Two students of Caleb British International School, Akota-Chika Serena and Tolulope Adekimi, have shared their experiences with International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), describing the Cambridge assessment as less demanding than the regional examination.
Gatekeepers News reports that the students who earned the prestigious Outstanding Cambridge Learners Award after recording the highest scores worldwide in the 2025 Cambridge examinations, spoke during an appearance on Channels Television’s Morning Brief. Serena emerged as the global best in English as a Second Language, while Adekimi achieved the highest mark in Mathematics.
Serena, who has completed the WASSCE and is currently sitting for the National Examinations Council (NECO) examination, said the two examinations differ significantly in their approach. According to her, IGCSE places greater emphasis on interpreting information provided in the questions, whereas WASSCE requires candidates to rely more on prior knowledge, extensive reading and essay writing.
She explained that while WASSCE includes components such as oral tests and lengthy written responses, IGCSE questions are designed to assess a student’s ability to analyse and understand the information presented before arriving at an answer.
Adekimi expressed a similar view about Mathematics, noting that IGCSE questions are often framed around real-life situations, making it easier to identify the problem that needs to be solved. He added that consistent practice with past examination papers helps candidates recognise recurring question patterns and improves their performance.
Reflecting on her academic achievement, Serena credited her success to the encouragement of her teachers and family. She revealed that her parents enrolled her in the school’s boarding facility in the months leading up to the examinations, a decision she said reduced distractions and gave her enough time to focus on her studies.
