NECO GCE Registration – Requirements, Fees, and Instructions 2025

NECO GCE Registration – NECO has officially opened registration for the 2025 Nov/Dec SSCE (Private Candidates). In this guide, you’ll find everything you need to know, registration steps, fees, and how the computer-based exam will be conducted.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

The 2025 NECO November/December Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) External is specifically intended for candidates who are not enrolled in a conventional secondary school. This examination provides private individuals with the opportunity to obtain the Senior School Certificate.

Candidates may complete their registration online or through accredited registration centers, depending on which method is more convenient. The examination will be conducted entirely through a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) system and will cover a total of 16 subjects.

Requirements You Need Before Registering

Candidates are required to have the following documents and resources before commencing NECO Nov/Dec SSCE registration:

National Identification Number (NIN): This is compulsory for all applicants.
Recent passport photograph: The photo must not be older than six months and should be taken against a plain white background.
Fingerprint scanner access: At the registration centre or café, biometric fingerprint capture is mandatory.

Please note that your fingerprints will serve as a means of identity verification during the examination. Any mismatch between your fingerprints and the records provided will be considered an act of impersonation, which is a serious offence that may lead to disqualification.

Where and How to Register

To get started, visit the official NECO registration site official NECO registration portal.

Candidates are required to begin the registration process by creating an account with a valid email address or mobile phone number.

After successfully creating your account, you may proceed with the following steps:

Purchase your registration quota directly through the NECO portal.
Visit an accredited registration centre or approved café to complete your biometric fingerprint capture and upload a recent passport photograph.

Registration Fees

The cost for the 2025 NECO Nov/Dec SSCE External is as follows:

₦30,000 – Covers registration, a waterproof certificate folder, and a mathematical set/table.
Additional charges – Stamp duty and Remita fees may apply, depending on your payment method.
Late registration (19–25 November) – Attracts an extra ₦5,000.
Walk-in registration – Costs ₦43,000.

How to Make Your Payment

After setting up your NECO registration account, you can pay the fee using any of these options:

ATM card
Online (internet banking)
USSD code on your phone
Mobile wallet apps
Directly at the bank counter

No matter which one you pick, make sure the money goes into NECO’s official TSA account. If not, your payment might not be confirmed.

Important Dates to Remember

Opening of Registration: 7 July 2025
Deadline for Regular Registration: 18 November 2025 (by midnight)
Late Registration Window: 19 – 25 November 2025
Examination Period: 26 November – 13 December 2025

Mark these dates on your calendar and plan ahead to avoid last-minute rush or extra fees.

Candidate Identification and Timetable Details

Once your registration is complete:

Print your exam timetable from the NECO portal.
Obtain a clear photo card that includes your passport photograph.
Have your referee sign and stamp the card to validate it.

Approved Persons to Act as Referees

A school principal
Pastor or Imam
A Military or police officer rank of Captain or above
Civil servant (Grade Level 14 and above)
Lawyer with at least 10 years of experience

Note: Candidates are no longer required to submit the photo card to any NECO state office. The card should be retained for personal records and will be used for verification during the examination.

Guidelines for Candidates with Special Needs

If you have any special needs, such as visual, hearing, or physical impairments, you will follow the same registration process as other candidates. Simply tick the appropriate box on the online form to indicate your requirements so NECO can make necessary arrangements.

Choosing Your Examination Centre

At the point of registration, candidates are required to indicate their preferred locality. NECO will then allocate an examination centre within that selected area. Please note that once the registration form has been submitted and uploaded, requests for a change of centre will not be entertained. Candidates are therefore advised to choose carefully.

Available Subjects for the 2025 NECO Nov/Dec SSCE

Candidates for the 2025 NECO Nov/Dec SSCE External can choose from the following subjects:

Agricultural Science
Biology
Chemistry
Civic Education
Christian Religious Studies (CRS)
Commerce
Economics
English Language
Financial Accounting
General Mathematics
Geography
Government
Islamic Studies
Literature in English
Marketing
Physics

When selecting your subjects, focus on those you are confident in and that align with your future academic or career plans.

Details of the Examination

The 2025 NECO Nov/Dec SSCE External will be conducted as a Computer-Based Examination (CBE).
A preparatory mock examination will be scheduled prior to the main test, and candidates will be duly informed of the date ahead of time.
Candidates are permitted to make corrections to their registration details only once before the commencement of the examination.
Only a single adjustment is allowed, either to the candidate’s name or passport photograph, but not both.
The passport photograph and National Identification Number (NIN) provided during registration will be printed on the final certificate.
Any candidate discovered to have registered at more than one centre will have their results invalidated.

Exam Day Dos and Don’ts

Dos:

Arrive at your exam venue at least 30 minutes early to avoid last-minute stress.
Familiarize yourself with the exam rules and syllabus ahead of time.

Don’ts:

Do not bring phones, smart watches, or any electronic gadgets into the exam hall.
Avoid wearing school uniforms, come in plain clothing.
Do not register more than once; multiple registrations are strictly prohibited.
Stay away from unreliable or unapproved cafés, any errors made during registration are your responsibility, and NECO will not correct them.

CONCLUSION

Registering for the 2025 NECO Nov/Dec SSCE is a big step, so take it seriously. Use a trusted and reliable café or registration centre, one with a good track record for handling NECO registrations without errors.

Before you hit the final “upload” button, go through every detail carefully: your name, date of birth, passport photograph, subject choices, and centre location. Even a small mistake can cause big problems later.

If there’s anything you’re unsure about, seek help from someone experienced, it could be a teacher, a previous candidate, or an official at a NECO-approved centre. Avoid rushing the process just to “get it done”; accuracy is far more important than speed.

When you’re ready to begin, head to the https://ssceexternal.neco.gov.ng/ and follow the steps we’ve outlined above. The earlier you register, the more time you’ll have to prepare for the exam and the better your chances of success.