West African Senior School Certificate now comparable to AS level
UK ENIC has conducted a review into its advice on the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), one of the most widely recognised secondary school qualifications in West Africa, following the introduction of revised examination curricula from 2024.
Administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the qualification serves as the principal school-leaving award in Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and The Gambia.
The WASSCE is now considered comparable to GCE Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Level / Scottish Higher, when awarded from 2024 onwards. This represents an upgrade from UK ENIC’s previous assessment, which placed the qualification as comparable to GCSE (grades A* to C / 9 to 4) / Scottish National 5 (grades A to C) / Intermediate Welsh Baccalaureate.
The review found that the revised examination curricula demonstrate an increased breadth and depth of study.
While the syllabuses continue to maintain a high degree of commonality across all WAEC member countries, limited national variations remain in certain subjects. For example, the geography and history curricula include some country-specific content to reflect local contexts.
Background
Introduced in the 1990s, the WASSCE is awarded following three years of upper secondary education, typically covering years 10 to 12.
Candidates undertake examinations in a range of subjects designed to assess the knowledge and skills acquired during the senior secondary school, with a minimum of six subjects required for the award of the West African Senior School Certificate.
The WASSCE remains the standard entry qualification for admission to undergraduate degree programmes across all participating countries.
Most undergraduate degree programmes are four years in duration, although variations may exist depending on the field of study, progression routes and national regulatory requirements.
Comparability
As always, UK ENIC refers to ‘comparability’ rather than ‘equivalency’ because no two qualifications are the same.
The UK comparison does not imply that the WASSCE is the same as AS levels or Scottish Highers in counterpart subjects, but rather that the overall academic demand, breadth and depth of knowledge, and skills acquired compare favourably.