WAEC uses the Stanine Grading System for BECE grading. The Stanine grading system is norm referenced, meaning, the structure of the results is pre-determined.
Under Stanine, the % of candidates who will obtain Grade 1-9 is virtually fixed, so you must justify your inclusion to enter that percentage bracket.
Almost 600,000 candidates wrote the BECE. This is how the Stanine grading system applies:
1. Only the best scoring 4% (24,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper can get Grade 1.
2. Automatically, the next 7% (42,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper obtain Grade 2
3. Automatically, the next 12% (72,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper obtain Grade 3
4. Automatically, the next 17% (102,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper obtain Grade 4.
5. Automatically, the next 20% (120,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper obtain get Grade 5.
6. Automatically, the next 17% (102,000) of candidates who sit for a subject paper obtain get Grade 6.
Etc…
7. And the last 4% ( 24,000) will always get Grade
This means, you can have 90% in Math and still be in the second 7% (Grade 2), simply because 4% of candidates had 91-100% in that subject. Again, not more than 4% can have Grade 1.
Source:Kofi Asare, Eduwatch
