The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced a reduction in the number of objective questions for the English Language Paper III in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal, effective from the 2026 diet.

According to an official circular signed by Osun State Coordinator, Sunday K. Bolaji, and dated September 1, 2025, the total number of questions will drop from 100 to 80. The revised paper will feature six sections:

• Antonyms (10 questions)
• Appropriateness of Registers (10 questions)
• Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, and Foreign Words (10 questions)
• Synonyms (10 questions)
• Grammatical Structures (30 questions)
• Cloze Text (10 questions)

The allotted time for the paper has also been cut from one hour to 50 minutes. NECO explained that the adjustment is designed to streamline the examination process and improve the testing experience for candidates.

The development comes as part of a broader overhaul of Nigeria’s public examination system. On August 29, NECO confirmed it will fully transition from paper-and-pencil testing to computer-based testing (CBT), beginning with the November/December 2025 SSCE External.

The shift aligns with a Federal Government directive issued in July 2025 mandating the use of private and public CBT centres for school-based SSCEs by 2026.

To this end, NECO has invited applications from interested CBT centre operators nationwide for accreditation. The process will require strict compliance with technical, infrastructural, and security standards to guarantee examination integrity.

The examination body stressed that the reforms aim to modernise assessments, curb malpractice, enhance efficiency, and expand access to digital education across the country.