WAEC Result Terms: Held, Withheld, Outstanding, & What They Mean
If your WAEC result says “held”, “withheld”, or “outstanding”, don’t panic. This article breaks down what each term means and what might happen next. Keep reading, especially if you're waiting for a resolution.
I remember checking my WAEC result years ago. Fingers trembling, heart racing. Boom — there it was. But for some unlucky folks, instead of grades, they see strange labels like “held” or “withheld”. Not just annoying, but downright scary. If you’re in that boat, take a breath. You’re not alone, and this thing has a backstory.
Let’s talk about what these terms actually mean, why they show up, and whether you’ll ever see your full result.
SEE ALSO: How to Check WAEC Result.
Table of contents
What does “Withheld” mean?
Picture this: almost everyone in one exam centre gets the same grade — say, mostly As or Bs — across the board. WAEC smells something fishy.
So they hit pause.
Withheld simply means WAEC suspects cheating happened at that centre. So they keep the results under review. Sometimes the scores never get released. Other times, if they find no wahala, they free them.
- Chances of release? Low, to be honest. Especially if the centre’s record isn’t clean.
If you know you didn’t do any runs, maybe pray small and wait it out. But if malpractice happened, hmm, you might need to plan ahead for another exam.
What about “Held”?
This one is a bit more personal.
WAEC can hold a candidate’s result if there’s a comment written on their answer script — something like “copied from neighbour” or “answers identical to question paper leak”.
They don’t just throw that term around. They investigate. If it’s serious, the result may not be released.
- Chances of release? Not great. It’s like withheld’s twin brother, and both don’t like letting go easily.
So yeah, if you see “held”, don’t start celebrating yet. Just try to find out if your centre had any issues.
“Outstanding”? This one might not be bad
Now, let’s switch it up.
If your result says Outstanding, it usually means something small is missing. Like your extra sheet got separated or some part of your script didn’t get marked on time.
It’s not always a big deal.
- Chances of release? Pretty good. Once WAEC clears up the missing part, they’ll likely complete your result.
So for this one, it’s okay to chill a bit. Just check back now and then. It’s like your script is in traffic — it’s coming, sha.
“No Result for This Candidate in the Specified Year”
Omo, this one dey heavy.
This usually pops up when someone registers through what’s called a “special centre”. And those centres often raise red flags for WAEC.
- Chances of release? Slim like plantain chips. It rarely ends well.
If that’s your case, try to ask WAEC directly or through your school. But honestly, the odds are low.
So, what should you do?
If you’re innocent and your centre wasn’t doing any shady things, don’t lose hope. WAEC does release some of these results after checks.
But if your centre had a bad rep or you got caught in malpractice, there’s no shortcut. It might be time to start thinking of Plan B.
Oh, and for those thinking ahead…
These are real options. Don’t just sit and wait forever.
Final words — Not the fancy kind
Look, WAEC isn’t out to ruin your future. They just want to protect the process. Exams matter, yes, but how you write them matters more. Integrity isn’t just some big word — it’s something you carry into the next stage of your life.
If you’re still staring at a strange result tag, hold on. Ask questions. Be patient. And if it turns out you need to write the exam again, chin up. Many have done it and moved on.
Me sef no pass everything first try. So you’ll be alright.
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