The Coordinator of the Computerised School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS), Sherif Sulemana, has explained how BECE candidates are placed in second-cycle schools through the school placement process.
Explaining the process on TV3’s Daily Brief, Thursday, September 3, 2026, Sulemana said candidates are first matched by their aggregate scores, starting from aggregate six through to aggregate 54, which is the last of the grade.
According to him, the CSSPS then matches each candidate’s aggregate against their selected schools, preferred programmes and residential choices, whether day or boarding.
He said the CSSPS system subsequently considers the candidates’ choices, including the secondary school they wish to attend, the programme they want to pursue and their preferred residential status.
“First of all, we run students based on their aggregate scores from 06 to the bottom which is aggregate 54.
“And we match that against the choices of the candidate. Which second-cycle schools do they want to go? Then what programme do the candidate prefers to offer and what residential status does the person prefer. Is it day or boarding?” he explained.
The use of raw scores when aggregates are similar
Mr Sulemana noted that raw scores are used to select schools for candidates who obtain the same aggregate.
The purpose is to differentiate between candidates who obtain the same aggregate during the second-cycle school placement process.
According to him, raw scores are used when two or more candidates have the same aggregate and have selected the same school, programme and residential option.
“For instance; if you have two candidates with aggregate 06 who prefer to be say in Accra High, want to study Science and perhaps want a boarding status.
“We match these candidates to these variables. Now, if you have two candidates with aggregate 06, how do you even differentiate between these candidates? And that is where we introduce the concept of the raw scores,” he stated.
According to him, the raw scores allow the CSSPS to establish which of the candidates performed better within the same aggregate.
“Based on the raw scores, we are able to determine that candidate A is much more in a better position to go to Accra High based on the selections done than candidate B with the same grade,” Mr Sulemana explained.
The system’s use of raw scores provides an additional opportunity to determine placement where candidates have same aggregates and preferences.
The Computerised School Selection and Placement System for 2026 BECE candidates will be released on Friday, September 4, 2026.
