Cameroon GCE Board

In response to this popular demand, the Prime Minister of the Republic signed an order (Nº: 194/CAB/PM of 11th September 1992) creating a Technical Committee to carry out studies and make recommendations on the organization and functioning of the GCE Examination Board.

A Presidential Decree No 93/172 of 1^st July 1993, The decree empowered the Board to organize its first General Certificate of Education examinations at the Ordinary and Advanced Levels Subjects in June 1994.

By a Presidential Decree of March 1997, the GCE Board was authorized to organize the Baccalauréat Technique and related examinations in English for English speaking candidates. Although the names of these examinations were in French, questions were in English and candidates answered them in English, which was their language of instruction.

The new GCE Board chairman, Prof Ivo Leke Tambo[1] is the former Secretary-General at the Ministry of Basic Education. He had earlier served at the Ministry of Secondary Education in the same capacity. He took up the position from the Former Minister for Special Duties at the Presidency, Prof Peter Alange ABETY.

The current Registrar is Dang Akuh Dominic,[2] who took up the position on 31 January 2018 from Monono Ekema Humprey.

It is supervised by Cameroon Ministry of Secondary Education in Yaoundé,[3]

In 2018, Statistics from the GCE Board showed that there was a 67.4% passed at the Advanced Level as against 35% in 2017. At the Ordinary Level,  50% passed compared to 25.29% in 2017.

In 2019, Statistics from the GCE Board show 110,916 candidates registered for the 2019 session and 98,015 candidates sat for the exams. 66,846 students passed recording a percentage pass rate of 74.24 as compared to 62.27% in 2018.[4]

In 2020, Statistics from the GCE Board show that at the Ordinary levels, results have witnessed improvement from 62.15 to 64.04% while at the advanced level, the result however dropped from 74.24 % in 2019 to 64. 4% in 2020.

The head Office is situated at Molyko Street, 3.0 km from Mile 17 Motor Park, Opposite Molyko police, Buea.

The Regional Office is located in Bamenda, North West Region, Cameroon.

   The Cameroon General Certificate of Education Board organized the first sessions of its examinations as follows:

1. For the General Education subjects, in June 1994;
2. For the GCE in Technical Education subjects in June 1995; and
3. For the Baccalaureat Technique and Related Examinations in June 1997.

  Since the Cameroonisation of the London GCE, the University of London Board has recognized the grades awarded at both the Ordinary Level and Advanced Level as equivalent to the grades awarded in corresponding subjects at the London GCE examination.

1. The Board of Directors
2. The Registrar

The Registrar is the Chief Executive Officer of the Board. In that capacity, he represents the Board in all academic matters. He is also the chairman of the Examinations Executive Committee (EEC).

The EEC is responsible for all academic matters of the Board. It is also responsible for the organization, quality control, and development of the Boards Examinations.

The questions shall be a combination of objective test (multiple choice), short answer, essay, and practical tests, depending on the nature of the subject.

Copies of these Regulations and Syllabuses are available from the Board’s Publications office. Heads of schools or colleges recognized as centres for the examination will be supplied with a free copy of the Regulations and Syllabuses. Copies may be purchased from the Board’s Library, the Regional Office and the Liaison Offices.The following and any additional instructions were given to you by your Chief of Centre must be strictly respected.

Papers set at recent examinations may be bought from the Board’s Offices. The prices of these shall depend on the volume of the particular question papers and will be found in the publication catalogue.[9]

1. Candidates for Ordinary Level examinations shall offer at least six subjects which must include the following: English Language, French, Mathematics.
2. However, candidates who already possess a pass in at least four Ordinary Level subjects or other equivalent qualification may enter for additional single subjects.
3. Candidates may enter for at most eleven subjects at Ordinary Level if they desire to include Religious Studies.
4. Repeat candidates must enter for compulsory subjects, unless they show proof that they already possess a pass in the subjects. Photocopies of Results Slips and Certificates must be attached upon registration.

Candidates for the Advanced Level examination may enter for at most five subjects.

Each Subject shall have at least two (2) papers and at most three (3) papers:

• Paper 1 – MCQ (1 ½ hrs)
• Paper 2 – Problem Solving or Essay (at most 3 hrs)
• Paper 3 – Practical (at most 3 hrs)

NB: Internship is part of Paper 3 of one of the Professional Subjects as Specified by the Panel.

• The Professional and Related Professional Subjects are all compulsory likewise English and French.
• Candidates can select any other two (2) or three (3) subjects in the module of Other Subjects to make a maximum entry of eleven (11) subjects if they wish.
• Religious Studies can be selected as a subject in the module of Other Subjects but will not necessarily be the eleventh subject.
• Mathematics shall be considered a Related Professional Subject for Industrial Candidates. Mathematics Paper 2 shall have two (2) separate sections: one for the industrial and the other commercial specialties.

Candidates for the Technical and Vocational Examinations at the Advanced Level would be required to choose at least six (6) subjects and at most eight (8) subjects: three Professional and at least three (3) Related Professional Subjects.Each Specialty Subject shall have three (3) papers:

• Paper 1 – MCQ (1 ½ hr)
• Paper 2 – Problem Solving or Essay (at most 3 hrs)
• Paper 3 – Practical (at most 4hrs)

NB: Internship is part of Paper 3 of one of the Professional Subjects will be decided by the Panel.

1. To obtain a pass in the Technical and Vocational Education Examinations at the Intermediate Level, a candidate must pass in at least FIVE (5) Subjects with at least TWO (2) Professional Subjects and ONE (1) Related Professional Subjects.
2. A candidate may pass in single subject(s) if he/she does not meet the pass condition in his/her Specialty.
3. Absence in any Paper of Professional Subjects makes the candidate not to have a pass in the specialty. Such candidate can still obtain a pass in single subject(s).

1. To obtain a pass in the Technical and Vocational Education Examinations at the Advanced Level, the candidate must pass in at least TWO (2) Professional subjects and TWO (2) Related Professional Subjects.
2. A candidate who is absent in a Paper of any of the Professional Subjects will not be given a pass in the Specialty.
3. A candidate could pass in single subjects even when they do not meet the pass condition for the specialty.

Attainment is indicated by the Grades A to E of Which Grade A is the highest and Grade E the lowest. A candidate with Grades A, B, or C has reached the standard of subject pass at the Ordinary Level. Grades D and E indicate a lower level of attainment, not representing a pass. Grade E being the lowest level of attainment judged by the Board to be of sufficient standard to be recorded. Performance below the standard Grade E will be unclassified and will not be indicated on the certificate.[10]

Attainment is indicated by the Grades A to E of Which Grade A is the highest and Grade E the lowest. A candidate with Grades A, B, C, D or E has reached the standard of subject pass at the Advanced Level. Grades F indicate a lower level of attainment, not representing a pass. Grade F being the lowest level of attainment judged by the Board to be of sufficient standard to be recorded. Performance below the standard Grade F will be unclassified and will not be indicated on the certificate.

A statement of performance shall be sent to any bona fide educational institution or prospective employer, on request by a candidate.

Such statements will not be sent to candidates, their parents or anyone claiming to act on their behalf. A fee will be payable for such extra services.

1. The marking of papers by the Board or its examiners and the results of such marking shall be final and binding on all candidates and the Board will not, except in its absolute discretion, enter into correspondence about results with candidates or their parents or guardians or other persons claiming to act in locos parents.
2. Enquiries concerning the results of a candidate must be directed to the Chief of Centre in the first instance. Applications to the Board for a review of a candidate’s work should be made only where the examination performance shows a marked difference from the anticipated performance based on the teacher’s course work assessment.

Details of the procedure for dealing with such enquiries and the scale of fees may be obtained from the Board.

1. The award of certificates is entirely within the discretion of the Board and the Board will not be liable to any candidate in respect to the withholding or cancellation of any certificate.
2. Certificates remain the property of the Board and proceedings will be instituted against any person who alters one.
3. All the subjects taken and passed at the same examination shall be included on a single certificate. A candidate who writes both GCE Ordinary Level and Advanced Level, and who merits a certificate at each level, shall receive a separate certificate at each level.

1. Certificates for candidates will be issued after six (6) months following the publication of results to the Chiefs of Centres for distribution. A certificate shall be issued only to the candidate himself/herself or persons having legal authorisation from the candidate. Candidates are required to collect their certificates from their Chiefs of Centres, latest at the end of March following the date of publication of results.
2. External candidates will be required to present their National Identity Card to collect the certificate from Chief of Centre. After March the certificates will be returned to the Board. Any candidate who fails to collect his/her certificate at the level of the centre will be required to pay a charge upon presentation of a National Identity Card to collect his/her certificate at the Board’s Head Office in Buea or Regional Office in Bamenda.