NECO CBT 2026: Everything you need to know about Nigeria’s shift to digital exams

 

• Starting with the May/June 2026 SSCE, NECO will phase out paper-and-pencil tests in favour of a CBT model to curb malpractice and speed up result processing.

• To ease the transition, the council will use a hybrid approach, with objective questions answered digitally, while some theory/essay papers may still use traditional booklets during the initial phase. 

  
  
  

• To address the rural divide, NECO is implementing offline-capable testing software and mapping underserved schools to centralised hubs with mandatory solar or generator backups.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) is officially retiring the traditional paper-and-pencil format.

Starting in 2026, the council is transitioning to Computer-Based Testing (CBT), marking a major change in how millions of Nigerian students are assessed.

Quick facts

• First major exam: SSCE Internal (May/June 2026).

• Trial dates: National Gifted Exam (May 23) and Common Entrance (June 6, 2026).

• Format: Hybrid (Objective questions on screen; complex theory may remain on paper initially).

• Location: Exams will take place at accredited CBT centres, not necessarily on school premises.

• The 2026 rollout schedule

  The transition is being managed in phases to prevent a total system shock.

• • May/June 2026 (SSCE internal): For the first time, school-based candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) will face a full CBT environment.

  • The hybrid bridge: While the ultimate goal is 100% digital, initial sessions may use a hybrid model where objective questions are answered on-screen, while some complex theory/essay papers might still use traditional booklets as students adjust to typing.

    
    
    

  • Trial runs: NECO is using the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) and the Gifted Exams (scheduled for May 23, 2026) and Common Entrance (June 6, 2026) as immediate testing grounds to ensure their servers can handle the traffic.

  
  

  The government’s push for CBT is fuelled by four main goals:

  • Killing "expo" culture: Digital exams are randomised. This makes it almost impossible for "miracle centres" to share leaked answers, as Candidate A’s Question 1 is different from Candidate B’s.

  • Results in record time: Marking millions of paper scripts usually takes months. With CBT, objective results can be processed instantly, significantly shortening the wait for admission-seeking students.

  • Modern standards: To compete globally, the Ministry of Education argues that Nigerian students must be digitally literate.