WAEC And JAMB: Which One Is Harder? Find Out!

As a Nigerian student aspiring to secure admission into a higher institution, you’ll likely encounter two major examinations on your academic journey: the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exams. These exams play a crucial role in determining your eligibility for higher education. While there are other alternative routes such as NECO, NABTEB, Direct Entry, IJMB, and JUPEB, WAEC and JAMB remain the most popular choices among candidates. In this article, we’ll delve into the comparison between these two exams and explore which one might be considered more challenging.

What is WAEC?

WAEC, which stands for the West African Examination Council, is an internationally recognized examination board responsible for conducting exams and awarding certificates to senior secondary students across several West African countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Gambia, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.

What is JAMB?

JAMB, or the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, is an independent Nigerian organization tasked with overseeing the admission process into higher institutions, such as universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Key Differences Between WAEC and JAMB:

  1. Purpose and Candidates:
    • WAEC is designed as an official certification exam for final-year secondary school students.
    • JAMB is intended for candidates seeking admission into higher institutions.
  2. Number of Subjects:
    • WAEC candidates typically write nine subjects, encompassing theory, objective, and practical components.
    • JAMB candidates tackle four subjects, focusing primarily on objective questions.
  3. Result Validity:
    • WAEC results hold lifelong relevance, whereas JAMB results are valid for one year only.
  4. International Recognition:
    • WAEC certificates are recognized internationally.
    • JAMB results, however, are accepted within Nigeria only.

Comparing the Difficulty:

WAEC vs. JAMB Opinions on which exam is more challenging vary among students. However, based on personal experiences and research, it is commonly believed that WAEC poses greater difficulty compared to JAMB. Here are some reasons supporting this viewpoint:

  1. Subject Load and Study Effort:
    • WAEC requires candidates to study and prepare for nine subjects, demanding more hard work and dedication.
    • JAMB involves four subjects, potentially requiring less extensive preparation.
  2. Question Types:
    • WAEC includes theory, objective, and practical questions, while JAMB primarily consists of objective questions.
  3. Marking Scheme:
    • WAEC’s marking scheme often involves a combination of theory, objective, and practical components, making scoring more comprehensive.
    • JAMB’s marking scheme, with a total of 180 questions, allows for a simpler pass rate calculation.
  4. Time Consumption:
    • WAEC spans over a month of examinations, whereas JAMB is completed within a single day.
  5. Remediation for Failure:
    • Failing a core subject in WAEC necessitates rewriting the entire exam, whereas JAMB offers the possibility of compensating for weaker subjects.

Conclusion:

Ultimately, both WAEC and JAMB can be manageable if approached with diligence, thorough preparation, and commitment to studying. The perception of difficulty may vary among individuals, and success hinges on a student’s willingness to put in the required effort. Emphasizing the importance of genuine studying over shortcuts or malpractices is essential for achieving success in these crucial examinations.