WAEC to pilot new exam format computer-based test with G/ABCE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) says that it will pilot the Computer-Based Test, a new examination format replacing the current pen-and-paper format, with the General and Advanced Business Certificate Examination (G/ABCE).

The pilot comes after the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, said the Council is considering transitioning the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) from paper-based to a computer-based test (CBT).

Speaking in an interview monitored by Pretertiary.com, the WAEC official said his outfit already held technical discussions on the proposal and intends to pilot it with a smaller exam before rolling it out nationwide.

“Gradually, we are also thinking about computer-based testing, which is something that we have thought about. We have had a technical committee meeting,” John Kapi stated.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) indicated that the Computer-Based Test (CBT) will be piloted with the General and Advanced Business Certificate Examination, which has a low candidature.

“We want to pilot that with one of our small examinations, the general and advanced business certificate examination,” the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) spokesman said.

Explaining the West African Examinations Council’s decision to pilot the Computer-Based Test with the General and Advanced Business Certificate Examination, Mr Kapi said it’s because the examination has low candidature.

“This is an examination that does not have a large candidature, so we can manage them at the regional capital, where we are sure of internet connectivity, and once we are able to do that, we believe we can begin the process, so that if that works, we can replicate,” the WEC official said on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily.

The General and Advanced Business Certificate Examination (G/ABCE) is equivalent to the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School candidates.

Holders of the General Business Certificates have been specially prepared for the world of work and further academic studies at the Advanced Business Certificate level and in tertiary institutions.

G/ABCE is available to both school and private candidates, ie, candidates who attend schools that prepare them and register them for the examination, and those who study and register as individual candidates for the examination.

The examination is held once a year. The actual dates for the examination are made known to candidates either directly or through their  schools. Detailed timetables are made available along with the entry documents.

The Council reserves the right to cancel the results of candidates if it considers that they have been involved in irregularities before, during, or after the examination. It also reserves the right to withhold certificates and to cancel certificates of candidates involved in any acts of malpractice.

For school-based examinations, requests for review of their scripts are entertained from heads of schools. Private candidates may also request a review of their own scripts.

It must be noted that scripts are kept for only three months after the release of results. In view of this, all requests for review should be done within the stipulated period.