The West African Examinations Council has released the official 2026 BECE timetable for school and private candidates in Ghana. The examination will run from May 4 to May 11, 2026.
The (WAEC) has officially announced the timetable for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) for both school and private candidates in .
According to the examination body, the nationwide assessment will begin on Monday, May 4, 2026, and conclude on Monday, May 11, 2026. The timetable was issued by WAEC’s national secretariat in .
The BECE serves as the final external examination for students completing Junior High School (JHS) and plays a central role in placement into Senior High Schools, technical institutes, and other second-cycle institutions.
Full 2026 BECE Timetable
Monday, May 4, 2026
- English Language 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
- English Language 1 (Objective) – 10:10 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Religious and Moral Education 2 (Essay) – 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Religious and Moral Education 1 (Objective) – 2:00 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
- Social Studies 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Social Studies 1 (Objective) – 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
- Creative Arts and Design 2 (Essay) – 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Creative Arts and Design 1 (Objective) – 2:15 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
- Integrated Science 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.
- Integrated Science 1 (Objective) – 10:25 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
- Career Technology 2 (Essay) – 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Career Technology 1 (Objective) – 2:15 p.m. to 3:05 p.m.
Thursday, May 7, 2026
- Mathematics 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Mathematics 1 (Objective) – 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- Ghanaian Language 2 (Essay) – 1:00 p.m. to 2:10 p.m.
- Ghanaian Language 1 (Objective) – 2:10 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Friday, May 8, 2026
- French 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
- French 1 (Objective) – 9:45 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
- Computing 2 (Essay) – 1:00 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Computing 1 (Objective) – 2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Monday, May 11, 2026
- Arabic 2 (Essay) – 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
- Arabic 1 (Objective) – 10:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Important Instructions for Candidates
The has also provided key guidelines for candidates sitting the examination.
- Both papers for each subject must be written in one sitting without a break.
- If there is a difference between the time on the timetable and that printed on the question paper, the time on the question paper should be followed.
- Candidates with visual or hearing impairments will receive an additional 50 percent of the normal examination time.
Preparation Period for Schools and Candidates
The release of the final timetable allows schools across to begin intensive revision programmes and mock examinations for final-year students.
Education authorities advise candidates to study the timetable carefully, plan their revision schedules, and ensure they arrive early at examination centres during the examination period.
The BECE remains one of the most important academic milestones within Ghana’s basic education system because it determines the next stage of a student’s educational journey.