BECE Certificate: How to Obtain It and How the Aggregate Is Calculated

Two questions dominate every BECE candidate’s mind after the results are released: how do I get my certificate, and what does my aggregate actually mean? The answers are simpler than the rumours suggest, but they involve a process most students are never properly taught. Here is the complete guide.

Part 1: How to Obtain Your BECE Certificate

The Certificate Is Not Replaceable

The most important fact to understand is that the BECE certificate is a one-time document. WAEC does not issue duplicate certificates for its examinations. If you lose it or damage it, you cannot get a new original .

The certificate remains the property of the West African Examinations Council at all times. Any alteration to it renders it invalid, and it must be surrendered to WAEC on request .

How Certificates Are Distributed

WAEC forwards BECE certificates to the District Directors of Education, who then dispatch them to the schools where candidates sat the examination. Candidates collect their certificates from their heads of school .

This means you do not go to WAEC directly to collect your certificate. You go to your former school. If you have moved or the school has closed, you will need to contact the District Education Office for guidance.

What If You Lose It? The Attestation Route

WAEC does not issue a replacement certificate, but it does issue an Attestation of Results. This document is as valid as the certificate for confirming the details on the document with the Council .

To request an attestation, you need:

• Your full name as used in the examination

• The name, month, and year of the examination (e.g., 2025)

• Your Index Number

• A passport photograph

• A valid identification document (Ghana Card, Passport, Voter’s ID, or Driver’s Licence)

• A fee of GH¢400, subject to review by the Council

The request can be initiated online through WAEC’s portal. You enter your details, upload your photograph and ID, select your certificate collection centre, and proceed to payment. You can track the status using your invoice number and Index Number .

Important: The attestation must be collected personally by the applicant from WAEC offices in Accra or the regions. At the point of collection, you must present the original copy of your Ghana Card, valid Driver’s Licence, or Passport .

For Candidates Outside Ghana

If you live outside Ghana and need your certificate, you cannot request it directly. You must arrange for a responsible person to collect the appropriate form from any WAEC office in Ghana, fill it in on your behalf, and attach clear photocopies of the relevant pages of your passport. The person collecting the certificate must have a valid ID and an authority note from you mandating them to collect it .

Part 2: How the BECE Aggregate Is Calculated

The Formula: Four Core Plus Two Best

The Ghana Education Service has clarified the standard formula used by the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) .

Your aggregate is the sum of your grades in the four core subjects plus the best two grades from the remaining subjects.

The four core subjects are:

1. English Language

2. Mathematics

3. Integrated Science

4. Social Studies

The remaining subjects include Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology, Creative Arts, French, Arabic, Computing, and Ghanaian Language. Only your best two are counted .

The Grading Scale: Lower Is Better

BECE grades run from 1 to 9, where Grade 1 is the highest and Grade 9 is the lowest .

This means a lower aggregate is better. The best possible aggregate is 6 (Grade 1 in all four core subjects and your two best electives). The weakest possible aggregate is 54 (Grade 9 in all six) .

For Senior High School admission, scores in the 6 to 18 range are generally considered competitive, though the specific aggregate required varies by school category and the number of applicants .

Worked Example

Here is a real example from the Graphic Online guide :

Step 1: Add the four core subjects: 2 + 3 + 2 + 3 = 10

Step 2: Identify the best two from the remaining subjects. RME (1) and ICT (2) are the best two. 1 + 2 = 3

Step 3: Add the core total and the best two total: 10 + 3 = Aggregate 13

A Note on Conflicting Formulas

Some older sources describe the aggregate as the best six subjects overall, or as English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and two Ghanaian Languages . These are inaccurate or outdated.

The GES and CSSPS have confirmed the standard formula: four core subjects plus the best two other subjects . This is the formula used for placement. Do not rely on other versions.

What the Aggregate Is Used For

The aggregate is a key factor in CSSPS placement, but it is not the only factor. The GES has stated that raw scores remain the primary measure for school placement, while the overall aggregate also plays an important role in the selection process .

In practice, this means your aggregate determines whether you are competitive for your chosen schools. A lower aggregate gives you a better chance of securing a place in a Category A school or a popular programme.

Quick Facts

Last Updated on October 27, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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