The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially begun issuing notifications of cancelled results to Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates whose results were affected by examination irregularities. According to the Council, headmasters and headmistresses across the country started receiving official communications on Monday, August 25, 2025.
This development comes after the release of the 2025 BECE provisional results, which revealed widespread irregularities leading to the cancellation and withholding of several candidates’ results.
Breakdown of the 2025 BECE Cancellations
WAEC announced the following key actions after its investigation process:
Subject Results Cancelled: 718 candidates
Entire Results Cancelled: 177 candidates
Results Withheld: 93 candidates (pending further investigations)
These measures followed WAEC’s extensive review process, where candidates involved in suspected malpractice were invited for investigations before the release of the provisional results.
Why Were Results Cancelled?
WAEC explained that the cancellations were due to irregularities during the exam and marking process. Some of the common issues included:
Candidates caught with mobile phones and foreign materials in exam halls.
Poor supervision and failure of invigilators to enforce examination rules.
Inadequate pre-exam counseling and oversight from schools and parents.
WAEC’s Public Relations Officer, John Kapi, expressed disappointment at the recurring malpractice issues despite years of stakeholder engagement and sensitization programs.
“These infractions should not be happening if invigilators had been diligent and parents ensured their wards did not carry prohibited items. Schools must also do better with counseling.” – John Kapi, WAEC PRO
What Affected Candidates Should Do
Candidates who cannot access their results on the WAEC portal and receive the error “Index number not found” or a blank result are advised to:
Check the WAEC Irregularity Portal (irreg.waecgh.org) to confirm if their results have been affected.
Follow up with their school heads for official notification letters.
Await further communication from WAEC for withheld results.
Related Development: GES Announces Reopening Date for SHS 1 Students
In a related announcement, the Ghana Education Service (GES) has confirmed that all first-year SHS students—including those placed under the Free SHS Single Track and Transitional schools—will officially reopen on:
📅 Saturday, October 18, 2025
This reopening applies to students in both public and private Senior High Schools across the country.
Implications for Candidates and Parents
Students whose results were cancelled (entirely or partially) will not qualify for placement into any of their five school choices.
Candidates with withheld results will have to wait until WAEC concludes its investigations.
Parents and schools are urged to intensify pre-exam preparation, counseling, and strict compliance with exam regulations to prevent recurrence.
READ: How to Know Your School Placement Based On Your Aggregate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why did WAEC cancel some BECE 2025 results?
WAEC cancelled results due to examination irregularities, including possession of foreign materials and mobile phones in exam halls, as well as supervision lapses by invigilators.
2. How many candidates were affected by the 2025 BECE cancellations?
A total of 718 candidates had specific subject results cancelled, 177 candidates lost their entire results, and results of 93 candidates were withheld.
3. How will affected students know if their results were cancelled?
WAEC has begun sending official notifications to schools. Students can also verify through the WAEC Irregularity Portal.
4. Can students with cancelled results use the self-placement module?
No. Students with cancelled results are not eligible for placement or self-placement.
5. When will SHS 1 students reopen in 2025?
All first-year SHS students will reopen on Saturday, October 18, 2025, according to GES.
Cancellation of BECE results for 2025 candidates means they have to result the cancelled papers in 2026, pass them if they want to be considered for school placement.
About the Author
BECEPrep Educational Research Team
BECEPrep is a leading educational research and reporting platform dedicated to providing accurate, timely, and reliable updates on Ghana’s educational system. With years of expertise in examination analysis, placement trends, and policy insights, our team ensures parents, students, and educators are well-informed to make the best academic decisions.