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NCEE (National Common Entrance Examination) 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

Nigeria · 6 subjects · 72 topics · Updated 2026-04-02

NCEE (National Common Entrance Examination) is Nigeria's exam for admission into Federal Government Colleges (Unity Schools) at the Junior Secondary level (JS2).

Live status

Verified 2026-04-24

Year: 2026
Subjects: 6
Topics: 72

Freshness tracked daily from https://www.education.gov.ng. See 2026 calendar →

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📋 Exam Pattern

100 MCQs covering General Paper (English, Mathematics, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning) and 3 selected subject papers. 2 hours 30 minutes total.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Class 12 graduate or equivalent. For Education degree programmes at Nigerian universities. No upper age limit.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 72 topics across 6 subjects

Mathematics

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12 topics · Number Work: Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals· Percentages and Ratios· Factors and Multiples (HCF and LCM) + more

English

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12 topics · Vocabulary and Word Meanings· Synonyms and Antonyms· Comprehension Passages (Short) + more

Quantitative Reasoning

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12 topics · Number Patterns and Sequences· Odd One Out (Numbers)· Number Analogies + more

Verbal Reasoning

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12 topics · Word Analogies· Sentence Completion· Synonyms + more

Civic Education

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12 topics · Nigerian National Identity and Anthem· Our National Symbols· Nigerian Constitution and Federalism + more

Natural Science

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12 topics · Living Things: Characteristics and Classification· The Human Body: Major Organs and Systems· Plants: Structure and Functions + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — NCEE (National Common Entrance Examination)

Everything you need to know about NCEE (National Common Entrance Examination). Scroll down for the complete study guide.

What is NCEE and who is it for?

NCEE (Nigeria Common Entrance Examination) is a standardised selection test conducted for students in Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) who wish to gain admission into Federal Government colleges (Unity Colleges) in Nigeria. It is the primary gateway for students to enter Nigeria's prestigious Federal Unity Colleges — including Federal Government College Ikom, Enugu, Benin, and 104 other Unity Colleges across the country. Candidates must be in JSS3 or have completed it, typically aged 12–15. The exam is conducted simultaneously across all Unity Colleges in Nigeria each year, typically in January or February.

What is the NCEE exam pattern?

NCEE consists of three papers: Paper 1 — Mathematics (60 questions, 1 hour), Paper 2 — English Studies (60 questions, 1 hour), and Paper 3 — General Paper (60 questions, 1 hour, covering Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Social Studies/Science/Creative Arts). All questions are multiple-choice (objective). There is no negative marking. The exam is conducted on the same day across all test centres. Candidates mark answers on a machine-readable answer sheet.

How are NCEE results used for Federal Unity College admission?

NCEE scores are used by the Federal Ministry of Education to rank and allocate candidates to Unity Colleges. Each college has a quota for each state. Students from the same state as the college are given priority. After the exam, candidates indicate their college preferences and placement is done centrally based on score and preference. A score above 180 out of 200 is generally considered competitive. Candidates not placed in their preferred college may be allocated to another with available space. The exam is highly competitive — Unity Colleges are among the most sought-after secondary schools in Nigeria.

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Exam Name	NCEE (National Common Entrance Examination)
Country	🇳🇬 Nigeria
Subjects	Mathematics, English, Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, Civic Education, Natural Science
Total Topics	72
Official Source	https://www.education.gov.ng
Last Updated	2026-04-02