Short answer: your WASSCE aggregate is the sum of the numbers of six subjects, three core and three elective. An A1 counts as 1 and a C6 as 6, so the lowest possible aggregate, 6, is the strongest. Each subject must be a credit (A1 to C6), and each university decides which six subjects count and the highest aggregate it accepts.
Step 1: turn each grade into a number
The University of Ghana's regulations ("Minimum Aggregate", page 38) number every grade like this. A University of Cape Coast programme page gives the same numbers for the credits, A1 = 1 to C6 = 6; the rows from D7 down come from UG only.
| Grade | Number in an aggregate | Counts as |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | 1 | Credit |
| B2 | 2 | Credit |
| B3 | 3 | Credit |
| C4 | 4 | Credit |
| C5 | 5 | Credit |
| C6 | 6 | Credit |
| D7 | 7 | Pass, not a credit |
| E8 | 8 | Pass, not a credit |
| F9 | 9 | Fail |
D7 and E8 are passes, but they are not credits, and the entry rules below ask for credits. A D7 in a subject that has to count stops you meeting the requirement, whatever your total.
KNUST can differ. Its Computer Science department counts A1 as 1, B2 as 2, B3 as 3, and C4, C5 and C6 as 4 each, and does not accept D7 or E8. Whether every KNUST department does the same is not verified.
Step 2: pick the six subjects that count
At the University of Ghana, you need credits in English, Core Mathematics, Integrated Science (or Core Science) and Social Studies, plus three electives. The six subjects in the aggregate depend on the programme:
- Science programmes: English, Core Mathematics, Integrated Science and three science electives. Social Studies is left out.
- Non-science programmes: English, Core Mathematics, Social Studies (or Life Skills) in place of Integrated Science, and three arts or business electives.
KNUST's 2026/2027 admission notice asks for credits in English, Mathematics, Integrated Science and three electives. UCC's Forensic Science page asks for six subjects, three core and three elective, all at C6 or better.
If you sat four electives, check your programme's requirements. The pages GradeCat opened do not say that your three strongest electives are always the ones taken.
Step 3: add the six numbers
WASSCE aggregate = core 1 + core 2 + core 3 + elective 1 + elective 2 + elective 3
Six A1s give 6, the lowest aggregate. On UG and UCC numbering, six C6s give 36, the highest aggregate made only of credits.
Made-up example 1: a science applicant
| Subject | Grade | UG and UCC number | KNUST Computer Science number |
|---|---|---|---|
| English Language | B3 | 3 | 3 |
| Core Mathematics | C4 | 4 | 4 |
| Integrated Science | B2 | 2 | 2 |
| Physics | C5 | 5 | 4 |
| Chemistry | B3 | 3 | 3 |
| Elective Mathematics | C6 | 6 | 4 |
- UG and UCC numbering: 3 + 4 + 2 + 5 + 3 + 6 = 23.
- KNUST Computer Science numbering: 3 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 3 + 4 = 20.
The same results give two different aggregates, because the C5 and C6 count as 4 at KNUST's Computer Science department. At UG, 23 is within the 24 needed for regular admission, though a programme's own cut-off can be far lower. This applicant's Social Studies grade is not in a science aggregate at UG.
Made-up example 2: a D7 in an elective
A non-science applicant has English C5 (5), Core Mathematics C6 (6), Social Studies B2 (2), Economics B3 (3), Government C4 (4) and Literature-in-English D7 (7). The sum is 27, but the total is not the problem: the D7 means only two of the three electives are credits. With a fourth elective at C6 or better, the aggregate could be worked out on that subject instead, if the programme accepts it.
Step 4: compare with the cut-off
The thresholds are the highest aggregate a university accepts, so you need your aggregate to be equal to or below them.
- UG: 24 or better for regular admission and 30 for distance, though some distance programmes set 24. UG's 2017 regulations said 36.
- KNUST: 24 or better (2026/2027 notice).
- UCC Forensic Science: 36 or better.
These are only the minimums. UG's 2026/2027 first-choice cut-offs are much lower for some programmes: 7 for Medicine (MBChB), 6 for Law (LLB) and 15 for Nursing. Computer Science is shown as "7(8)", and the page does not explain the bracket. These are the 2026/2027 figures, so check the list for the year you apply.
WASSCE aggregate FAQ
Is a lower WASSCE aggregate better?
Yes. On UG and UCC numbering A1 counts as 1 and C6 as 6, so 6 is the strongest possible aggregate and 36 the weakest made only of credits.
What WASSCE aggregate do I need for UG?
24 or better for regular admission and 30 for distance, plus credits in the four core subjects and three electives. Many programmes need much less: Medicine's 2026/2027 first-choice cut-off was 7.
Does a D7 count in my WASSCE aggregate?
A D7 is a pass, not a credit. UG, KNUST and UCC ask for credits in the subjects that count, so a D7 there does not meet the requirement.
Why is my KNUST aggregate different from my UG aggregate?
KNUST's Computer Science department counts C4, C5 and C6 as 4 each. In example 1 that gives 20 at KNUST and 23 at UG for the same results.
Does Social Studies count in a WASSCE aggregate?
At UG it counts for non-science programmes and is left out for science programmes, which count Integrated Science instead.
Related tools and guides
- Grading Scale and Class of Degree in Ghana: WASSCE numbers, UG's grades and classes, and KNUST's CWA classes.
- UG GPA, CGPA and FGPA Calculator: once you are at UG, your GPA and class of degree.
- All tools for Ghana
- GradeCat home: grade and GPA tools for other countries.
Sources
- University of Ghana: Regulations for Junior Members, September 2017, Volume 1 (opened 4 November 2026)
- University of Ghana Admissions: Entry Requirements (opened 4 November 2026)
- University of Ghana Admissions: Cut Off Points (opened 4 November 2026)
- University of Cape Coast: BSc Forensic Science Programme (opened 4 November 2026)
- KNUST: Admission of Candidates to Undergraduate Degree Programmes for the 2026/2027 Academic Year (opened 4 November 2026)
- KNUST Department of Computer Science: BSc Computer Science (opened 4 November 2026)
Every aggregate here is an estimate, not an official result. The university's own admission list comes first. Found a mistake? Tell us.