The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced adjustments to the English Language Paper III of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, cutting the number of objective questions from 100 to 80 starting with the 2026 edition.
According to an official circular signed by Osun State Coordinator, Sunday K. Bolaji, on September 1, 2025, and on Wednesday, the revised structure will feature six sections: Antonyms (10), Registers (10), Idioms/Phrasal Verbs/Foreign Words (10), Synonyms (10), Grammatical Structures (30), and Cloze Test (10).
The allotted time for the paper has also been reduced to 50 minutes. NECO explained that the revision is intended to streamline the exam process and improve students’ testing experience.
This development comes shortly after NECO confirmed its transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil format to computer-based testing (CBT) beginning with the November/December 2025 SSCE external.
The change aligns with the Federal Government’s July 2025 directive mandating the use of private and public CBT centres nationwide for all school-based SSCEs by 2026.
NECO has since invited operators of CBT centres across the country to apply for accreditation, with strict requirements covering infrastructure, technology, and security. The move is expected to strengthen exam integrity, reduce malpractice, and enhance digital learning access nationwide.
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