WAEC introduces personalized question papers in 4 subjects to upend exam malpractices
Khalid ABRAHAM
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The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has intensified its war against examination malpractices as it has now introduced customised exam questions in four subjects including English Language, Mathematics,, Biology and Economics. This will cover all West African countries that are subscribers to the examination body.
The innovative method, which has been successfully used by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in the conduct of its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), will takeoff with the 2025 West African Secondary School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) billed to commence later this month.
This historic policy was revealed during a strategic briefing with secondary school principals across the region.
According to WAEC, the new system is designed to disrupt examination malpractice by ensuring no two candidates receive the same set of questions in select key subjects.
The rollout will affect English Language (Papers 1 & 3), Biology 1, Mathematics 1, and Economics 1, where each candidate will be issued a uniquely generated question paper directly tied to their personalised OMR sheet.
WAEC officials explained that this innovation demands high-level compliance from exam supervisors. In instances where a candidate’s personalised paper is not available, supervisors are instructed to promptly issue an emergency version of the paper, accompanied by a plain OMR sheet.
This strategy targets the roots of malpractice — including collusion, impersonation, and question leaks — that have undermined the credibility of WAEC examinations over the years.
“This move is a game-changer,” a senior WAEC official stated. “We are sending a clear message: organised cheating rings and the era of leaked exam questions are coming to an end.”
Principals and supervisors are urged to adhere strictly to the initiative during the exam, adding, “In a case where a student’s customised paper is missing or not included, the supervisor is to issue the candidate an ’emergency question paper’ and a ‘plain OMR sheet.'”
WAEC giving further details explains that with the initiative two candidates sitting together will not have same question papers therefore urging students to prepare adequately for the exam.
It boasts days of exam malpractices are nearing its end.
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“The implication is that no two candidates will have same question set.
“Let’s all encourage our children to work extra hard, especially those in exam classes. Days of dependence on examination malpractice will soon be over.
“Allow them more time for studies. This holiday period, if your house is not conducive for serious academic work locate a place they can isolate to read. Give them every encouragement you can. Ensure they have all required books.”
Its adoption by JAMB has effectively eliminated or reduced to the barest minimum exam malfeasances among students writing UTME.
A teacher speaking with ogbomosoinsightonline.com said, “It is hoped WAEC will also be successful with its adoption so that sanity can return to examination halls and to schools as most students engage in truancy and hooliganism because they are assured of inordinate assistance at the so-called miracle centres.”
