WAEC GCE Examination Date 2026: Full Second Series Timetable

If you are preparing to sit for the WAEC GCE 2026 examination, one of the most important things you need to know is the official examination date. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the final timetable for the 2026 WASSCE for Private Candidates, Second Series.

According to the official timetable released by WAEC, the 2026 WAEC GCE Second Series examination begins with practical planning sessions on Friday, September 4, 2026. The main papers begin on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, while the final scheduled paper is on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

This article provides the WAEC GCE examination date 2026, important subject dates, examination times, and other information candidates should know before the examination begins.

When Is WAEC GCE Examination Starting in 2026?

The 2026 WAEC GCE Second Series officially starts on Friday, September 4, 2026, with the Foods and Nutrition and Home Management practical planning sessions.

However, the main written examination begins on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, with Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective). The examination continues through October, with the final scheduled paper taking place on Wednesday, October 28, 2026.

Candidates should therefore not assume that September 22 is the first activity on the timetable. Some practical and oral components are scheduled before the main written papers.

WAEC GCE 2026 Examination Date at a Glance

Examination	Date
WAEC GCE 2026 Second Series Practical Planning	September 4, 2026
Oral and Practical Examinations	September 14 – 25, 2026
Main Written Examination Begins	September 22, 2026
Final Scheduled Examination	October 28, 2026

The dates above are taken from the final timetable published by WAEC for WASSCE for Private Candidates, 2026 Second Series.

WAEC GCE 2026 Second Series Timetable

Below is a summary of the major papers and their scheduled dates. Candidates should still check the official timetable carefully because some subjects have multiple papers on the same day.

September 2026 WAEC GCE Examination Dates

Date	Subject/Paper	Time
September 4, 2026	Foods and Nutrition 3 / Home Management 3 Planning Sessions	9:30am – 10:30am / 10:30am – 11:30am
September 14 – 25, 2026	Arabic Oral, French Oral, Music Performance, Foods & Nutrition Practical, Home Management Practical	As arranged by WAEC
September 22, 2026	Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective)	9:30am – 12:00pm / 2:00pm – 3:30pm
September 23, 2026	Accounting; Government	Morning and afternoon sessions
September 24, 2026	Hausa; Igbo; Yoruba	Morning session
September 25, 2026	Home Management	9:30am – 11:30am
September 28, 2026	Physical Education	2:00pm – 4:10pm
September 29, 2026	Health Education/Health Science; Physical Education	Morning and afternoon sessions
September 30, 2026	Visual Art 3A	2:00pm – 5:00pm

These dates and times are based on WAEC’s official 2026 Second Series final timetable.

October 2026 WAEC GCE Examination Dates

Date	Subject/Paper	Time
October 3, 2026	General Mathematics	9:30am – 12:00pm / 2:00pm – 3:30pm
October 5, 2026	Chemistry	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 6, 2026	Literature-in-English	9:30am – 11:45am
October 7, 2026	Biology	9:30am – 12:00pm and 2:00pm – 4:00pm
October 8, 2026	Literature-in-English 3	2:00pm – 4:30pm
October 9, 2026	Christian Religious Studies; Islamic Studies	Morning sessions
October 10, 2026	Economics; Visual Art	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 12, 2026	Music; Arabic	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 13, 2026	Nigerian History; Commerce	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 14, 2026	Geography	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 15, 2026	Physics	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 16, 2026	Marketing	9:30am – 12:20pm
October 17, 2026	English Language	9:30am – 12:30pm and 2:00pm – 2:45pm
October 20, 2026	Foods and Nutrition	2:00pm – 4:15pm
October 21, 2026	Agriculture	9:30am – 12:30pm and 2:00pm – 3:30pm
October 22, 2026	Visual Art; French 2	Morning
October 23, 2026	French; Health Education/Health Science	Morning and afternoon sessions
October 24, 2026	Civic Education	9:30am – 12:30pm
October 27, 2026	Music 3A (Aural)	2:00pm – 2:45pm
October 28, 2026	Technical Drawing	9:30am – 5:15pm

The official timetable contains the complete paper codes, durations and examination times for each subject.

When Is WAEC GCE Mathematics 2026?

The WAEC GCE General Mathematics examination is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2026.

According to the official timetable, Mathematics Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 9:30am to 12:00pm, while Mathematics Paper 1 (Objective) is scheduled for 2:00pm to 3:30pm.

When Is WAEC GCE English Language 2026?

The WAEC GCE English Language examination is scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026.

English Language Paper 2 (Essay) and Paper 1 (Objective) are scheduled for the morning, while English Language Paper 3 (Test of Orals) is scheduled for 2:00pm to 2:45pm. 6

When Is WAEC GCE Physics 2026?

The WAEC GCE Physics examination is scheduled for Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Physics Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 9:30am to 11:00am, followed by Physics Paper 1 (Objective) from 11:00am to 12:15pm. Physics Paper 3, which is the Alternative to Practical Work, is scheduled for 2:00pm to 4:45pm.

When Is WAEC GCE Biology 2026?

Biology is scheduled for Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Biology Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 9:30am to 11:10am, while Paper 1 (Objective) follows from 11:10am to 12:00 noon. Biology Paper 3 (Alternative to Practical Work) is scheduled for 2:00pm to 4:00pm.

When Is WAEC GCE Chemistry 2026?

Chemistry is scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026.

Chemistry Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 9:30am to 11:30am, followed by Paper 1 (Objective) from 11:30am to 12:30pm. Chemistry Paper 3 (Alternative to Practical Work) is scheduled for 2:00pm to 3:30pm.

When Is WAEC GCE Economics 2026?

The WAEC GCE Economics examination is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026.

Economics Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 9:30am to 11:30am, while Economics Paper 1 (Objective) follows from 11:30am to 12:30pm.

When Is WAEC GCE Government 2026?

Government is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Government Paper 2 (Essay) is scheduled for 2:00pm to 4:00pm, while Paper 1 (Objective) is scheduled for 4:00pm to 5:00pm.

Is WAEC GCE 2026 CBT or Paper and Pen?

The WAEC GCE examination for private candidates is a separate examination from the WASSCE for school candidates. Candidates should follow the instructions provided by WAEC during registration and on their examination documents.

Most importantly, do not rely on old WAEC GCE timetables found on social media. The official timetable can be updated or corrected by the examination council, so candidates should always confirm their dates from WAEC’s official publication.

Important Things to Do Before the WAEC GCE Examination

Knowing your examination date is only the first step. You should also use the remaining time to prepare properly for the subjects you registered for.

Check Your Examination Details

Make sure the subjects listed on your examination details are the same subjects you intend to write. Also check your examination centre and other important information provided by WAEC.

Print and Keep Your Examination Documents

Do not wait until examination day before looking for your identification or examination information. Keep all relevant documents safe and make sure you know where your examination centre is located.

Create a Revision Timetable

With several subjects scheduled between September and October, a simple revision timetable can help you avoid concentrating on one subject while neglecting another.

Give extra attention to subjects you find difficult and use past questions to become familiar with the style of questions normally asked.

Arrive Early at the Examination Centre

Always plan to arrive at your examination centre early. This is particularly important when you have papers scheduled in the morning.

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Final Words on WAEC GCE Examination Date 2026

The WAEC GCE 2026 Second Series examination begins with practical planning sessions on September 4, 2026. The main examination papers begin on September 22, 2026, and the final scheduled paper is on October 28, 2026.

If you are registered for the examination, do not wait until the last week before starting serious revision. Check the timetable carefully, identify the dates of your subjects, and organize your preparation around them.

Also remember that the times and dates can be subject-specific, so you should check the official WAEC timetable for the exact paper you are writing before going to the examination centre.

Good luck to every candidate preparing for the 2026 WAEC GCE examination