Understanding WAEC: What It Is, How to Get the Official Certificate, and How to Purchase Scratch Card Details
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is an examination body that conducts standardized exams for students in English-speaking West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia. The WAEC result is one of the most important academic documents for students who wish to pursue higher education locally or abroad, as it serves as official proof of secondary school completion and academic performance.
1. What the WAEC Certificate Looks Like
The official WAEC certificate is a hard-copy document issued by the Council. It typically features:
The WAEC logo is embossed in gold or blue at the top.
The candidate’s full name and examination number.
The year and type of examination (e.g., May/June, Nov/Dec).
The subjects taken and corresponding grades.
The name of the school (for school candidates).
A signature and official WAEC stamp.
Important Note:
Many applicants mistakenly upload the online result printout (downloaded from the WAEC verification portal) instead of the official certificate. The official WAEC certificate is usually blue in color and issued by the school or WAEC office a few months after the examination results are released.
2. How to Obtain the Official WAEC Certificate
The official WAEC certificate is not available online and must be collected in person.
Here’s how to get it:
From Your School:
If you wrote the school (May/June) examination, your certificate will be sent to your school after WAEC releases it. You can contact your school administration to collect it.
From WAEC Office:
If your school no longer has the certificate, or if you sat for the private (Nov/Dec) examination, you can collect it directly from the nearest WAEC office.
3. How to Purchase WAEC Scratch Card (Result Checker PIN)
The WAEC scratch card, also called the WAEC result checker PIN, allows you to access and verify your WAEC results online.
Here’s how to get one:
Purchase Online:
You can buy the WAEC scratch card directly from the official website:
🌐 https://www.waecdirect.org
Payment can be made using a debit/credit card or bank transfer.
Purchase from Authorized Outlets:
You can also buy the scratch card from:WAEC regional or zonal offices
Accredited cybercafés or business centers
Some banks and stationery shops
Details on the Scratch Card:
Each card contains:
PIN: Used to access the result.
Serial Number: Used to identify the specific card.
Both the PIN and Serial Number must be entered together on the WAEC verification portal to retrieve or verify results.