How to calculate BECE aggregate for ‘CSSPS’ SHS/TVET placement

The Ghana Education Service (GES), after denying the use of cut-off points for this year’s computerized second-cycle school placement (SHS/TVET), has explained how Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) aggregates are calculated.

In a social media post sighted by Pretertiary.com, GES said the calculated aggregate for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is used for school placement considerations.

It said a candidate’s aggregate is determined by adding the grades obtained in the four core subjects – English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies, plus the best two grades from the remaining subjects.

The Junior High School (JHS) core subjects include English Language, Mathematics, General Science, and Social Studies.

The elective subjects are Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology, Creative Arts & Design, and Ghanaian Language, while optional subjects such as French, Arabic, and Computing.

“While the raw scores remain the primary metric for school placement, the overall aggregate also serves as a good determinant in the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS),” it said.

The Ghana Education Service has encouraged candidates to visit https://www.cssps.gov.gh/hub/login and log in with their Index number and Date of Birth to review and confirm their second-cycle school choices, gender, school code, and programme code.

“We further remind the public that the CSSPS portal is live and active. Candidates are encouraged to log in via the official link [https://www.cssps.gov.gh/hub/login] to confirm their school choices.

If you have any concerns or notice any discrepancies, kindly use the “Message” option on the portal to submit them. The 24-hour CSSPS Team is on standby to provide every support you need to make the process smooth

Please note that the portal will remain active until  8th September, 2025. Do not hesitate to give us feedback on your experience with the CSSPS portal,” the Ghana Education Service said in the post.

The Ghana Education Service (GES) uses a Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) to place Junior High School students based on their aggregate and total raw scores in the best six subjects.

How to calculate 2025 BECE aggregate

1. Identify Core Subjects:

The Junior High School (JHS) four core subjects are English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies.

2. Identify Elective Subjects:

Junior High School (JHS) elective subjects are Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology, Creative Arts & Design, and Ghanaian Language, while optional subjects such as French, Arabic, and Computing.

3. Add core subjects plus two best elective subjects

English Language + Integrated Science + Mathematics + Social Studies + [any two best elective subjects]. From your elective subjects, choose the three with the best grades (lowest grade numbers).

4. Sum the six subjects (4 cores +  2 electives)

Add the grades of your four core subjects and your two best elective subjects. The total is your Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) aggregate score.

This year, a total of 603,328 candidates, comprising 297,250 males and 306,078 females, from nineteen thousand, five hundred and five (19,505) participating Junior High Schools (JHSs) entered for the school examination.

This includes seventy-two (72 ) candidates with visual impairment, two hundred and thirty-nine (239) with hearing impairment, and one hundred and sixty-one (161) candidates with other test accommodation needs.

The examination was conducted at two thousand, two hundred and thirty-seven (2,237 ) centres across the country. Out of the total number, two thousand, five hundred and twenty-six (2,526) candidates were absent.

The BECE for Private Candidates recorded a total entry figure of one thousand, three hundred and ninety (1,661) candidates. This was made up of eight hundred and fifty-eight (858) males and eight hundred and three (803 ) females.

Fifteen (15) centres, mostly in the regional capitals, were used for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for Private Candidates. Out of the total number of candidates who entered for the examination, fifty-seven (57) were absent.