NECO Announces 2025 SSCE External Results, Reports 71.63% Pass Rate

 The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination for External Candidates today. The Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Ibrahim D. Wushishi, announced a national pass rate of 71.63% during a press briefing held at the Council’s headquarters.

A total of 89,351 candidates sat for the examination, which was conducted nationwide in November and December 2025. Of this number, 64,031 candidates, representing 71.63%, achieved the benchmark of five credits and above, including compulsory passes in English Language and Mathematics.

The 2025 results show a notable improvement of 3.2 percentage points over the 2024 performance. Professor Wushishi attributed this positive trend to increased candidate preparation and the Council's sustained efforts in examination integrity.

"The Council is encouraged by the steady improvement in core subject performance. This outcome validates the hard work of the candidates and the reliability of our processes," the Registrar stated.

Despite the overall success, the Council reported 4,310 cases of examination malpractice, accounting for 4.82% of the total candidature. Common infractions included alleged assistance from supervisors, smuggling of unauthorized materials, and impersonation.

"In line with our zero-tolerance policy, the results of these candidates have been withheld pending the conclusion of investigations. Appropriate sanctions will be applied to safeguard the credibility of our certificates," Professor Wushishi emphasized.

Subject Performance Breakdown

Analysis of the results indicates strong performances in key subjects:

· English Language: 78.12% credit and above

· Mathematics: 74.89% credit and above

· Biology: 72.45% credit and above

· Economics: 76.01% credit and above

  The Registrar highlighted Civic Education and Commerce as other subjects where candidates performed commendably