS portal and select a school from this list.
This allows you to secure a spot in a school, ensuring your child can still benefit from the Free SHS policy.

While it may not be your first-choice school, it guarantees admission and a chance to continue their education.

Key Takeaways for Parents and Future Candidates

To avoid this stressful situation in the future, keep these tips in mind during the school selection process:

Aim for High Raw Scores: Don’t just target a good grade; encourage your child to aim for the highest possible marks in every subject. Every single mark counts.
Be Strategic with School Choices: A balanced list is key. Choose from different categories (A, B, C, D). Always include a “safe” school choice where your child has a very high chance of being placed.
Order Your Choices Wisely: Put your most desired, yet realistic, choice first.
Check Program Requirements: Before selecting a program, double-check the specific subject grade requirements to ensure your child is eligible.

The SHS placement process can be tough, but understanding how it works can make all the difference. An aggregate of 9 is a fantastic achievement that should be celebrated, and with the right strategy and information, every child can find their place.