WAEC Timetable 2026 for May/June Exam Released: Full Exam Schedule & Best Preparation Tips For Candidates
The official timetable for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates has been released, giving millions of students across Nigeria and other West African countries a clearer picture of their examination schedule.
The timetable covers all major subjects, practical sessions, objective papers, essay papers, and oral examinations scheduled from April through June 2026.
For candidates preparing for one of the most important academic examinations in their educational journey, having access to the complete WAEC timetable is essential for effective planning, revision, and exam success.
This guide provides a breakdown of the WAEC 2026 timetable, important dates, core subject schedules, and practical preparation strategies to help candidates maximize performance.
WAEC 2026 Examination Start Date
The May/June WAEC examination officially begins in April 2026 with practical planning sessions for selected vocational subjects such as Foods and Nutrition and Home Management.
Full subject examinations then continue from late April through June 19, 2026, covering science, arts, commercial, and vocational subjects.
Candidates are advised to carefully study the timetable relevant to their registered subjects to avoid confusion or missed papers.
Major WAEC 2026 Core Subject Dates
Some of the most important subjects for most candidates include:
General Mathematics: Wednesday, 3rd June 2026
English Language: Wednesday, 10th June 2026
Chemistry: Thursday, 11th June 2026
Physics: Monday, 1st June 2026 (Theory), with practicals later in June
Biology: Tuesday, 16th June 2026
Economics: Wednesday, 17th June 2026
Government: Thursday, 4th June 2026
Geography: Friday, 5th June 2026
These dates are particularly critical for candidates writing science, commercial, and arts combinations.
WAEC 2026 Public Holidays During Examination Period
Several public holidays fall within the examination calendar, including:
Workers’ Day – Friday, 1st May 2026
Eid-al-Adha Holidays – Tuesday, 26th May to Thursday, 28th May 2026
Democracy Day – Friday, 12th June 2026
Students should use these breaks wisely for revision and rest.
WAEC 2026 May/june Final Examination Timetable
===================
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
===========================
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.
===========================
Friday, 1st May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (WORKERS’ DAY)
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
Thursday, 14th May 2026
Digital Technologies 2 (Essay)
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Digital Technologies 1 (Objectives)
3:00pm – 4:00pm
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
Thursday, 21st May 2026
Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 12:00noon
Further Mathematics/Mathematics (Elective) 1 (Objective)
2:00pm – 3:30pm
===========================
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
===========================
Tuesday, 26th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA) ===========================
Wednesday, 27th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA/ CHILDREN’S DAY)
===========================
Thursday, 28th May 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (EID-AL-ADHA)
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
Wednesday, 3rd June 2026
General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 2 (Essay)
9:30am – 12:00noon
General Mathematics/Mathematics (Core) 1 (Objective)
3:00pm – 4:30pm
===========================
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)
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
Friday, 12th June 2026
PUBLIC HOLIDAY (DEMOCRACY DAY)
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
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
===========================
Why the WAEC Timetable is Important
The WAEC timetable is more than just a list of dates—it is a strategic tool that helps candidates:
Plan daily reading schedules
Prioritize difficult subjects
Prepare for practical exams early
Avoid examination clashes or missed papers
Manage stress and revision time effectively
Students who organize their preparation around the timetable often perform better because they study with direction and purpose.
How to Prepare Effectively for WAEC 2026
Success in WAEC requires more than attending classes. Proper preparation is key.
1. Create a Personal Study Timetable
Use the official WAEC timetable to develop a personal reading plan that allocates sufficient time to each subject, especially weak areas.
2. Focus on Core Subjects
Mathematics and English are compulsory, so candidates should devote extra time to mastering these subjects.
3. Practice Past Questions
WAEC past questions remain one of the most effective tools for understanding exam patterns, repeated topics, and marking standards.
4. Prepare for Practicals Early
Science and vocational students should begin practical preparation well before their scheduled dates.
5. Avoid Exam Malpractice
WAEC maintains strict rules against malpractice. Candidates should focus on genuine preparation to avoid disqualification.
Common Mistakes Candidates Should Avoid
Many students underperform due to avoidable errors such as:
1. Ignoring the timetable
2. Poor time management
3. Starting revision too late
4. Skipping difficult subjects
5. Relying on expoor malpractice schemes
Discipline, consistency, and proper planning remain the best strategies.
Important Advice for Parents and Guardians
Parents also play a significant role during WAEC preparation by:
Providing a conducive reading environment
Encouraging discipline
Monitoring attendance
Supporting emotional well-being
A stable support system can significantly improve a candidate’s confidence and performance.
WAEC 2026 Exam Day Tips
On examination days, candidates should:
Arrive early at the exam venue
Bring necessary materials
Follow all instructions carefully
Manage time effectively during papers
Stay calm and focused
Simple preparation can prevent unnecessary panic.
Final Thoughts
The release of the WAEC 2026 timetable marks the beginning of a crucial academic season for secondary school students.
With proper planning, consistent revision, and disciplined preparation, candidates can significantly improve their chances of achieving excellent results.
The examination may seem challenging, but with the right approach, success is achievable.
Students are encouraged to print their timetable, create a structured study plan, and begin preparation immediately.
Your performance in WAEC can shape future admission and career opportunities—prepare wisely and give it your best effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About WAEC Timetable 2026
1. Has the official WAEC timetable for 2026 been released?
Yes, the May/June WAEC 2026 timetable has been released for school candidates.
2. When does WAEC 2026 start?
The examination begins in April 2026 with practical and oral papers, while major written exams continue into June.
3. When is Mathematics exam in WAEC 2026?
General Mathematics is scheduled for Wednesday, 3rd June 2026.
4. When is English Language exam in WAEC 2026?
English Language is scheduled for Wednesday, 10th June 2026.
5. How can I prepare effectively for WAEC?
Create a reading timetable, use past questions, revise consistently, and focus on both theory and practical subjects.
6. Are there public holidays during WAEC?
Yes, holidays such as Workers’ Day, Eid-al-Adha, and Democracy Day fall within the examination period.
7. Is WAEC timetable the same for all candidates?
The general timetable is official, but practical dates may vary depending on schools and centres.
8. Can WAEC exam dates change?
Changes are rare, but candidates should regularly check official WAEC announcements.
9. What is the best way to pass WAEC 2026?
Early preparation, proper time management, and disciplined study remain the most reliable methods.
10. Where can I get the full WAEC timetable?
The complete timetable is available through official WAEC channels, schools, and trusted educational platforms.
Related Posts:
NERD Registration Portal 2026: Requirements, CBT Centres & NYSC Clearance Step-by-Step (Full Guide)
Top 10 Highest Paying Online Jobs In Nigeria 2026: Proven Ways to Make Money Online