NECO SSCE External Registration Guideline (2025)

The NECO SSCE External (GCE) 2025 registration is now open for private candidates who wish to sit for the November/December examination. This guide provides everything you need to know — including eligibility, registration steps, fees, deadlines — to ensure a smooth and successful registration process.

NECO SSCE External Registration Guideline (2025)

1. APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION
Prospective candidates who wish to register for the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, which will be a Computer-Based Examination (CBE) in sixteen (16) selected subjects, are hereby informed that registration for the examination has commenced. The registration is both offline and online.

Prospective candidates should visit the Council’s website www.neco.gov.ng SSCE External link and register at any time within the stipulated registration period. Candidates can create account, purchase registration quota and then proceed to any reputable Cybercafe 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 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 FINGERPRINTS AT THE POINT OF VERIFICATION ARE DEEMED IMPERSONATORS AND WOULD BE SANCTIONED ACCORDING TO EXTANT LAWS.

2. REGISTRATION WEBSITE – www.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 Stamp Duty, Service and Remita charges apply.

4. MODE OF PAYMENT
Candidates or registration points (cyber cafes) are to visit www.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 on 7th July, 2025 and ends on 18th November, 2025 at 12.00 midnight.
ii. Late registration i.e. registration done from 19th to 25th November, 2025 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, 26th November to Saturday, 13th December, 2025.

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. (Candidates should note that Passport size photographs on the Photocards that are not clear will NOT be accepted in 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 Clergy man or 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. COMPUTER-BASED 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 and they will automatically be assigned a centre within the selected neighbourhood after uploading their registration data online.

10. AVAILABLE SUBJECTS FOR THE EXAMINATION
Subjects available are:

1. Agricultural Science
2. Biology
3. Chemistry
4. Civic Education
5. Christian Religious Studies
6. Commerce
7. Economics
8. English Language
9. Financial Accounting
10. General Mathematics
11. Geography
12. Government
13. Islamic Studies
14. Literature-in-English
15. Marketing
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 2025 SSCE External Examination is Computer Based.
iii. WALK-IN CANDIDATES can register NOT LESS THAN THREE (3) HOURS to the Subject they intend to write.
iv. EXAMINATION CENTRE 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. Candidates should study the Rules & Regulations as well as the Syllabus before the Examination.
ix. Candidates should note that the photograph uploaded during registration and their NIN will be embossed and inscribed respectively, on their Certificates.
x. Candidates would be informed about the viability of their centres at least a day before the date of the Examination.
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

For more information,visit https://neco.gov.ng/exams/ssce-external