WAEC explains marking process & grading system for 2023 BECE

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) following a claim it uses two marking schemes to mark the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has explained the marking process of the national examination.

The explanation comes after a politician alleged that the non-profit-making organization (WAEC) use a clandestine marking scheme set out by the key stakeholders in the education sector and endorsed by the government for BECE.

The politician, Joseph Yamin in an interview with Kumasi-based Ultimate FM said “alleged that “two marking schemes are used by the Examinations Council, one for the private schools and one for the public schools because of politics.”

But as the institution responsible for the conduct of examination, the management of the Council says;

1. It follows a standardised procedure in the development, finalisation and application of marking schemes used in the marking of scripts for the BECE

2. Only one draft marking scheme is developed for each subject.

3. The draft marking schemes (one for each subject) are finalised at National Preliminary Coordination Meetings which are attended by Chief Examiners and Zonal Team Leaders for each of the BECE subjects.

4. The final marking schemes (one for each subject) are used to mark dummy scripts of candidates to ensure consistency in the award of marks.

5. Zonal Coordination Meetings for Chief Examiners, Zonal Team Leaders and Team Leaders are thereafter held at all marking venues throughout the country to once again, mark dummy scripts and ensure consistency in the award of marks.

6. Main Coordination Meetings are finally held for Chief Examiners, Zonal Team Leaders and Assistant Examiners at all marking venues used for the marking of BECE scripts. The marking schemes which were finalised earlier are the marking schemes that are used.

7. At the end of the Coordination Meetings, all the examiners use the final marking scheme for each subject to mark the scripts of all candidates.

8. Neither names of schools nor school 

9. Scripts are swapped across the sixteen regions of the country to ensure that examiners in the various regions do not mark the scripts of candidates for their respective regions.

10. The Stanine Grading System is used to grade candidates who sat for the BECE.

11. Unlike teacher-made assessments, there are no fixed grade boundaries for the BECE. The grade boundaries for each subject vary from year to year depending on the performance of candidates.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) from August 7, 2023, through to August 11, 2023, will conduct the 2023 edition of the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for school and private candidates in the country.