The Ultimate WAEC 2026 Timetable Guide: Prep, Plan, and Pass!

Let’s be real—the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is the big one. It’s the final hurdle standing between you and your university goals, your dream career, or whatever exciting step you’re taking next. Looking at a raw exam schedule can trigger instant panic, but take a deep breath. We have stripped away the confusion to leave you with a clean, easy-to-read breakdown of the official 2026 WAEC Timetable.

Think of this page as your ultimate exam command center. Whether you are aiming for a straight-A performance in the sciences, trying to balance your commercial papers, or figuring out exactly how many public holidays you get to catch your breath, we’ve got you covered. Bookmark this guide, grab your highlighters, and let’s map out your path to academic success!

KICK OFF: Tuesday, April 21, 2026.

END DATE: Friday, June 19, 2026.

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Tuesday, 21st April 2026

Foods and Nutrition 3 (Practical) Planning Session
9:30am – 10:30am

Home Management 3 (Practical) Planning Session
11:00am – 12:00noon
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Monday, 27th April, 2026 to Friday, 8th May 2026

Arabic 3 (Oral)

French 3 (Oral)

Physical Education 3 (Performance Test)

Foods and Nutrition 3 (Practical)

Home Management 3 (Practical)

Music 3B (Performance Test)

Date and time for each paper will be arranged by the Council.
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Friday, 1st May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (WORKERS’ DAY)
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Tuesday, 12th May 2026

Hausa 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Hausa 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Yoruba 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Yoruba 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Igbo 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Igbo 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Livestock Farming 3 (Practical)
2:00pm – 3:30pm (1st Set)

Livestock Farming 3 (Practical)
3:30pm – 5:00pm (2nd Set)

Beauty & Cosmetology 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
2:00pm – 3:00pm
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Wednesday, 13th May 2026

Fashion Design & Garment Making 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 10:15am

Fashion Design & Garment Making 1 (Objective)
10:15am – 10:55am

Home Management 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:00pm

Home Management 1 (Objective)
3:00pm – 4:00pm
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Thursday, 14th May 2026

Digital Technologies 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:00pm

Digital Technologies 1 (Objectives)
3:00pm – 4:00pm
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Friday, 15th May 2026

Foods and Nutrition 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 10:45am

Foods and Nutrition 1 (Objective)
10:45am – 11:45am

French 2 (Essay)
3:30pm – 4:45 pm

French 1 (Objective)
4:45pm – 5:45pm
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Monday, 18th May 2026

Technical Drawing 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:15am

Technical Drawing 1 (Objective)
11:15am – 12:15pm

Music 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Music 1 (Objective)
4:00pm – 5:00pm

Physical Education 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:20pm

Physical Education 1 (Objective)
3:20pm – 4:10pm
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Tuesday, 19th May 2026

Livestock Farming 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Livestock Farming 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:10pm

Technical Drawing 3 (Sketches, Building and Mechanical Drawing)
2:00pm – 4:45 pm
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Wednesday, 20th May 2026

Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative A)
9:30am – 11:30am (1st Set)

Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative A)
12:00noon – 2:00pm (2nd Set)

Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:35pm

Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs 1 (Objective)
3:35pm – 4:20pm

Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:15pm

Solar Photovoltaic Installation and Maintenance 1 (Objective)
4:15pm – 5:00pm

Beauty & Cosmetology 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:20pm

Beauty & Cosmetology 1 (Objective)
3:20pm – 4:00pm
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Thursday, 21st May 2026

Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 12:00noon

Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 1 (Objective)
2:00pm – 3:30pm
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Friday, 22nd May 2026

Health Education /Health Science 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:00am

Health Education/ Health Science 1 (Objective)
11:00am – 12:00noon

Health Education/ Health Science 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
3:30pm – 5:15pm

Visual Art 3A (Drawing)
3:30pm – 6:30pm
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Tuesday, 26th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA)
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Wednesday, 27th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA/ CHILDREN’S DAY)
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Thursday, 28th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA)
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Friday, 29th May 2026

Arabic 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Arabic 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:20pm

Visual Art 2 (Essay)
3:30pm – 5:30pm

Visual Art 1 (Objective)
5:30pm – 6:20pm
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Monday, 1st June 2026

Christian Religious Studies 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Christian Religious Studies 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Islamic Studies 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Islamic Studies 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:20pm

Physics 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:30pm

Physics 1 (Objective)
3:30pm – 4:45pm
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Tuesday, 2nd June 2026

Civic Education 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Civic Education 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Agriculture 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:10pm

Agriculture 1 (Objective)
4:10pm – 5:00pm

Catering Craft 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 2:50pm

Catering Craft 1 (Objective)
2:50pm – 3:30pm
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Wednesday, 3rd June 2026

General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 12:00noon

General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 1 (Objective)
3:00pm – 4:30pm
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Thursday, 4th June 2026

Government 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Government 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Music 3A (Aural)
2:00pm – 2:45pm

Fashion Design & Garment Making 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
2:00pm – 2:40pm

Agriculture 3 (Practical)
2:00pm – 3:30pm (1st Set)

Agriculture 3 (Practical)
3:30pm – 5:00pm (2nd Set)
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Friday, 5th June 2026

Geography 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Geography 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Geography 3 (Practical and Physical Geography)
3:30pm – 5:20pm
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Monday, 8th June 2026

Digital Technologies 3 (Practical)
9:30am – 11:30am (1stSet)

Digital Technologies 3 (Practical)
12:00noon – 2:00pm (2nd set)

Visual Art 3B (Creative Design)
2:00pm – 5:00pm
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Tuesday, 9th June 2026

Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative B)
9:30am – 11:30am (1st Set)

Chemistry 3 (Practical) (Alternative B)
12:00noon – 2:00pm (2nd Set)

Nigerian History 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Nigerian History 1 (Objective)
4:00pm – 5:00pm
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Wednesday, 10th June 2026

English Language 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

English Language 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

English Language 3 (Test of Orals)
2:00pm – 2:45pm
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Thursday, 11th June 2026

Chemistry 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Chemistry 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:30pm

Literature-In-English 2 (Prose)
2:00pm – 3:15pm

Literature-In-English 1 (Objective)
3:15pm – 4:15pm
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Friday, 12th June 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (DEMOCRACY DAY)
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Monday, 15th June 2026

Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative A)
9:30am – 12:15pm (1st Set)

Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative A)
12:45pm – 3:30pm (2nd Set)

Marketing 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Marketing 1 (Objective)
4:00pm – 4:50pm
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Tuesday, 16th June 2026

Biology 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:10am.

Biology 1 (Objective)
11:10am – 12:00noon

Literature-In-English 3 (Drama & Poetry)
2:00pm – 4:30pm
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Wednesday, 17th June 2026

Biology 3 (Practical)
9:30am – 11:30am (1st Set)

Biology 3 (Practical)
12:00noon – 2:00pm (2nd Set)

Economics 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:00pm

Economics 1 (Objective)
4:00pm – 5:00pm
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Thursday, 18th June 2026

Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative B)
9:30am – 12:15pm (1st Set)

Physics 3 (Practical) (Alternative B)
12:40pm – 3:25pm (2ndSet)

Accounting 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 4:30pm

Accounting 1 (Objective)
4:30pm – 5:30pm
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Friday, 19th June 2026

Commerce 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 11:30am

Commerce 1 (Objective)
11:30am – 12:20pm

Catering Craft 3 (Alternative to Practical Work)
3:00pm – 3:40pm
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The 2026 WAEC Science Student Extract

If you are in the Science department, your schedule is packed with intensive, two-part papers and heavy practical sessions. To save you from scrolling through trade subjects you aren’t sitting for, here is your customized high-speed extract of the core science and math papers:

  • Wednesday, 20th May: Chemistry 3 (Practical – Alternative A)

    • 1st Set: 9:30 am – 11:30 am | 2nd Set: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm

  • Thursday, 21st May: Further Mathematics (Elective)

    • Essay (Paper 2): 9:30 am – 12:00 noon | Objective (Paper 1): 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm

  • Monday, 1st June: Physics (Theory & Objectives)

    • Essay (Paper 2): 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm | Objective (Paper 1): 3:30 pm – 4:45 pm

  • Wednesday, 3rd June: General Mathematics (Core)

    • Essay (Paper 2): 9:30 am – 12:00 noon | Objective (Paper 1): 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm

  • Tuesday, 9th June: Chemistry 3 (Practical – Alternative B)

    • 1st Set: 9:30 am – 11:30 am | 2nd Set: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm

  • Thursday, 11th June: Chemistry (Theory & Objectives)

    • Essay (Paper 2): 9:30 am – 11:30 am | Objective (Paper 1): 11:30 am – 12:30 pm

  • Monday, 15th June: Physics 3 (Practical – Alternative A)

    • 1st Set: 9:30 am – 12:15 pm | 2nd Set: 12:45 pm – 3:30 pm

  • Tuesday, 16th June: Biology (Theory & Objectives)

    • Essay (Paper 2): 9:30 am – 11:10 am | Objective (Paper 1): 11:10 am – 12:00 noon

  • Wednesday, 17th June: Biology 3 (Practical)

    • 1st Set: 9:30 am – 11:30 am | 2nd Set: 12:00 noon – 2:00 pm

  • Thursday, 18th June: Physics 3 (Practical – Alternative B)

    • 1st Set: 9:30 am – 12:15 pm | 2nd Set: 12:40 pm – 3:25 pm

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: When is the 2026 WAEC exam starting and ending?

A: The 2026 WASSCE officially kicks off on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, with the planning sessions for Home Economics subjects. The entire examination phase wraps up on Friday, June 19, 2026, closing out with Commerce and Catering Craft papers.

Q: Why are there different “Alternatives” and “Sets” for Science Practicals?

A: WAEC provides Alternative A and Alternative B apparatus setups depending on what resources your school registered for. Furthermore, because laboratory equipment and space are often limited, schools break large science classes into 1st Set and 2nd Set. Always check your school’s internal lab roster so you know exactly which batch you belong to!

Q: Are there any public holidays during the 2026 WAEC exam period?

A: Yes! You have a few built-in study breaks courtesy of national holidays. There will be no exams on Friday, May 1st (Workers’ Day), a massive three-day break from Tuesday, May 26th to Thursday, May 28th (Eid-al-Adha / Children’s Day), and Friday, June 12th (Democracy Day). Use these days wisely to rest and catch up on revision!

Q: What is the difference between Mathematics Core and Mathematics Elective?

A: General Mathematics (Core) is compulsory for every single student writing WAEC, regardless of their department, and takes place on Wednesday, June 3rd. Further Mathematics (Elective) is an optional, advanced math paper targeted primarily at engineering, physical science, and technology track students, scheduled for Thursday, May 21st.