The management of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has published the timetable for the 2026 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.
The WAEC timetable is for candidates attempting the May/June exam in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.
What is the WAEC timetable 2026 for?
The WAEC timetable 2026 shows exam dates, paper names, paper duration and starting time for each listed WASSCE subject.
Candidates should use the PDF meant for their own country, because Nigeria has a separate timetable while Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia share another PDF. A copied timetable from class groups or social media may contain errors.
Where can candidates download the WAEC timetable 2026 PDF?
Candidates should download the correct WAEC 2026 May/June timetable from the links below.
These links help candidates plan revision around the timetable. Past questions can also help them practise time use.
What are the WAEC 2026 May/June dates for Nigerian candidates?
The Nigerian WAEC 2026 May/June timetable starts with practical planning on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, and runs through Friday, 19 June 2026.
Candidates should check their own subjects first, then mark practicals, orals and papers with two sets. Some dates and times are arranged by the Council.
WAEC Timetable 2026 for Nigerian Candidates
Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Foods and Nutrition 3 (Practical) Planning Session
1 hr
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Home Management 3 (Practical) Planning Session
1 hr
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Monday, 27 April 2026 to Friday, 8 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Arabic 3 (Oral)
15 mins
Date and time arranged by the Council
French 3 (Oral)
40 mins
Date and time arranged by the Council
Physical Education 3 (Performance Test)
2 hrs
Date and time arranged by the Council
Foods and Nutrition 3 (Practical)
3 hrs
Date and time arranged by the Council
Home Management 3 (Practical)
3 hrs
Date and time arranged by the Council
Music 3B (Performance Test)
30 mins
Date and time arranged by the Council
Friday, 1 May 2026
Item
Public Holiday, Workers’ Day
Tuesday, 12 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Hausa 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Hausa 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Yoruba 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Yoruba 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Igbo 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Igbo 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Livestock Farming 3 (Practical), 1st set
1 hr 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Livestock Farming 3 (Practical), 2nd set
1 hr 30 mins
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Beauty & Cosmetology 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
1 hr
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 13 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Fashion Design & Garment Making 2 (Essay)
45 mins
9:30 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Fashion Design & Garment Making 1 (Objective)
40 mins
10:15 a.m. to 10:55 a.m.
Home Management 2 (Essay)
1 hr
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Home Management 1 (Objective)
1 hr
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, 14 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Digital Technologies 2 (Essay)
1 hr
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Digital Technologies 1 (Objectives)
1 hr
3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Friday, 15 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Foods and Nutrition 2 (Essay)
1 hr 15 mins
9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Foods and Nutrition 1 (Objective)
1 hr
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
French 2 (Essay)
1 hr 15 mins
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
French 1 (Objective)
1 hr
4:45 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Monday, 18 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Technical Drawing 2 (Essay)
1 hr 45 mins
9:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Technical Drawing 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Music 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Music 1 (Objective)
1 hr
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Physical Education 2 (Essay)
1 hr 20 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Physical Education 1 (Objective)
50 mins
3:20 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Tuesday, 19 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Livestock Farming 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Livestock Farming 1 (Objective)
40 mins
11:30 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
Technical Drawing 3 (Sketches, Building and Mechanical Drawing)
2 hrs 45 mins
2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative A), 1st set
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative A), 2nd set
2 hrs
12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs 2 (Essay)
1 hr 35 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:35 p.m.
Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs 1 (Objective)
45 mins
3:35 p.m. to 4:20 p.m.
Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance 2 (Essay)
2 hrs 15 mins
2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance 1 (Objective)
45 mins
4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Beauty & Cosmetology 2 (Essay)
1 hr 20 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:20 p.m.
Beauty & Cosmetology 1 (Objective)
40 mins
3:20 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Thursday, 21 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 2 (Essay)
2 hrs 30 mins
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 1 (Objective)
1 hr 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday, 22 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Health Education/Health Science 2 (Essay)
1 hr 30 mins
9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Health Education/Health Science 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Health Education/Health Science 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
1 hr 45 mins
3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Visual Art 3A (Drawing)
3 hrs
3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Item
Public Holiday, Eid-al-Adha
Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Item
Public Holiday, Eid-al-Adha / Children’s Day
Thursday, 28 May 2026
Item
Public Holiday, Eid-al-Adha
Friday, 29 May 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Arabic 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Arabic 1 (Objective)
50 mins
11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Visual Art 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Visual Art 1 (Objective)
50 mins
5:30 p.m. to 6:20 p.m.
Monday, 1 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Christian Religious Studies 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Christian Religious Studies 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Islamic Studies 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Islamic Studies 1 (Objective)
50 mins
11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Physics 2 (Essay)
1 hr 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Physics 1 (Objective)
1 hr 15 mins
3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Tuesday, 2 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Civic Education 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Civic Education 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Agriculture 2 (Essay)
2 hrs 10 mins
2:00 p.m. to 4:10 p.m.
Agriculture 1 (Objective)
50 mins
4:10 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Catering Craft 2 (Essay)
50 mins
2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Catering Craft 1 (Objective)
40 mins
2:50 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 3 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 2 (Essay)
2 hrs 30 mins
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon
General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 1 (Objective)
1 hr 30 mins
3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, 4 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Government 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Government 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Music 3A (Aural)
45 mins
2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Fashion Design & Garment Making 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
40 mins
2:00 p.m. to 2:40 p.m.
Agriculture 3 (Practical), 1st set
1 hr 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Agriculture 3 (Practical), 2nd set
1 hr 30 mins
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday, 5 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Geography 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Geography 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Geography 3 (Practical and Physical Geography)
1 hr 50 mins
3:30 p.m. to 5:20 p.m.
Monday, 8 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Digital Technologies 3 (Practical), 1st set
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Digital Technologies 3 (Practical), 2nd set
2 hrs
12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Visual Art 3B (Creative Design)
3 hrs
2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, 9 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative B), 1st set
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative B), 2nd set
2 hrs
12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Nigerian History 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Nigerian History 1 (Objective)
1 hr
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, 10 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
English Language 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
English Language 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
English Language 3 (Test of Orals)
45 mins
2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Thursday, 11 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Chemistry 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Chemistry 1 (Objective)
1 hr
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Literature-in-English 2 (Prose)
1 hr 15 mins
2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Literature-in-English 1 (Objective)
1 hr
3:15 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Friday, 12 June 2026
Item
Public Holiday, Democracy Day
Monday, 15 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative A), 1st set
2 hrs 45 mins
9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative A), 2nd set
2 hrs 45 mins
12:45 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Marketing 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Marketing 1 (Objective)
50 mins
4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m.
Tuesday, 16 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Biology 2 (Essay)
1 hr 40 mins
9:30 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Biology 1 (Objective)
50 mins
11:10 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Literature-in-English 3 (Drama & Poetry)
2 hrs 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Wednesday, 17 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Biology 3 (Practical), 1st set
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Biology 3 (Practical), 2nd set
2 hrs
12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.
Economics 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Economics 1 (Objective)
1 hr
4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Thursday, 18 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative B), 1st set
2 hrs 45 mins
9:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative B), 2nd set
2 hrs 45 mins
12:40 p.m. to 3:25 p.m.
Accounting 2 (Essay)
2 hrs 30 mins
2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Accounting 1 (Objective)
1 hr
4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Friday, 19 June 2026
Paper
Duration
Time
Commerce 2 (Essay)
2 hrs
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Commerce 1 (Objective)
50 mins
11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m.
Catering Craft 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
40 mins
3:00 p.m. to 3:40 p.m.
What WAEC exam notes should candidates read?
WAEC gives exam notes that candidates should read before they enter the hall.
A small timing detail can affect a paper, especially where practicals, sets or special paper rules apply. Candidates should check both the timetable and the question paper instructions on exam day.
What if the paper time differs from the timetable?
Where the duration printed on the question paper differs from the timetable, candidates should follow the time printed on the question paper.
Which papers are given before the exam date?
For Visual Art 3, WAEC gives some papers or instructions before the due date.
Paper
WAEC note
Visual Art 3A
Schools receive instructions two weeks before the paper is due
Visual Art 3B
Candidates receive the question paper two weeks before the paper is due
Visual Art 3C
Candidates carry out projects within six months of the exam year
The Council will tell schools the submission period for Visual Art 3C. Candidates should follow their school’s guidance.
Who gets extra time?
Blind, deaf and dumb candidates should receive one and half times the time given to other candidates.
What should candidates avoid during WAEC exams?
Candidates should not take banned items into the exam hall.
The listed banned items are:
Phones, even when switched off
Smartwatches
Bluetooth devices
Tablets
Programmable calculators
Any suspicious gadget
Any candidate caught with any of these items is out. The safest choice is to leave them outside the exam hall.
How should candidates use the WAEC timetable 2026?
Candidates should use the timetable as a daily study and exam checklist.
They can mark each subject, note practical dates, check morning and afternoon papers, then compare the PDF with school notices. They should arrive early for each paper, eat well, sleep well and use short breaks during revision.
Common questions about WAEC timetable 2026
Is the WAEC timetable 2026 out?
Yes. WAEC has released the 2026 May/June WASSCE timetable for school candidates.
Which countries does the timetable cover?
The timetable covers Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia.
Should Nigerian candidates use the same PDF as other countries?
No. Nigerian candidates should use the Nigeria PDF, while Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia candidates should use their shared PDF.
When does the WAEC 2026 timetable for Nigeria start?
The listed Nigerian timetable starts on Tuesday, 21 April 2026, with Foods and Nutrition and Home Management practical planning sessions.
When is WAEC 2026 English Language?
English Language papers hold on Wednesday, 10 June 2026.
When is WAEC 2026 General Mathematics?
General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) papers hold on Wednesday, 3 June 2026.
What should candidates do if the timetable and question paper show different durations?
Candidates should follow the duration printed on the question paper.
This post is authored by Olusegun Fapohunda, the founder and editor of MySchoolGist.
Boasting over a decade of expertise in the education sector, Olusegun offers current insights into educational trends, career opportunities, and the latest news.
