The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has announced a new set of subject combinations for students preparing to sit for the 2026 Senior Secondary School Examination across member countries.
The Council said the changes are aimed at aligning students’ studies with their chosen academic fields and career paths.
Under the new arrangement, Science students will no longer be permitted to take Economics as part of their examination subjects. In the same vein, students in the Humanities, including those offering Literature, Government, or History, are also barred from registering for Economics.
According to the updated policy, only students in the Business or Commercial department will be allowed to offer Economics, as the subject has been classified strictly under the business studies category. The new guidelines, WAEC explained, are meant to strengthen subject relevance and promote specialization among candidates.
The Council maintained that candidates must register for a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine subjects, which must include English Language and Mathematics as compulsory for all departments. It added that students should focus on core subjects in their disciplines, with Science students taking Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, Arts students focusing on Literature and a Nigerian language such as Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa, while Commercial students will emphasize Economics and related business subjects.
WAEC further stated that only three subjects English Language, Mathematics, and one Trade Subject are totally compulsory, regardless of the candidate’s area of study. This, the Council noted, is in line with the approval of the Federal Government and intended to ensure uniform academic standards across schools.
Officials assured that the new subject combination structure will help improve students’ focus, enhance academic performance, and better prepare them for tertiary education and future careers.
