The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new security measure for the upcoming 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
Starting this year, all objective (multiple-choice) questions will be serialized across various subjects, meaning that different regions will receive variations of the same exam with questions presented in a different order.
This move, according to WAEC, is designed to reduce the likelihood of exam question leakages.
While the questions themselves remain unchanged, the varying order makes it significantly more challenging for students to share answers during the examination.
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“This serialization strategy makes it much harder for students to cheat, as they cannot rely on prior knowledge of the question order,” explained a WAEC spokesperson. “It also reduces the risk of a single leaked version compromising the integrity of the entire exam.”
The new measure is expected to enhance fairness and ensure that assessments accurately reflect students’ actual understanding and preparation.
Additionally, it significantly increases the difficulty and risk for those attempting to leak exam questions, as they would need to access multiple versions.
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The theory section of the exam will remain standardized across all regions, with identical question arrangements.
WAEC has also announced that the 2024 BECE will be held from Monday, July 8th to Monday, July 15th, with over 569,000 candidates expected to participate across over 2,000 centers nationwide.
The Council has urged candidates to adhere to examination rules and avoid bringing prohibited materials or electronic devices into the examination hall.