What is the Basic Education Certificate Examination for School?
The Basic Education Certificate Examination popularly known as BECE is a national examination conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for final-year public and private Junior High School students each year.
The BECE for School is also for both certification and selection or placement into various government Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes in Ghana.
The results of the examination are based on Continuous Assessment and external examination. The Continuous Assessment forms 30% whilst the external examination forms 70% of the total assessment.
Eligibility
Candidates in the third year of Junior High School (JHS) approved by the Ghana Education Service (GES) are eligible to register to take part in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Date of BECE
The national examination is usually conducted nationwide in June each year but amid the outbreak of the global coronavirus pandemic, the month for the administration of the BECE for School Candidates has changed.
Entry for BECE
Registration for the examination is done electronically in October/November each year. Statement of Entries, CDs together with the registration fees should reach the appropriate Office of the Council by specified dates that will be determined by the Council from year to year.
Subjects for BECE
The following are the subjects available to candidates:
- English Language
- Ghanaian Language and Culture
- Social Studies
- Integrated Science
- Mathematics
- Basic Design and Technology
- Religious & Moral Education
- Information and Communications Technology
- French (optional)
Grading of candidates
Candidates are graded based on their performance in the external examination (objective and written) and Continuous (Internal) Assessment marks provided by the schools.
A nine-point numerical scale is used in grading the candidates with Grade 1 denoting the highest performance and Grade 9 the lowest.
Release of BECE results
The results of the examination are released in August to enable successful and qualified candidates to enter Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes at the beginning of the academic year.
The results lists are sent to the participating schools, whilst each candidate receives a statement of results through his/her school. Candidates can also check their results online with an access card at www.waecgh.org.
Selection of Senior High School
Candidates are selected for Senior High Schools by the Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS).
Review of BECE scripts
Scripts are kept for three months after the release of results before they are finally destroyed. During this time, review of scripts for a fee is allowed and this is done at the instance of the Head of school or an accredited representative of the school since the Basic Education Certificate Examination is a school-based examination.
The Council by policy does not undertake a review of scripts at the instance of candidates, parents, guardians, or persons claiming to act “in loco parentis”
Certificates
Certificates are sent to the schools for collection by individual candidates. Certificates are produced once, and so certificates which get lost or damaged after collection are not replaced.
Confirmation of BECE results
Candidates who lose their certificates may confirm their results to prospective employers and educational institutions
Attestation of BECE results
Candidates who lose their certificates may also request attestation of their results.
