NECO CBT 2026: Federal Government Confirms Computer-Based Exams Are Coming — What Every Student Must Know
Last Updated on 2 hours ago by Haruna Ayuba
The Federal Government has confirmed that NECO will begin conducting computer-based examinations in 2026 as part of efforts to tackle examination malpractice and modernise Nigeria’s assessment system. By November 2025, NECO will administer objective papers via CBT, with full migration — including essay components — completing in 2026. These examinations will be held exclusively at accredited CBT centres, not within school premises.
- Key Highlights
- The NECO CBT Rollout Timeline
- What the Minister Actually Said
- The Biggest Change: No More Exams in Your School
- Has NECO Actually Done This Before?
- The Honest Challenges
- What NECO Students Must Do Right Now
- Frequently Asked Questions — NECO CBT 2026
- Source and Verification
- Final Thoughts
Key Highlights
- What is changing: NECO is moving from paper-based exams to Computer-Based Testing
- Phase 1 (November 2025): Objective papers go CBT — NECO GCE private candidates
- Phase 2 (May/June 2026): Full CBT covering both objectives and essays — all NECO SSCE candidates
- Venue change: Exams will no longer be held in schools — candidates report to accredited CBT centres
- Who announced it: Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, at NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration in Abuja
- NECO pilot: Already completed successfully at SASCON International School, Maitama, Abuja
- NECO Registrar’s position: Prof. Ibrahim Dantani Wushishi confirmed NECO is “ready as a professional body to conduct examinations using any medium”
The NECO CBT Rollout Timeline
| Phase | Period | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot | July 2025 | First-ever NECO CBT SSCE conducted at SASCON International School, Abuja |
| Phase 1 | November 2025 | NECO GCE (private candidates) — objective sections move to CBT |
| Phase 2 | May/June 2026 | NECO SSCE — full CBT, objectives and essays |
| Venue | From 2026 onwards | All exams held at accredited CBT centres, not school premises |
What the Minister Actually Said
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, disclosed the transition at NECO’s 25th anniversary celebration in Abuja, stating: “We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year.” He explained that the new model would enable authorities to monitor candidates in real-time, detect suspicious activities, and reduce examination fraud.
Alausa drew a direct comparison to JAMB: “If JAMB can successfully conduct CBT exams for more than 2.2 million candidates, WAEC and NECO can do the same.”
He also stressed that the transition is not just about technology but about “restoring integrity to our examination system, curbing malpractice, creating jobs, and unlocking a new value chain in our education and ICT sectors.”
The Biggest Change: No More Exams in Your School
This is the detail most students are not aware of. The Minister confirmed that future SSCEs will be moved to designated CBT centres, rather than being held within school premises — mirroring exactly how JAMB exams are currently conducted across thousands of centres nationwide.
| Old System | New System (2026) |
|---|---|
| Sit exam in your school hall | Travel to an accredited CBT centre |
| Pen and paper answer sheets | On-screen selection via computer |
| Invigilator supervision only | Real-time digital monitoring |
| High malpractice and leakage risk | Significantly reduced |
| Slow result processing | Faster turnaround for objective sections |
Has NECO Actually Done This Before?
Yes. This is not untested. The Minister praised NECO for the seamless conduct of its pilot CBT SSCE at SASCON International School, Maitama, Abuja in July 2025, describing it as “a remarkable demonstration of possibility, preparedness, and progress.”
NECO’s 2025 SSCE recorded a historic registration of 1,367,210 candidates, with Kano State recording the highest number at over 137,000 registered candidates.
The Honest Challenges
While the transition is an important shift that seeks to restore the image of the SSCE, government and agencies need to do more than talk — upgrading facilities, training teachers, and expanding access are critical steps that must follow the announcement.
The main concerns raised by education stakeholders include:
- CBT centre capacity across all states simultaneously
- Access for students in rural and underserved LGAs
- Computer literacy gaps among SS3 students who have never used a mouse
- Reliable power supply at centres nationwide
NECO Registrar Prof. Wushishi acknowledged these concerns directly, stating: “We may have terrain-related limitations, but that will not hold us back.”
What NECO Students Must Do Right Now
| Action | Priority |
|---|---|
| Start practising on CBT platforms immediately | Urgent |
| Identify the nearest accredited CBT centre in your state | Urgent |
| Build basic computer and mouse familiarity | Urgent |
| Use the JAMB CBT practice portal as a training tool | Recommended |
| Ask your school to organise mock CBT sessions | Recommended |
| Budget for transport to your CBT centre on exam day | Recommended |
The best free platforms to practice on right now are the JAMB CBT practice portal at jamb.gov.ng, Myschool.ng’s CBT simulator, and Pastquestions.com.ng for timed subject practice.
Frequently Asked Questions — NECO CBT 2026
When does full NECO CBT begin?
Full CBT covering both essay and objective components commences with the May/June 2026 NECO SSCE examination season. The November 2025 GCE diet for private candidates already uses CBT for objective sections.
Will essay questions also be answered on a computer?
Yes, from May/June 2026. NECO will begin the rollout with multiple-choice sections, with gradual expansion to essay and practical components completing in the 2026 exam cycle.
Will I still sit my NECO exam at my school?
No. Future SSCEs will be moved to designated CBT centres rather than being held within school premises. You will be assigned to an accredited centre, which may not be your own school.
What about students in areas with no CBT centres?
The Federal Government has pledged to work with state governments to ensure access to both public and private CBT centres across the country, particularly in underserved areas. Students in remote communities should begin identifying the nearest registered centre now.
Has NECO ever done CBT before?
Yes. NECO successfully completed a pilot CBT SSCE at SASCON International School, Maitama, Abuja in July 2025, which the Minister described as a seamless exercise.
How many students does NECO examine?
The 2025 NECO SSCE recorded a historic 1,367,210 registered candidates, with Kano State recording the highest state total at over 137,000.
Is this confirmed or still a rumour?
This is a confirmed Federal Government directive — announced publicly by the Minister of Education at NECO’s 25th anniversary in Abuja and reported by Punch Newspaper, BusinessDay, and the Federal Ministry of Information.
Source and Verification
The information in this guide is sourced from Punch Newspaper’s report on Minister Alausa’s statement at NECO’s 25th anniversary (May 7, 2026), the Federal Ministry of Information’s official statement from the July 22, 2025 CBT pilot monitoring visit, and BusinessDay Nigeria’s April 29, 2025 report on the confirmed May/June 2026 full CBT rollout. This page will be updated as soon as NECO publishes its official centre list and candidate guidelines.
Disclaimer: Full operational details — including the list of accredited CBT centres by state — are still being finalised by NECO. Always verify at neco.gov.ng before making any decisions based on this guide.
Final Thoughts
The Federal Government’s confirmation that NECO will move to full Computer-Based Testing by May/June 2026 is the most significant change to Nigeria’s secondary school examination system in decades. The pilot has already been run and declared successful. The timeline is set. The only question now is how well-prepared individual candidates will be when they sit at that screen on exam day. Start practising today.
