Explanation of the Stanine BECE Grading System
People are worried about the grades that their wards obtained in the just released BECE results. I would like to take this opportunity to explain the grading system being used by WAEC to assess candidates.
From Criterion-Referenced to Norm-Referenced Testing
In the past, the BECE was a Criterion-Referenced Test, which means candidates were assessed against curriculum standards. For example, curriculum standards may have set 80% and above = Grade 1, 75-79% = Grade 2, and so on.
However, in recent years, BECE has shifted to a Norm-Referenced Test. This means candidates are assessed by comparing their performance to others who took the same test. For example, if 500 or 1,000 candidates sat for the test, their scores would be ranked and graded according to how each performed compared with the rest.
The Stanine System
The BECE grading system now uses the Stanine System (short for “standard nine”). A stanine score is a scaled score that ranges from 1 to 9. It is not based on a fixed percentage score but on the distribution of performance across all candidates.
👉 This means grades cannot be determined by looking at one student’s raw score alone; instead, each candidate’s score is compared against the overall group.
For example, in English Language, if Nii-Abekah scored 95% as the highest mark, he would be placed in Grade 1. The next highest scorers would follow until 4% of candidates are placed in Grade 1. Another candidate who scored 90% might still get Grade 2 depending on how the distribution falls.
Percentage Breakdown of Grades
The distribution of grades in the Stanine system is as follows:
- 4% of candidates → Grade 1
- 7% of candidates → Grade 2
- 12% of candidates → Grade 3
- 17% of candidates → Grade 4
- 20% of candidates → Grade 5
- 17% of candidates → Grade 6
- 12% of candidates → Grade 7
- 7% of candidates → Grade 8
- 4% of candidates → Grade 9
Key Takeaway
It’s important to understand that BECE grading is not just about how good you think your ward is, but how their performance compares to all other candidates who sat for the same paper. This ensures fairness across the large number of students writing the exam each year.
