Calculating WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination) results in Ghana involves understanding the grading system, interpreting the results, and determining the aggregate score. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the entire process, providing detailed information on calculating and interpreting WASSCE results.

To calculate your WASSCE aggregate in Ghana, select your best three core subjects and your best three elective subjects and add the total score, which becomes your overall aggregate. The lower your total aggregate score the better your performance and possibility of gaining admission into the university.

To calculate your WASSCE aggregate as a science student, you need to select three of your best core subjects Mathematics, English Language and Integrated Science (NOT Social Studies) and three of your best elective subjects and add your total score to give you your total aggregate score. General arts students can use Social Studies in calculating their total aggregate.

WASSCE Grading System in Ghana

The WASSCE grading system in Ghana uses letters to represent different grade levels, each corresponding to a specific range of scores and quality points.

Here’s a breakdown of the WAEC WASSCE grading system:

Grade	Score Range (%)	Quality Points	Interpretation
A1	75 – 100	1	Excellent
B2	70 – 74	2	Very Good
B3	65 – 69	3	Good
C4	60 – 64	4	Credit
C5	55 – 59	5	Credit
C6	50 – 54	6	Credit
D7	45 – 49	7	Pass
E8	40 – 44	8	Pass
F9	0 – 39	9	Fail

Steps to Calculate WASSCE Results

1. Obtain Your WASSCE Statement of Results

First, you need to get your WASSCE statement of results, which lists your grades in all the subjects you took during the examination.

2. Identify the Core and Elective Subjects

WASSCE results are usually divided into core subjects and elective subjects. The core subjects typically include:

• English Language
• Mathematics (Core)
• Integrated Science or Social Studies

Elective subjects can vary depending on your chosen program but might include subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, Geography, Literature, etc.

3. Convert Letter Grades to Quality Points

Using the grading system table provided above, convert each of your letter grades to their corresponding quality points.

4. Calculate the Aggregate Score

To calculate your aggregate score, sum the quality points of your best six subjects. For university admissions, the three core subjects and best three elective subjects are usually considered. The lower the aggregate score, the better.

Example Calculation:

Let’s assume the following grades:

Subject	Grade	Aggregate Points
English Language	B2	2
Mathematics (Core)	B3	3
Integrated Science	A1	1
Social Studies	B3	3
Biology	B2	2
Chemistry	C5	5
Physics	C6	6
Elective Mathematics	B2	2

To calculate the aggregate score:

1. Core subjects (choose the best three from your core subjects):
   • English Language: B2 = 2
   • Mathematics (Core): B3 = 3
   • Integrated Science: A1 = 1
2. Elective subjects (choose the best three):
   • Biology: B2 = 2
   • Chemistry: C5 = 5
   • Elective Mathematics: B2 = 2
3. Sum of aggregate points:
   • English Language: 2
   • Mathematics (Core): 3
   • Integrated Science: 1
   • Biology: 2
   • Chemistry: 5
   • Elective Mathematics: 2

Total Aggregate Score = 2 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 5 + 2 = 15

Your aggregate is 15.

Interpreting the Aggregate Score

The total aggregate score is used for university admissions. Each university and program may have different cut-off points. Generally, a lower aggregate score indicates better performance and a higher likelihood of being admitted into competitive programs.

Additional Tips

1. Rechecking Results: If you believe there has been an error in grading, you can request a recheck of your examination papers through the WAEC office.
2. Supplementary Exams: If you didn’t achieve the desired grades, you can write NOV/DEC exams to improve your scores.
3. Understanding Cut-Off Points: Check with the specific universities for their cut-off points for various programs to understand how competitive your aggregate score is.

It is important to note that the requirements to read some university programmes do not accept social studies in calculating your aggregate. For example, when applying to read nursing, when calculating your total aggregate, your core subjects should be Mathematics, English Language, and Integrated Science (not social studies) in addition to your three best elective subjects.

Conclusion

Calculating WASSCE results in Ghana involves understanding the grading system, converting letter grades to aggregate points, and summing these points to determine your aggregate score. This score is crucial for university admissions and scholarship opportunities. By following the steps outlined above, you can accurately calculate and interpret your WASSCE results, giving you a clear picture of your academic performance and prospects.