Examination malpractice remains a concern in Nigeria’s education system, and some students face pressure to participate even when they have not planned to cheat.
Sometimes, the pressure comes from the very teachers expected to guide them. But accepting answers during an examination can prevent students from discovering their actual academic strengths and weaknesses.
As students prepare for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), here are five ways to reject such offers and take responsibility for their education.
1. Start Preparing Early
Don’t wait until the examination is around the corner before you begin serious preparation. Create a reading timetable, study consistently, and practise past questions. Early preparation can build your confidence and reduce the temptation to depend on someone else’s answers.
2. See the Examination as a Personal Challenge
WAEC is an opportunity to assess what you have learnt throughout your secondary school education. Approach it as a personal challenge to test your knowledge and identify areas where you need improvement. Your result should reflect your own effort and understanding.
3. Participate Actively in Your Learning
Attend classes, ask questions when you do not understand a topic, and take practical lessons seriously. Subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology require more than listening to explanations; students also need appropriate practical experience. Take responsibility for your learning and speak up when important learning opportunities are missing.
4. Build Confidence in Your Own Ability
Do not allow fear of disappointing your parents, teachers, or friends to push you into accepting answers during an examination. Focus on what you know, prepare for what you do not understand, and seek legitimate academic support when necessary. Your goal should be to improve your knowledge, not simply to obtain impressive grades.
5. Understand That Failure Is Not Bad
Many students accept examination malpractice because they are afraid of failing. Unfortunately, this fear can prevent them from recognising that failure is a natural part of learning and the journey to success. When you fail, you have an opportunity to identify your weaknesses, learn from your mistakes, and improve. It is better to earn a result that reflects your actual ability and work towards improving it than to obtain grades you cannot defend.
Students must remember that examination results are most valuable when they reflect what they genuinely know and can do. Accepting answers during WAEC may produce an attractive result, but it cannot replace the knowledge and skills required for higher education.
Your result should reflect your effort, your knowledge, and your ability, not someone else’s answers.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.