IS GCE HARDER THAN WAEC?

Are you interested in knowing or wondering about this question “is gce harder than waec?” If so, then this article is for you. Feel relaxed and make sure you read it to the end.

So many persons still ask Is GCE Harder Than WAEC and Which one is Easier? They are yet to understand the difference between the two examination bodies.

WAEC and WASSCE are the same thing. So, in this article, I will be using them interchangeably.

Some also give their opinions based on what they have heard or experienced. Some also give opinions based on what they think. In this article, I will show you the basic things you need to know about the two examination bodies (GCE and WASSCE).

Before then, note that the primary aim of examination be it WASSCE or GCE is to encourage students especially the SS3 students to further their education.

While WAEC is meant for students who passed through the secondary school from JSS1 – SS3, GCE is meant for those who would like to obtain the same certificate of education outside secondary schools.

GCE does not care whether you attended any secondary school or college. You can write and get the certificate.

It is called advanced because of the caliber of people that write it and the level of recognition given to it.

Nature of WAEC GCE, NECO GCE, NBAIS GCE, and NABTEB GCE

By nature, candidates should commit to minds that, these exams are almost the same. They take the same approaches from the period of exams to the nature of questions and how exams are conducted.
The time of NECO, NBAIS, and NABTEB GCE remains November/December (or sometimes earlier) each year. While WAEC GCE has been divided into two – one holding Jan/Feb and the other Aug/Sept. They are called the first and second series respectively.
Questions are set with the alternative to practicals (on paper practicals) instead of real practicals (laboratory practicals) that April/May exams use.
All GCEs are conducted at designated centers (secondary schools) in selected towns instead of the general secondary schools in towns across the nation – which April/May exams use.

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With the above comparisons, you should get the similarities and a few differences among these GCE exams.

What is the difference between GCE and WAEC

We have WAEC GCE and WAEC SSCE
First, GCE means General Certificate of Education while WAEC means West African Examination Council.
GCE is an external examination (a type of examination for private candidates who do not attend secondary schools anymore). On the other hand, SSCE is an internal examination (for school students)
GCE is also called an A’level while WAEC SSCE is an O’level.
GCE is recognised as a more advanced examination than the WASSCE
One thing you should note is that both exams can serve you the same purpose. The original aim of GCE was to enable school leavers obtain a certificate of education.

The West African Examination Council conducts three sets of examination in a year which are first phase of GCE (Jan/Feb), WAEC SSCE (May/June) and second phase of WAEC GCE (Nov/Dec). All these examinations are meant to grant you opportunity to grab the certificate of education.

Similarities between GCE and WAEC

Both can be used for the same purpose such as gaining admission into the higher institution (university)
It can help you further your education outside the sores of your country.
Do WAEC and GCE use the same syllabus?

Yes, GCE and WAEC SSCE use the same syllabus with slight difference. About 95% of the topics contained in n WASSCE is also contained in GCE. This simply means that you can use WAEC SSCE syllable to prepare for GCE.

Both examinations share syllabus in common. For instance, literature students write exactly the same thing in both WASSCE and GCE. They read exactly the same book and also answer from them.

Which one is harder between GCE and WAEC?

To determine the harder one among these two, one has to consider some factors including the differences and similarities stated above.

GCE is primarily meant for private students. It is meant for those who are outside the circle of schools. In other words, a person of any age can take such exam. In fact, it is meant for wider circle of persons. For this reason it is recognized as a more advanced examination.

Secondly, since it is meant for everyone, even those who haven’t read any book for years, it seems harder than WAEC SSCE because it’s been long they visited their books.

Judging from the slight differences and similarities between the two examinations, none of them should be judged to be harder than the other considering the following reasons:

1. Both exams use the same syllabus

Since both use the same curriculum, it simply means that they should expect questions from the same source during examination.

It also means that if a 17 year old boy can read WASSCE syllabus and pass WAEC SSCE, he can also use the same WAEC syllabus to write and pass GCE.

2.They use the same literature texts. No changes at all.

3. The same body conduct the examination

The West African Examination Council conducts both exams in Nigeria. Their main aim is to enable those who are still in the secondary school (JSS1 – SS3) and those who are not in school to obtain certificate of education. This certificate would help them process some things such as jobs, travel papers and other things.