The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has outlined the key factors behind the significant drop in performance in the 2025 WASSCE, especially in Core Mathematics and Social Studies.
According to WAEC’s Head of Public Relations, John Kapi, the explanations are based on detailed observations made by the chief examiners after marking this year’s scripts. His comments follow a sharp nationwide decline in results and a rise in examination irregularities.
Core Mathematics recorded the most dramatic fall. Passes from A1 to C6 dropped from 305,132 in 2024 to 209,068 in 2025, leaving a deficit of more than 96,000. With only 48.73% meeting the required grade, over half of the candidates missed the threshold for tertiary admission.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on December 1, 2025, Kapi stressed that the decline had nothing to do with a tougher exam.
The 2025 paper, he noted, matched the difficulty level of the 2024 paper. “The problem stemmed from candidates’ own weaknesses, not the standard of the paper,” he said.
He listed seven major challenges behind the mass failure in Core Mathematics, including poor diagram representation, difficulty solving global mathematics problems, and an inability to construct or interpret cumulative frequency tables.
Many candidates also struggled with simple interest calculations, translating story problems into mathematical expressions, and interpreting data presented in frequency curves.
Social Studies showed similar concerns. Chief examiners reported that many candidates could not coherently discuss government policies aimed at improving livelihoods, nor explain how extravagant funerals impede national development.
Weak analysis of cooperation between Ghana and UN agencies also revealed gaps in comprehension, application, and critical thinking.
WAEC said these findings will guide new interventions to strengthen teaching and learning nationwide.
Kapi added that the Council will work closely with the Ministry of Education, teachers, and relevant stakeholders to tackle the root causes of the decline and better prepare candidates for future examinations.
