The Beam: Journal of Arts & Science, Vol. 10, (2017) ISSN: 1118-5953 1 Umaru Ali Shinkafi Polytechnic Sokoto, Nigeria STUDENTS’ LEVEL OF PREPAREDNESS FOR ‘WASSCE’ ON ENGLISH LANGUAGE EXAMINATION: AN EVALUATION OF STUDENTS ON EXCHANGE PROGRAMME IN ZAMFARA STATE UNITY SCHOOLS Abubakar Abdullahi Ministry of Education, Zamfara State abubakargumi2@gmail.com Anas Sani Anka Federal University Gusau ABSTRACT Student Exchange Programme (SEP) is a symbiotic relationship between states in the North based on education programme at the level of secondary school education introduced to provide quality education and promote socio-cultural integration for the unity and educational advancement of the North. This mission is defiled and threatened by students’ poor academic performance in SSCE in so much that SS III students from unity schools can no longer perform creditably in their SSCE for they are underprepared. The paper identified the level of preparedness of SEP students on English language examination as the major objective of the study. From the population of 648 SS III students, the paper applied quantitative survey method using 200 students from Government Unity Secondary Schools Gummi and Kwatarkwashi in Zamfara State. It is found that the students were not prepared for and were incapable of writing and passing WASSCE creditably. This is gathered from the results using a PRE-WAEC-TEST. The finding affirmed that out of 200 candidates only 16 scored at credit level while 184 students woefully failed in English language paper. The paper recommended that English language teachers should emphasize the SS III students’ receptive and productive skills; while SS III students should also be provided with the English language textbooks as that will speed up their study habit and alleviate their poor reading culture. Keywords: Students, Preparedness, WASSCE, English language paper, Unity schools. INTRODUCTION The English language is arguably the most significant and most controversial subject taught in Nigerian schools. It is a medium of instruction, the official language in Nigeria and compulsory subject that must be passed at all levels of education, Danladi (2008). Anizoba (2001) argued that majority of Nigerian students are not able to achieve the standard level of English proficiency which affects their overall educational performance. This paper is to examine students’ level of preparedness in WAEC examination most particularly Students on Exchange Programme (SEP) who travel across sections of the Nineteen (19) Northern states of Nigeria for exchange study mission. Notwithstanding, the paper argued that English language teaching force in unity schools is not commensurate with the students’ writing and speaking skills and the paradox of WAEC