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WAEC administers the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) — the school-leaving exams taken across West African countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia. It is the main gateway to university admission in the region.

JAMB administers the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), a computer-based test that determines admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Cambridge IGCSE is an internationally recognised qualification typically taken around age 16, offered by international and private schools worldwide as a foundation before A-Levels or an equivalent.

Cambridge International A-Levels are pre-university qualifications, usually studied over two years following IGCSE, and are widely accepted for university admission across the UK, Commonwealth countries, and beyond.

The SAT, administered by the College Board, is a standardised test widely used in US university admissions and is now fully digital, adapting question difficulty as a student progresses through each section.

The ACT is the SAT's main alternative for US university admissions, distinguished by its dedicated Science section and an optional Writing test that some universities still request.

The IB Diploma is a demanding two-year pre-university programme known for its breadth, requiring students to study six subjects alongside three core components that no other qualification on this list includes.

KCSE is Kenya's national secondary school-leaving exam, administered by the Kenya National Examinations Council, and is the primary basis for university and college placement across the country.

BECE marks the end of junior high school in Ghana and determines placement into senior high schools — for most students, it's their first major national exam and a formative experience for the WASSCE that follows.