The National Examination Council (NECO) has officially released the 2025 General Certificate Examination (GCE) registration form for external candidates. This examination, also known as the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External, is designed for individuals not currently enrolled in the school system. The registration period commenced on September 11, 2025, and will conclude on November 13, 2025. Late registration, from November 14 to 19, 2025, will incur an additional fee of ₦2,000. Walk-in registration is available at a cost of ₦28,000 per candidate and must be completed a day before the first scheduled exam.
Registration Process:
Create an Account: Visit the NECO SSCE External registration portal at https://ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng/ and click on the “Register Here” link to create an account using a valid email address or phone number.
Activate Your Account: An activation email will be sent to the provided email address. Follow the instructions in the email to activate your account. Be sure to check your spam folder if you do not see the email in your inbox.
Login: After activation, log in to your account using your registered email and password.
Make Payment: Once logged in, proceed to make the necessary payment for the SSCE external examination. The registration fee is ₦17,800, plus a ₦50 stamp duty charge. Payments can be made through various methods, including ATM cards, internet banking, USSD, wallet, or bank branch.
Locate a Registration Point: After payment, visit any approved cybercafé or registration point to complete the offline registration process. You can find a nearby registration point by visiting https://operator.neco.gov.ng/.
Register Offline: At the registration point, provide your personal information, including a recent passport-sized photograph with a white background (not older than six months), fingerprints, and the subjects you wish to sit for.
Print Your Photo Card: After completing the registration, you will be issued a photo card containing your registration number and examination details. This photo card is essential for entry into the examination hall.
Available Subjects:
The NECO GCE offers a wide range of subjects, including but not limited to:
- English Language
- Mathematics
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Literature-in-English
- Government
- Economics
- Commerce
- Geography
Candidates are advised to choose their subjects carefully, considering their future academic and career aspirations.
Important Information:
Biometric Verification: Biometric fingerprints will be captured during registration and verified during the examination. Candidates with mismatched fingerprints at the point of verification will be deemed impersonators and sanctioned according to extant laws.
Examination Timetable: Upon completion of the registration process, candidates must obtain the examination timetable and at least one clear copy of the NECO photo card from the registration point. The photo card must be signed and stamped by an authorized individual, such as a school principal, ordained clergyman, commissioned officer, senior civil servant, or legal practitioner with at least ten years of experience.
Examination Centers: Examination centers are grouped into neighborhoods within each state. Candidates should select a neighborhood during registration and will be automatically assigned a center within the selected area after uploading their registration data online.
Visually Impaired Candidates: Visually impaired candidates should register like other candidates but must indicate the nature of their disability during the bio-data entry in the offline application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
What is the NECO GCE?
The NECO General Certificate Examination (GCE) is an external examination conducted by the National Examination Council for candidates not currently in the formal school system. It provides an opportunity for private candidates to obtain the Senior School Certificate.
How much is the NECO GCE registration fee?
The registration fee is ₦17,800, plus a ₦50 stamp duty charge. Additional fees may apply for late registration or other services.
Can I register for the NECO GCE online?
Yes, the initial account creation and payment can be done online. However, candidates must visit an approved registration point to complete the offline registration process, which includes biometric data capture.
What documents are required for registration?
Candidates need a recent passport-sized photograph with a white background (not older than six months) and will have their biometric fingerprints captured during registration.
When will the NECO GCE examination take place?
The specific dates for the examination will be provided in the examination timetable, which candidates must obtain after completing the registration process.
Related Article: NECO timetable 2024/2025 PDF Download For June/July Examination
Candidates are advised to visit the official NECO website at www.neco.gov.ng for more detailed information and updates.
