The full gist
Registration for the 2026 NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External (Nov./Dec.) has officially commenced. The registration fee is ₦30,000, and the registration portal will close on 17th November 2026 at 12:00 midnight. The examination is scheduled to commence on Wednesday, 25th November, and end on Saturday, 12th December 2026. This year's examination will be conducted using a combination of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) and the traditional pen-and-paper format. Candidates are therefore encouraged to activate the Myschool App and begin their preparation early to familiarize themselves with the CBT environment and improve their chances of success. Read the entire content of this page below for the full registration document.
Prospective candidates who wish to register for the 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, which SHALL BE DUAL MODE, COMPRISING HYBRID COMPUTER BASED EXAMINATION (CBE) AND PEN AND PAPER EXAMINATION (PPE) in sixteen (16) selected subjects, are hereby informed that registration for the examination has commenced. The registration is both offline and online.
Please note: We now provide complete Objective and Theory questions with answers for previous years' O'Level examinations, giving you access to authentic practice materials to boost your preparation. You can also practise offline using the Myschool CBT App, designed to help you become familiar with the exam format and improve your confidence before the examination. Get started here: https://myschool.ng/neco-cbt-app-for-mobile-devices-offline-practice
Prospective candidates should visit the Council’s corporate website www.neco.gov.ng SSCE External link (ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng) and register by creating an account, purchase registration quota, input biodata and then proceed to any reputable Cybercafé for biometric capture and completion of registration.
Passport size photograph is required for the registration. The candidate’s passport size photograph should NOT be more than SIX MONTHS old and must have a white background. System Camera can also be used to snap the passport size photograph at the point of registration as the case may be.
Candidate’s valid National Identification Number (NIN) must be inputted appropriately before he/she will be able to successfully register for the examination.
BIOMETRIC FINGERPRINTS WILL BE CAPTURED DURING THE OFFLINE REGISTRATION OF EACH CANDIDATE.
CANDIDATES SHOULD NOTE THAT THERE WILL BE BIOMETRIC VERIFICATION DURING THE CONDUCT OF THE EXAMINATION.
CANDIDATES FOUND TO HAVE MISMATCHED PASSPORT PHOTOGRAPHS/FINGERPRINTS AT THE POINT OF VERIFICATION ARE DEEMED IMPERSONATORS AND WOULD BE SANCTIONED ACCORDING TO EXTANT LAWS.
2. REGISTRATION WEBSITE – www.ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng
3. REGISTRATION FEE AND OTHER MATERIALS The Registration Fee is Thirty Thousand Naira (₦30,000.00) only including Four-figure Mathematical Table and Waterproof Certificate Jacket/Folder.
Note that: i. Stamp Duty, Service and Remita charges apply. ii. The Registration fee, once paid, is non-refundable.
4. MODE OF PAYMENT Candidates or registration points (cyber cafes) are to visit www.ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng and create an account using either their emails or phone numbers, activate the accounts and pay into the NECO TSA through five payment options:
ATM Card
Internet Banking
USSD
Wallet
Bank Branch
5. REGISTRATION PERIOD i. The registration period begins from 7th July, 2026 and ends on 17th November, 2026 at 12:00 midnight. ii. Late registration i.e. registration done from 18th to 24th November, 2026 will attract payment of ADDITIONAL Five Thousand Naira (₦5,000) only. iii. Walk-in registration is Forty-Three Thousand Naira (₦43,000.00) only per candidate.
6. EXAMINATION PERIOD The Examination Period is from Wednesday, 25th November to Saturday, 12th December, 2026.
7. ATTESTATION/PHOTO CARDS AND EXAMINATION TIME TABLE On completion of the registration process, each candidate must obtain the following from the Cybercafé: i. Timetable for the examination; and ii. At least One (1) clear copy of the NECO Photocard; which would be used to admit the candidate into the Computer Based Examination Centre/Examination Hall. (Candidates should note that Passport size photographs on the Photocards that are not clear will NOT be accepted at the Examination Centre).
The Referee’s Attestation section of the Photo card should be SIGNED AND STAMPED by any of the following: a) The Principal of a recognized Secondary School. b) An Ordained Clergyman or a Chief Imam. c) A Commissioned Officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces or the Police not below the rank of Captain or its equivalent. d) A Senior Civil Servant not below GL. 14. e) A Legal Practitioner of not less than Ten years’ experience.
CANDIDATES ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO SUBMIT THEIR ATTESTATION/PHOTO CARDS AT NECO STATE OFFICE FOR STAMPING.
8. CANDIDATES WITH SPECIAL NEEDS Candidates with Special Needs are to register like everyone. However, the nature of their specific needs is to be indicated correctly when making entries of their bio-data online during registration.
9. EXAMINATION CENTRES The Examination centres for each State have been grouped into Neighbourhoods. Candidates should select a Neighbourhood within the State where they intend to sit for the Examination. Candidates are to reprint Photocard not later than two (2) weeks to the examination to ascertain examination centre.
10. AVAILABLE SUBJECTS FOR THE EXAMINATION Subjects available are:
Agricultural Science 9. Financial Accounting
Biology 10. General Mathematics
Chemistry 11. Geography
Civic Education 12. Government
Christian Religious Studies 13. Islamic Studies
Commerce 14. Literature-in-English
Economics 15. Marketing
English Language 16. Physics
11. MOCK EXAMINATION Mock Examination for interested candidates shall be scheduled and communicated by the Council before the Examination.
12. GENERAL INFORMATION i. The Registration fee, once paid, is non-refundable. ii. The 2026 SSCE External Examination shall be DUAL MODE, COMPRISING HYBRID COMPUTER BASED EXAMINATION (CBE) AND PEN AND PAPER EXAMINATION (PPE). iii. WALK-IN CANDIDATES can register NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) HOURS to the Subject they intend to write. iv. EXAMINATION NEIGHBOURHOOD CANNOT BE EDITED after upload. v. Candidates or cybercafé operators should carefully follow the SSCE External link on www.neco.gov.ng for instructions on the registration procedure before embarking on the registration exercise. vi. The use of a reputable cybercafé is highly recommended as the Council will not be liable for registration errors committed by candidates. Candidates should ensure that they cross-check all entries made by cybercafes on their behalf BEFORE allowing their data to be uploaded online. vii. Candidates are entitled to ONE-TIME CORRECTION to be done before the Examination commences, after upload. Note that: a. complete change of name will not be entertained. b. ONLY ONE out of these two: NAME (either Surname, First name or Middle name) OR PASSPORT can be corrected in addition to other registration data. viii. Change of passport photograph can only be effected BEFORE the commencement of the examination. ix. Candidates should study the Rules & Regulations as well as the Syllabus before the Examination. x. Candidates should note that the photograph uploaded during registration and their NIN will be embossed and inscribed respectively, on their Certificates. xi. Smoking, bringing into the Examination Centre Electronic Communication Gadgets (Programmable Calculators, Mobile Phones, iPad, Tablets, Smart Wrist Watches/Glasses/Pens Etc) is strictly prohibited. xii. Candidates should dress in mufti and no one will be allowed entry into the examination hall with arms. xiii. Multiple registration is not allowed. Candidates who register more than once will have their entire results cancelled. xiv. Candidates are expected to be seated 30 mins before the commencement of each Subject/Paper. Please note that No candidate shall be allowed into the Examination Centre after the commencement of Examination.
Signed
PROFESSOR DANTANI IBRAHIM WUSHISHI Registrar/Chief Executive
What to note
- Prospective candidates should visit the Council’s corporate website www.neco.gov.ng SSCE External link (ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng) and register by creating an account, purchase registration quota, input biodata and then proceed to any reputable Cybercafé for biometric capture and completion of registration.
- Passport size photograph is required for the registration. The candidate’s passport size photograph should NOT be more than SIX MONTHS old and must have a white background. System Camera can also be used to snap the passport size photograph at the point of registration as the case may be.
- Candidate’s valid National Identification Number (NIN) must be inputted appropriately before he/she will be able to successfully register for the examination.
- BIOMETRIC FINGERPRINTS WILL BE CAPTURED DURING THE OFFLINE REGISTRATION OF EACH CANDIDATE.
- 2. REGISTRATION WEBSITE – www.ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng
- 3. REGISTRATION FEE AND OTHER MATERIALS The Registration Fee is Thirty Thousand Naira (₦30,000.00) only including Four-figure Mathematical Table and Waterproof Certificate Jacket/Folder.