Research Article

DETERMINING THE CONSTRUCTS MEASURED BY THE WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE): A STUDY OF CONSTRUCT VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY

Ocheola Innocent Ewaoche1*, Chinyere Jennifer UCHE-UDAH2, Okpara Dolly Ogo1, Ejegwa Blessing Ene3, Chukwukaelo Chigbo EZIAMAKA4
1 Department of Educational Foundation, Federal College of Education, Technical, ISU, Ebonyi State.
2 Department of Business Education, Federal College of Education Technical ISU, Ebonyi State.
3 Department of Integrated Science, Federal College of Education, Technical, ISU, Ebonyi State.
4 Department of Physics Education, Federal College of Education Technical ISU, Ebonyi State
* Corresponding author: innocentewaoche@gmail.com
Published: Jun, 2026
Pages: 180-185
Views: 33
Downloads: 10

Abstract

This study examined the construct validity and reliability of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) administered by the West African Examinations Council. Specifically, it investigated the extent to which WASSCE measures intended cognitive constructs through content representation and internal structure evidence. The study adopted an instrumentation and validation research design within a mixed-method framework. A total of 1,125 examination items from Mathematics, English Language, and Biology (2019–2023) were analyzed using Bloom’s revised taxonomy, while student response data from 1,240 SS3 students were subjected to Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and reliability analysis. Findings revealed that 85% of items assessed lower-order cognitive skills, while higher-order thinking was minimally represented. EFA results showed a dominant general factor accounting for 48% of variance, indicating weak multidimensional structure. Reliability coefficients ranged from .79 to .84, indicating acceptable internal consistency. The study concludes that while WASSCE is reliable, its construct validity is limited due to construct underrepresentation and weak cognitive differentiation. It is recommended that WAEC redesign test blueprints to strengthen higher-order cognitive assessment and adopt construct-based validation frameworks. 

Keywords

Construct validity reliability WASSCE cognitive levels factor analysis educational measurement

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How to Cite

Ewaoche, O. I., UCHE-UDAH, C. J., Ogo, O. D., Ene, E. B., & EZIAMAKA, C. C. (2026). DETERMINING THE CONSTRUCTS MEASURED BY THE WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE): A STUDY OF CONSTRUCT VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY. Journal of Educational Research and Development, 21(2), 180-185.

O. I. Ewaoche, C. J. UCHE-UDAH, O. D. Ogo, E. B. Ene, and C. C. EZIAMAKA, "DETERMINING THE CONSTRUCTS MEASURED BY THE WEST AFRICAN SENIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (WASSCE): A STUDY OF CONSTRUCT VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY," Journal of Educational Research and Development, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 180-185, June 2026.

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