The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a significant shift in how examination malpractices are handled for the 2025 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Unlike in previous years, where investigations were carried out after the release of results, WAEC has confirmed that starting from the 2025 academic year, all suspected cases of examination malpractice will be investigated immediately after scripts are marked and before results are published.
This policy aims to ensure that only verified and legitimate results are uploaded online for candidates to check, improving credibility and maintaining examination integrity.
Why the Change in Policy?
In an interview monitored by BECEPrep.com, Lillian Frimpong, Controller for the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions of WAEC, explained that the Council wants to strengthen its quality control and prevent the issuance of results that may later be cancelled.
This means that students whose results are flagged for malpractice will have their results withheld until investigations are concluded, ensuring fairness and transparency.
This explains why WAEC released the list of students who were to assist WAEC in investigating alleged examination malpractices as well as the release of a new website to manage the such issues. Parents, students and schools can check their result status by reading this >> WAEC releases 2025 BECE results for malpractice students and schools: Go and check your result status now
How the 2025 BECE Investigations Are Being Conducted
On July 11, 2025, WAEC invited selected candidates suspected of irregularities to appear at their Regional Offices for questioning.
Investigations ran from July 16, 2025, to August 13, 2025.
A total of 1,208 candidates currently have their results withheld pending final determination.
WAEC emphasized that failure to honour the invitation will not prevent the Council from concluding investigations and making a final decision.
Key Statistics of the 2025 BECE
603,328 candidates sat for the BECE for School, comprising:
297,250 males
306,078 females
1,661 candidates registered for the BECE for Private, including:
858 males
803 females
2,237 examination centres were used nationwide.
Over 25,000 personnel (supervisors, assistant supervisors, and invigilators) were deployed to ensure exam integrity.
Exams were conducted from June 11 to June 18, 2025.
When Will the 2025 BECE Results Be Released?
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is expected to release the provisional results of the 2025 BECE by late August 2025. However, results of candidates under investigation will remain withheld until cases are resolved.
What This Means for SHS1 Students
For SHS1 students, this means that placement into Senior High Schools under the Free SHS policy may face delays for candidates whose results are being investigated. Only students with fully validated results will be placed.
READ: 2025 BECE Results Not Released: Stop Checking To Avoid Spoiling The Checker Cards
FAQs on WAEC’s New BECE Investigation Policy
1. Why is WAEC investigating malpractice before releasing results?
To ensure only authentic results are released and prevent post-release cancellations.
2. How many students are affected by withheld results in 2025?
A total of 1,208 students are currently under investigation.
3. When will the 2025 BECE results be released?
Results are expected by late August 2025.
4. Will students with withheld results be placed in SHS?
No. Only students with confirmed results will be placed.
5. What should a student do if invited by WAEC for investigation?
They must honour the invitation and provide all necessary information to clear their results.
The updates on the WAEC BECE malpractice result release and investigations means WAEC is nearly ready to release the results. Keep an eye on this credible platform for all your updates.
READ: 2025 BECE Results: 4 Common Lies and 6 Things To Do Before Checking
About the Author – BECEPrep Educational Research Team
The BECEPrep Educational Research Team specializes in delivering authoritative education news, research, and insights on Ghana’s academic sector. Our mission is to provide credible and timely updates that meet standards, ensuring parents, students, and educators access reliable information.
Source: BECEPrep.com