WAEC’s 2025 WASSCE results show significant declines in Mathematics and Social Studies, modest changes in English and Integrated Science, and wide gaps in student readiness. This article breaks down the core subject statistics and their implications.
Ghana Faces Sobering Numbers in 2025 Core Subjects
Fresh data from the West African Examinations Council has drawn national attention after revealing troubling outcomes in the four core subjects of the 2025 WASSCE. While the overall entry figures remained stable, the academic performance tells a far more complex story.
The Council’s detailed release highlights declines that many parents and educators feared but hoped would not materialise. WAEC notes that these results represent genuine student performance under a strict supervision regime.
English Language: A Slight Dip but Still the Strongest Core Subject
English Language recorded the highest pass rate among the core subjects.
A total of 289,673 candidates, representing 69.00 percent, obtained Grades A1 to C6.
This marks a minor decline from the 69.52 percent recorded in 2024. WAEC described this variation as marginal but important, especially since English remains the foundation for performance across the curriculum.
Educators say the figures suggest the need for sustained reading and writing support in schools, rather than emergency interventions during exam periods.
Mathematics: The Most Alarming Decline in a Decade
Mathematics produced the most distressing results.
Only 48.73 percent of candidates achieved Grades A1 to C6, a steep fall from the 66.86 percent achieved in 2024.
More than 114,000 candidates, representing 26.77 percent, failed outright.
The rapid drop has renewed public debate about numeracy instruction, classroom time lost to school closures, inconsistent attendance patterns, and the level of exam preparedness nationwide.
WAEC has not attributed the decline to any single cause but notes that stricter monitoring played a role in eliminating shortcuts that artificially inflate performance.
Integrated Science: Stable Outcome with Minor Movement
Integrated Science presented a more balanced picture.
57.74 percent of candidates secured A1 to C6, slightly lower than the 58.77 percent of the previous year.
This subject has shown gradual stability across the four-year trend from 2022 to 2025. WAEC’s summary suggests that schools appear to have a more consistent approach to practical and theoretical instruction in this area, though gaps remain.
Social Studies: Severe Decline Signals Deep Instructional Problems
Social Studies recorded one of the sharpest declines.
Only 55.82 percent of candidates obtained Grades A1 to C6, well below the 71.53 percent achieved in 2024.
More than 122,000 candidates, representing 27.50 percent, failed the paper.
Education analysts view this drop as significant because Social Studies typically records high pass rates. The decline raises concerns about content mastery, teacher preparation and the heavy dependence on last-minute revisions instead of continuous learning.
Four-Year Trend Calls for National Reflection
WAEC’s data shows fluctuating results in all four core subjects from 2022 to 2025.
The Council warns that while the 2025 outcomes may shock the public, they reflect the genuine academic readiness of candidates when examinations are conducted under strict and uncompromised conditions.
Schools, parents and policymakers are being encouraged to treat the figures as a mirror of the system’s strengths and weaknesses, not as an indictment of students alone.
A Turning Point Ahead of the 2026 International WASSCE
With Ghana preparing to join all West African member countries for the May/June 2026 international WASSCE, WAEC believes the 2025 results should serve as a motivation for stronger academic preparation.
Teachers and school leaders are calling for improved resources, early revision schedules, better attendance, and targeted support for struggling learners, especially in Mathematics.
The Council concludes that the path forward requires broad national cooperation to rebuild confidence, strengthen classroom instruction and ensure that Ghanaian candidates are ready for a more competitive regional examination in 2026.
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