Key takeaways
- The BECE grading system uses a nine-point scale, with Grade 1 being the highest and Grade 9 being the lowest.
- Your overall BECE score consists of 30% continuous assessment from your school and 70% BECE examination score.
- The new grading system requires a 90-100% score for Grade 1, compared to the old system’s 80-100%.
The Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) is a milestone for students in Junior High Schools in Ghana. It marks the end of your basic education and determines your admission into secondary school.
What is the BECE grading system?
The BECE grading system uses numbers as grades to assess your performance and understanding of the various subjects after your basic education.
It’s administered by the West African Examination Council (WAEC), which assigns grades using a nine-point scale, with grade 1 being the highest and grade 9 the lowest.
- Grades 1–3 show a perfect understanding of the subject.
- Grades 4–6 mean you have a reasonable and fair understanding of the subject.
- Grades 7–9 show a developing understanding of the subject; it’s not necessarily a failure.
Here’s the detailed breakdown:
| Score (percentage) | Grade | Grade interpretation |
| 90–100 | 1 | Highest |
| 80–89 | 2 | Higher |
| 70–79 | 3 | High |
| 60–69 | 4 | High Average |
| 55–59 | 5 | Average |
| 50–54 | 6 | Low Average |
| 40–49 | 7 | Low |
| 35–39 | 8 | Lower |
| 0–34 | 9 | Lowest |
Further research suggests that WAEC uses the Standard Nine (Stanine) grading system where applicable. It’s a nine-point scale that compares your performance with your colleagues.
The top 4% of candidates in a particular subject get Grade 1, the next 7% get Grade 2, and so on. This means you can score 90% in a subject and still get Grade 2 if your score is not in the top 4%.
Here’s how the stanine grading system works:
| Stanine score | Proportion of students |
| 1 | Top 4% |
| 2 | Next 7% |
| 3 | Next 12% |
| 4 | Next 17% |
| 5 | Next 20% |
| 6 | Next 17% |
| 7 | Next 12% |
| 8 | Next 7% |
| 9 | Lowest 4% |
How does the BECE grading system work?
Your BECE results determine two things:
- Admission to Senior High School (SHS).
- The category of the school you will be placed in.
To pass your BECE, you must get at least an aggregate of thirty-six (36). Your total aggregate comes from the six subjects you did best in out of all the subjects you took in the exams.
These subjects are divided into:
- Mandatory subjects: English Language, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology, and Creative Arts and Design.
- Elective subjects: The Ghanaian Languages (based on what you studied in your school).
- Optional subjects: French, Arabic, and Computing.
To calculate your aggregate, sum your grades in the core subjects (English, Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics) and any other two subjects under the elective, mandatory, or optional category in which you performed best.
Note: Continuous assessment during junior high school also contributes to your final grades, including class tests, assignments, and end-of-term exams. It accounts for 30% of the final BECE scores.
Old vs. new BECE grading system
The BECE grading system in Ghana has changed over time. The old system used different percentage ranges and grade interpretations. To get Grade 1 in the old system, you needed a score of 80-100%. However, you need a score of 90-100% in the new system.
Also, in the old system, Grade 9 was labelled as ‘fail,’ which has now been replaced with ‘lowest’ in the new system. If you get Grade 9, it just shows you have to do better and does not mean you are a failure.
Common misconceptions
Several misconceptions about the BECE grading system have led to confusion among students and parents. Here are some common misconceptions and the truth:
- You must score an aggregate of 30 and below to gain admission. However, this is no longer true. Under the Computerised School Selection Placement System (CSSPS), you may still get admission even if your grade is 42.
- Some say the aggregate score is the sum of each subject’s raw scores (grades). But that’s not true. The aggregate score is the sum of your best six subjects (all four core subjects and two elective/optional subjects).
- Large grade numbers do not mean better performance. In the BECE grading system, lower numbers/grades mean better performance. Grade 1 is the highest, and grade 9 is the lowest.
FAQs
What is the minimum grade required to pass BECE?
The minimum grade required to pass a subject in the BECE in Ghana is grade 6. This means you must score at least 50% to pass a subject.
Can aggregate 30 get admission to any SHS?
Yes, getting an aggregate score of 30 can still get you admission into SHS, though it may not be at your preferred school.
Conclusion
The BECE grading system plays a significant role in Ghana’s educational system. It evaluates how well you understand what you’ve learned and is crucial to your next education cycle.
So, do your best in each subject to get into your preferred SHS and study your desired course. Do you have any questions or thoughts? Leave your comments or share your experiences below.
167 Comments. Leave new
Please i graduated BECE 2018 and I got a school but I couldn’t go, but for now I want to go to the SHS please any help???
This would be difficult given that SHS placement is computerised. We’d recommend speaking to your JHS school teachers about this.
How much is 20% in grades
20% is grade 9.
Pls can u get chaiso D/A junior high school beccce code for me at nkwanta municipal in oti region
Sorry Dawuda, we cannot help with this. Please reach out to the school administration.
Can anyone help me with bece questions
Please can you help us to get selected topics for 2025 b.e.c.e so that we that we are not quick in learning can also learn we beg?
Hi, we do not have the selected topics for the 2025 BECE.
Hi my son had 18 but was placed at a school that very far and I will love to change the school, can it possible??? And if yes the process to go through please
It’s impossible to change your school placement unless you did a self-placement. We recommend speaking to the authorities in his placed school to see if they’ll consider him as a boarder.
Pls someone in the private school got aggregate 20 but he had to do self placement but another person in the government school got aggregate 24 and got his third choice
A lot of factors come into play, especially if they did not choose the same schools, course, or accommodation status.
Besides this, MoE seems to prioritise placement for students in public schools. An example is the 30% quota in Category A Schools reserved for candidates from public schools.
What will be the raw score of someone who had English 1,Maths 2,Social Studies 2 and Science 3?
Unfortunately we can’t tell the your raw score without knowing the actual marks for each subject. Raw scores are determined by the exact scores you had in each subject. For example, if you scored 90 in English, 80 in Maths, 80 in Social Studies, and 70 in Science, your total raw score would be: 90 + 80 + 80 + 70 = 320.
Pls my child got aggregate 10 and didn’t get his first choice school
Following the FSHS Policy, competition for spots in Senior High School has increased significantly, especially for popular programs like Science, Business, and General Arts. We’re sorry your child could not secure their first choice.
Can you get an aggregate 19 and get an A school
Hey, this depends on many other factors. You can check your BECE school placement to find out.
Can someone get grade 27 without not getting a school
Yes, sometimes this happens when there’s very high competition for the selected courses and schools.
What choice is an individual likely to get with aggregate 27
It depends on a lot. You can check your BECE School Placement.
please is it possible that a student will get 24 and be placed in a grade B school
Yes, there’s a possibility. Follow our guide to check your BECE school placement.
please my son had grade 24 which category and can he get his second or third choice
A lot of factors come into play besides his final grade. Follow our guide to check his BECE school placement.
Please is the can I do self placement now
If you were not placed in any of your chosen schools, you can do a self-placement.
Please my child didn’t get school can you help me do self placement for her
Please follow the steps in our guide here: How to check your BECE school placement?
Please I got 28but I didn’t get school but my friend get 29 and she got her second choice. Can you explain it why I didn’t get school
There are a lot of factors that decide school placement:
– Your total raw score
– Your chosen program
– Your type of accommodation
– The performance of other candidates who chose the same school and program
Has the school placement been released
Yes, the 2024 BECE School Placement has been released. Here’s how to check your BECE school placement.
Pls can you change from 1 course to the other when you get to SHS , for instance G.Arts to G.science in the tops schools
This is often not possible but we recommend speaking to the teachers/headperson in the school you got.
Can someone with aggregate 25 get an A school with business course
That’s unlikely given the increased competition.
When will the shs 1 go to school
We’re waiting on GES for the academic calendar.
Please when selecting schools, when students select bording when selecting their preferred schools after the replacement are in can a student change bording to a Day student??
You’ll have to speak to the school authorities after admission.
Please they are saying waec have changed the grading system to four scale which means grade 1 to 3 will be 1 and 4 to 6 will be 2 is it true
No, this is not true.
Pls i had aggregate 15,will i get category b school
Yes, there’s a chance. But it might be difficult given the increasing competition.
Can you go to shs offering Vis.Art with grade 31
Yes, there’s a chance. But it depends on many other things.
Pls which must you one get to get his or her 5th choice of school
Unfortunately, we do not have a straightforward answer to this.
Can you get your fith or sixth choice with grade 33 pls when will the school be coming
We’re unsure when the school placement would be released. For your choice of school, that would depend on many other things.
Please what aggregate and raw score are you expected to get before offering general science in presec legon
PRESEC, Legon has a very competitive admission process. You’d most likely need an 06 aggregate score to offer General Science in the school.
please is it true that the grading has been changed to points?
Not sure we understand what you mean by points.
Pls can aggregate 10 give you your first choice school
Yes, there’s a chance, depending on the competition for the course in your first choice school.
Pls I had aggregate 20 can I have placement in shs
Yes, you have a chance.
can someone with aggregate 27 get a school
Yes, that’s possible.
In the air, grades 1-3 = 1; grades 4-6 = 2; grades 7 – 9 = 3 …..
How true is this.
This is not true. We’ve not see any information from WAEC/GES regarding this.
My second quest was not answered ,if a candidate from govt school got 29 aggregate ,can that get B school to be offered G science
There’s lots of competition for SHS because of FSHS. So, while it’s not impossible, it can be difficult.
When a candidate get grde 25 from public school he or she has 30% continuous assessment and 30% quota from government,so what is his or her chance of getting category A,B,C or D school
There are other factors that come into play, so we’ll have to wait and see.
Pls can checking the results three times give different aggregate.Again l got aggregate 29 l want to do science can l get b school?
No, checking the results multiple times would not change it. Here are some instances when provisional results may change, but it doesn’t happen often.
I have check my result but it seems the result information is not complete.and there is no total grade on the result.
‘what is the reason?’
We don’t even know the grading system for 2024 bece result.
‘Can someone give me an explanation?’
Sorry, what’s the question?
If a kid gets 38 is there hope for that kid
There is, just not much.
I earnt the grading has changed where 1 to 3 is still 1. Is it true please?
We’ve not seen any reports suggesting this.
You write and i qout
Your overall BECE score is made up of 30% continuous assessment from your school and 70% BECE examination score.
My question is that did they use continuous assessment?
The continuous assessment comes from the students performance in school, i.e., class tests, exercises, and term exams. Schools are required to submit each students continuous assessment report prior to the exam.
Please which grading system are they using for the 2024 BECE
Between the two, we unsure which one WAEC is using for the 2024 BECE exam.
My son had 8 using the old grading isit possible for him to get mfantsipim school? Also i learnt the grading has changed where 1 to 3 is still 1
We’ve seen no reports on the changing grading system. However, 8 is a good grade so there’s a chance.
My daughter got 12 can she get a school?
Yes, it’s likely she’d get a school.
On the GES website they are still insisting that parents should use the old grading system. That’s the 4 core subjects and two best from your electives. Please which one should we go for.
We’ll verify this one last time and provide an update.
For the 2021/2022 BECE School Placement, GES had the old system for calculating your aggregate score. This, however, has changed since then for the last two academic years.
There hasn’t been any update on which format GES is using for the 2024/2025 school placement. However, we are assuming continuity from the year before.
Pls ma so can i choose english,maths and social studies as my core subject
Yes, if they’re your best three subjects.
Please can you get a school when you did a mistake on your index number during the school selection form.
Have you spoken to your teachers about this?
Please I had 14 can I offer science if I had 4 in maths
It’s not impossible, you’d have to wait and see.
Yes
Please can grade 28 get school.
It’s not impossible.
Can grade 32 or 34 get a good school or get a school
It’s not impossible, but it can be difficult.
Please my daughter get o9 but her social is 4 can she get her first choice as science student
09 is a very good grade and there’s a chance she can get her first choice.
Can grade 29 get school
Yes, it’s not impossible.
Pls the information on the results state that, the results is provisional. If i may ask ,can changes be made to those results
Yes, provisional results are subject to changes. But very often, they stay the same.
Please what aggregate will give you your first choice school according to the stanine grading system
We’re unsure which of the two grading system WAEC is using for the 2024 BECE results.
Please I get grade 28 is it easy for me to get school
It’s not impossible.
Please when someone got grade 45 in the BECE can he or she get school
This will prove very difficult, Diricck.
Please can grade 28 get school. And which category of school will I get.
There’s not a straightforward answer to this as it depends on a lot of factors; availability in choice of school, program of choice, proximity to school in some cases, etc.
My daughter’s results shows Pending on Creative Art&Design
Yes, results for Creative Art & Design haven’t been released, pending final cross-checking.
Please when checking the BECE results are we choosing our best 6 or 4 core and 2 electives
To calculate your BECE aggregate score, you must choose the best three core and elective subjects. Use our BECE aggregate score calculator.
The results are in
When are we going to check our bece results
You’ll be able to check your results when they are released.
Please will the result be released on the 16th of October?
We’re unsure of this.
When is WAEC completing the results for C.A&Design? My daughter’s results shows pending for that subject
According to WAEC,
Very often these are resolved in a few days.
Please we where told the results will be released on 14th October 2024 but yet still it has not been released, why?
It’s likely a miscommunication as GES has no set date for the 2024 BECE results yet.
Ei, this will be hard for the 2024 BECE candidate including me to get an aggregate of 6-9. Please, something must be done to change this grades. Please, update me on the grading system if there is any changes.
The grading system is too hard to gain
Please can you make the grading system for 2024 BECE that 80%-100% will be grade one because they are the first badge to write this new syllabus.
The BECE grading system is set by WAEC and isn’t often subject to changes.
When would BECE 2024 results release
Here’s everything we know.
Has the 2024 BECE scripts been marked
The latest news suggest that the 2024 BECE exams are still being marked.
Has the 2024 BECE scripts been marked?? When is the 2024 BECE results coming.
Here’s everything we know so far.
Please when u get grade 23 does it fall under aggregate B
Sorry, can you ask again? We don’t understand.
Is waec using the 4 point scale based on the new curriculum
No, WAEC/GES isn’t using a 4-point grading system.
I want to know exact grading system used in 2024
Do you mean between the two grading systems? WAEC decides which to use.
Yes
Please what does a pending paper mean?
Is that on your results?
My daughter has pending for C.A.&Design too
Please can you explain more about the standard nine (stanine) grading system?
I didn’t get it clear
The stanine grading system uses fractions (percentages) to determine your grades.
For example, if 100 people wrote the BECE exam, the top 4 scores would get Grade 1, the next 7 people would get Grade 2, and so on.
The grades are given based on how well you do compared to everyone else and not a specific range like 90-100=Grade 1.
Pls when will the results of 2024 bece be released
We wrote about everything we know in this article: When will the BECE results be out?
Please, can the grading system go down??
The BECE grading system is approved by WAEC and is not expected to change or go down. If any changes do happen, we’ll update this post.
Please of u get aggregate 19 and 20 can u get an A school
Grade A schools have very competitive admission process, so this can be difficult.
Pls if someone get grade 35 will he or she gets 4 or 5 choice
It may be difficult but it depends on a lot of other things.
Please can someone get grade 7 in science and do general science in SHS
Also can you based on a name and give a person School maybe he or she is a Muslim and he or she selected Islamic SHS which is more than Two
Yes, there’s a small chance you can do General Science in SHS even with grade 7 in Science. This depends on how well you do in the other core/elective subjects and the availability/admission requirements of the SHS you choose.
For school placements, the CSSPS will place you in a school based on your BECE scores and the spaces available in your chosen schools. We don’t know if it takes your name into account.
Can aggregate 40 and above still get admission to shs
Hm, this is possible but it’ll or can be difficult.
What about those subjects that are pending
They should be released soon.
Please my child’s french is still pending whats the problem
It would be released in due time. WAEC says it’s doing final checks on all thepending results.
Please kindly direct us where to find and download past questions for my daughter
Thanks 🙏
You can search the subject you want and add PDF to it to find downloadable past questions online.
Please if the highest mark in the whole Ghana is 70% in a subject ,how will the grading system be
The highest score you can get in a BECE subject is 100%. But this is only 70% of your total grade. The other 30% comes from your classwork and tests in school. Do you want us to provide an example?