The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced a major adjustment to the English Language Paper III of the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, reducing the number of objective questions from 100 to 80.
The new format, which will take effect from the 2026 SSCE Internal, was confirmed in an official notification signed by the Osun State Coordinator, Sunday K. Bolaji, and dated September 1, 2025.
According to the revised structure, the paper will now consist of six sections:
- Antonyms (10 questions)
- Appropriateness of Registers (10 questions)
- Interpretation of Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Foreign Words (10 questions)
- Synonyms (10 questions)
- Grammatical Structures (30 questions)
- Cloze Text (10 questions)
The duration for Paper III has also been reviewed and will now be 50 minutes. NECO said the changes are aimed at streamlining the examination process and improving the assessment experience for candidates.
In a related development, the Council confirmed it will fully transition from the traditional paper-and-pencil method to computer-based testing (CBT) beginning with the November/December 2025 SSCE External.
The decision follows the Federal Government’s July 2025 directive mandating the use of accredited private and public CBT centres nationwide for school-based SSCEs starting in 2026.
NECO has therefore called on interested CBT operators across the country to apply for accreditation, noting that only centres that meet strict technical, infrastructural, and security requirements will be approved.
The Council emphasised that the reforms are designed to modernise Nigeria’s examination system, curb malpractice, improve efficiency, and widen access to digital education across the country.
