The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially commenced the registration process for the 2025 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External. The Council announced that the examination, scheduled to take place from Wednesday, November 26 to Saturday, December 13, 2025, will be fully computer-based, covering sixteen (16) major subjects.
In a public statement signed by Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, the Registrar and Chief Executive of NECO, the Council detailed every step candidates must follow to successfully register, stating, “Prospective candidates are advised to register at any time within the stipulated registration period through the Council’s website at www.neco.gov.ng via the SSCE External link.”
Candidates interested in sitting for the 2025 NECO SSCE External can now register either offline or online. The process begins by visiting www.neco.gov.ng to create an account using a valid email or phone number. Once the account is activated, candidates can purchase a registration quota and proceed to any reputable cybercafé for biometric capture and final registration.
During registration, each candidate must provide a recent passport-size photograph (not older than six months) with a white background. Alternatively, a system camera at the cybercafé may be used to capture the photo on-site.
One key requirement is the National Identification Number (NIN), which must be input correctly for successful registration. Also, biometric fingerprints will be captured offline, and biometric verification will be conducted during the actual exams.
NECO strongly warned, “Candidates found to have mismatched fingerprints at the point of verification are deemed impersonators and will be sanctioned according to extant laws.”
The registration fee is ₦30,000.00, which includes a Four-figure Mathematical Table and a Waterproof Certificate Jacket. However, candidates should be aware that stamp duty, Remita, and service charges apply.
To make payment, candidates or cybercafé agents can choose from the following five payment options:
ATM Card
Internet Banking
USSD
Wallet
Bank Branch
All payments must be made through the NECO TSA platform accessible via the registration portal.
Registration opened on July 7, 2025, and will close on November 18, 2025, by midnight. Late registration will run from November 19 to 25, 2025, attracting a ₦5,000 penalty. For walk-in candidates, the registration fee is ₦43,000.00 and must be completed at least three hours before the examination they intend to take.
Upon completing registration, candidates will receive:
A timetable for the exam
At least one clear copy of the NECO Photocard, which grants access to the Computer-Based Exam Centre
Candidates are reminded that unclear or blurred passport photos will not be accepted at exam centres.
Furthermore, the Referee’s Attestation section on the Photocard must be signed and stamped by a recognized authority such as:
A Secondary School Principal
An Ordained Clergyman or Chief Imam
A Commissioned Officer in the Armed Forces or Police (Captain rank and above)
A Senior Civil Servant (not below GL.14)
A Legal Practitioner with at least ten years of experience
Notably, “Candidates are no longer required to submit their attestation/photocards at NECO State Offices for stamping,” the Council confirmed.
Candidates with special needs must also register through the same process. However, they are required to clearly state the nature of their disabilities or needs when filling out their bio-data during registration.
Each state has designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, grouped into Neighbourhoods. Candidates must select their preferred Neighbourhoods during registration, after which they will be assigned to an appropriate centre.
According to NECO, “Candidates would be informed about the viability of their centres at least a day before the date of the Examination.”
Candidates can register for any of the following sixteen subjects:
- Agricultural Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Civic Education
- Christian Religious Studies
- Commerce
- Economics
- English Language
- Financial Accounting
- General Mathematics
- Geography
- Government
- Islamic Studies
- Literature-in-English
- Marketing
- Physics
NECO also mentioned that a mock examination will be scheduled and communicated later to interested candidates.
Professor Wushishi emphasized several crucial points in the general information section:
Once the registration fee is paid, it is non-refundable.
Exam centres cannot be changed after data upload.
Candidates must use reputable cybercafés, and carefully review all data before submission.
Only one-time corrections are allowed after data upload. Candidates can correct either a name (surname, first, or middle) or passport photo, but not both.
Multiple registrations are prohibited, and doing so will lead to complete cancellation of results.
“Candidates must ensure that the photograph uploaded and the NIN are correctly entered, as they will be embossed and inscribed on the certificates,” the Registrar noted.
The Council reiterated its strict security guidelines to ensure the integrity of the exams. Smoking and electronic devices such as mobile phones, smart watches, programmable calculators, tablets, or any other communication gadget are strictly prohibited at exam centres.
All candidates must:
Dress in mufti (no uniforms or armed security attire allowed)
Be seated 30 minutes before the exam begins
Refrain from any form of impersonation or malpractice
Late arrivals will not be allowed into the exam hall after the paper has started.
Cybercafé operators handling registrations have been cautioned to adhere strictly to NECO’s guidelines. The Council warned that it would not be held responsible for errors committed by cybercafé personnel. It is the responsibility of candidates to verify all entries before allowing data upload.
For a successful registration experience, NECO advises visiting its website’s SSCE External link for complete instructions before starting the process.
For more information or technical support, candidates are encouraged to explore the official NECO portal at www.neco.gov.ng or contact the nearest NECO office.
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