The National Examination Council (NECO) has announced the commencement of the sales of application form for the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination for External Candidates and is inviting suitable candidates to register.
The NECO Senior School Certificate Examination (external) is majorly for candidates not in the school system.
NECO GCE Available Subjects
The SSCE External has Twenty-nine subjects as follows:
1. Agricultural Science
2. Arabic Language
3. Biology
4. Chemistry
5. Civic Education
6. Christian Religious Studies
7. Commerce
8. Data Processing
9. Economics
10. English Language
11. Financial Accounting
12. French
13. Further Mathematics
14. Geography
15. Government
16. Hausa
17. Health Education
18. History
19. Igbo
20. Islamic Studies
21. Literature in English
22. Mathematics
23. Marketing
24. Physical Education
25. Physics
26. Salesmanship
27. Store keeping
28. Technical Drawing
29. Yoruba
Candidates should note that Nigerian Languages (Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba) include Literature component.
How to Apply for NECO GCE Form
The registration is both offline and online. Prospective candidates should visit the Council’s website neco.gov.ng SSCE External link, to locate the nearest registration point (Cybercafe) and register at any time within the stipulated registration period. Candidates can also create an account, purchase a registration token and then proceed to the registration point to register.
Registration Period
The registration period Begins on Monday, 11th September 2023 and ends on Monday, 13th November 2023 at 12.00 midnight.
Late Registration
Late registration i.e., registration done from Tuesday, 14th to Sunday, 19th November 2023 will attract payment of ADDITIONAL Two Thousand Naira (N2,000) only.
Walk-In Registration
Walk-in registration is Twenty-Eight Thousand Naira (N28,000.00) only per candidate. Registration must be done a day before the scheduled time of the first subject/paper intended to sit for.
Registration Fee
• The Registration Fee is Seventeen Thousand Eight Hundred Naira (N17,800.00) only.
• Four-figure Table is Five Hundred Naira (N500.00) only per copy.
• Waterproof Certificate Jacket/Folder is Two Thousand Naira (N2,000) only per candidate.
• Note that Stamp Duty, Service and Remita charges apply.
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
CANDIDATES ARE TO NOTE THAT SCRATCH CARDS ARE NO LONGER USED FOR ALL NECO TRANSACTIONS
Application for Registration
• A 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.
• 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.
Application Procedure
1. Create an account by visiting https://ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng/ and clicking the Register Here Link.
2. An activation email will be sent to you. Follow the instructions contained in the email to activate your account. Sometimes the email might end up in your spam folder.
3. Visit ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng Use your registered email and password to log in
4. Once logged in, you can make payment for SSCE external examination. your payment is successful, and you will be issued exam and/or four-figure table token(s)
5. To register, you have to visit any approved cybercafes operators’ registration points. Visit https://operator.neco.gov.ng/ to help you locate one near you.
6. Register by providing your information, including pictures, fingerprints and subjects you wish to sit for.
7. Provide your token to upload your data. Once the system verifies your token, you will be issued a photo card with your registration number and details.
NOTE: To upload candidates’ data to the NECO portal online and obtain examination numbers, a candidate must be registered and either has an online account or have it created for him/her by a cybercafé Log in to the created account and purchase registration token (s) (scratch cards are no longer used for SSCE External registration).
SSCE External Registration Token
The Registration Token is used by candidates to register for the SSCE External Exam, either by themselves or through a Registration Point. Before a candidate can sit for the SSCE External Exam, they need to Purchase a Registration Token. A candidate can purchase his/her Registration Token from their accounts or go to the nearest Registration Point.
NECO GCE Attestation Photocards and Timetable
On completion of the registration process, each candidate must obtain the following from the Cyber Cafe:
• Timetable for the examination. ALSO READ: NECO GCE External Examination Timetable
• At least One (1) clear copy of the NECO Photo card, which would be used to admit the candidate into the Examination Hall. (Candidates should note that Passport size photographs on the Photo cards that are not clear will NOT be accepted in the Examination Hall)
The Referee’s Attestation section of the Photocard should be SIGNED AND STAMPED by any of the following:
• The principal of a recognized Senior Secondary School
• An Ordained Clergyman or a Chief Imam.
• A Commissioned Officer of the Nigerian Armed Forces or the Police not below the rank of Captain
• A Senior Civil Servant not below GL. 14.
• 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.
Visually Impaired Candidates
Visually impaired candidates are to register like everyone. However, they are to indicate the nature of their disability when making entry of their bio-data in the offline application during registration.
NECO GCE 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.
General Information
1. The Registration fee, once paid, is non-refundable.
2. WALK IN CANDIDATES can now register Six (6) hours to the Subject they intend to write.
3. EXAMINATION CENTRE CANNOT BE EDITED after upload.
4. Candidates or cyber cafe 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
5. The use of reputable cyber cafes 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 cyber cafes on their behalf, in the offline application before allowing the data to be uploaded online. Note: there is only one chance for correction once the candidate’s data is uploaded online.
6. Candidates are entitled to ONE-TIME CORRECTION with a validity period of TWO WEEKS 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.
7. Candidates should study the Rules & Regulations as well as the Syllabus before the Examination.
8. Candidates should note that the photograph uploaded during the registration will be embossed on their Certificates.
9. Candidates would be informed about the viability of their centres at least a day before the date of the Examination.
10. Smoking, bringing into the Examination Hall Electronic Communication Gadgets (Programmable Calculators, Mobile Phones, iPad, Tablets, Smart Wrist Watches/ Glasses/ Pens Etc) is strictly prohibited.
11. Candidates should dress in mufti and no one will be allowed entry into the examination hall with arms.
12. Multiple registration is not allowed. Candidates who register more than once will have their entire results cancelled.
13. Please note that No candidate shall be allowed into the Examination Hall after the commencement of Examination.
Closing Date
Registration closes on Monday, 13th November 2023 at 12.00 midnight.
Important Links
NECO Registration and Examination Centres