In this article, I am going to show you some important steps you need to take to pass the upcoming WAEC examination. You are going to learn why students fail mathematics and how to avoid those mistakes and errors as well as how to learn to study mathematics correctly.
Everything you are going to learn here is what the management of the West African Examination Council wants each student who is preparing for its examination to do. It is a bulk of suggestions and remedies that were given by the WAEC examiners. Aspirants are strictly recommended to adhere to them because it will help to pass the mathematics exam successfully.
11 reasons students fail/score low in mathematics in the WAEC examination
Over the past 12 years, WAEC management has started publishing comments and remarks about what their examiners prove is causing the massive failure of students in mathematics. For example, from 2017 to 2019 WAEC for school candidates' examinations, the following were the errors that make most of the students fail the mathematics theory:
1. Inadequate knowledge of drawing graphs and reading from it
2. Inability to differentiate between frequency and cumulative frequency
3. Failure to express answers to the required degree of accuracy
4. Poor interpretation of questions and inability to apply correct mathematical
5. Translation of world problems into mathematical expressions and diagrams.
6. Graphical solution to a quadratic equation and reading from the graph.
7. Candidates were unable to describe statistics, especially in the diagram
9. Inability to construct or solve geometry questions correctly.
10. Adherence to rubrics of questions.
11. Inability to attempt commercial arithmetic correctly.
Those are some of the reasons that were reported by Examiners that cause the mass failure of some students. If you want to know more about this, visit the WAEC eLearning websites.
Nevertheless, let me tell you the suggested solutions that will help you pass the WAEC mathematics successfully
Tricks/steps to score A1 or pass the WAEC mathematics examination successfully
Suggested remedies to pass WAEC mathematics are as follows:
Adequate preparation is required
Students are encouraged to prepare well for the examination. You are expected to study thoroughly with the right materials that are recommended by the WAEC management. You are expected to complete each topic and the various section under them for a better understanding.
Avoid centers with huge examination malpractice
Make sure you cover the mathematics syllabus
Students are encouraged to cover the whole mathematics syllabus before the examination date. The mathematics syllabus contains a list of topics that the WAEC body is going to set its questions on. So, you need to use it while you are preparing.
Make use of WAEC-recommended mathematics textbooks
There list of mathematics textbooks that are recommended by WAEC management for students to use to pass their examinations. You need to practice with these types of textbooks. They are recommended not because they are the best, but because WAEC set their questions directly or indirectly from these textbooks. One of the advantages of using the recommended mathematics textbook, it exposes students to know the formats WAEC mathematics set.
Make use of WAEC mathematics past questions
Online other examination conducting body, WAEC management are shot of question.
WAEC Past questions play a significant role in helping students to pass their WAEC examination. Most past questions are repeated year after year. You are encouraged to stick with past questions from at least 5 previous years are recommended
Make sure you read and understand any questions before you answer.
Based on the comments dropped by the various examiners that mark candidates' sheets from 2015 until now, they mentioned that most students fail some questions because of their inability to comprehend what the questions are asking them to do.
As a student, you should know that one thing is to read, and the other is to understand. When you want to answer any questions, especially the ones written in words ( like word problems questions) you are advised to understand them before you answer. If the time allows you, try to break the sentence into some phrases before you attempt to them. Never rush to questions.
Other areas you need to work on are:
Know how to sketch and read graphs
Graph sketching and interpretation is one of the mathematics topics that always repeat itself year after year. At least one or two questions about graph drawing must occur. Learn how to draw both Linear and curved graphs. Also, learn how to calculate or complete graph tables because it is the building block of graph sketching.
Practice more questions on word problem
Aspirants are encouraged to solve more questions related to word problems. Try to know how to form equations from word problems questions. It doesn't matter what the topics are. What matters is to know how to solve any word problems questions wherever they are found in the topics you are studying. Both simple and complex questions are required of you to know.
Practice geometry and statistic questions.
How to prepare and pass the WAEC mathematics examination
Mathematics is one of the scariest subjects students are afraid to write in WAEC and other examinations. The truth of the matter is you can't avoid writing it. It is a compulsory subject.
Although some people find it an interesting subject, the majority of them don't like it.
If you interview 100 people to know whether or not they like mathematics, 80 - 90 percent will answer NO. But why? Consider the following questions.
What makes you afraid of mathematics? Is it because it is too hard or you don't have an interest in it? How can you study and understand mathematics? Below are some suggested solutions that could help you.
1. Have a positive mind to study
To know mathematics you need to develop a positive impact on it. Even if you don't know how to solve mathematics still be positive about it. It will help you to fight the negative spirit of obstruction.
Researchers have shown that many students find it difficult to understand the concept of mathematics because they think negatively.
Instead of saying I can't do it. It is too hard to understand. Say instead, I can do it
2. Start with the basics
If you are a person who does not understand mathematics at all, you need to have a basic understanding of the topic you are studying.
For example, if you are in SSS 3 and you are trying to learn equations but it seems too difficult for you to understand, go and pick SSS 1 textbook to first of all know the root of the topic. Make sure you master the basics before you proceed to any complex questions. Try to study many examples and also engage yourself with many of the questions. Once you thoroughly understand it, then you can move forward to solve complex problems.
3. Practice every day
According to Lamar a public university in Beaumont, Math is not a spectator sport. You need to practice it every day. At least an hour a day can help you to develop an interest in it.
4. Solve more complex questions
Never rely only on basic mathematics principles. Dig deeper by learning more things. Set questions or pick some complex exercises for yourselves. You can even ask your friend to give the questions they think is difficult to solve and try to solve them on your own.
5. Reach out for help
Sometimes, some maths questions can look so confusing. If you found any questions that are hard for you to solve, don't waste any time, try to reach out to someone as quickly as possible to help you with it.
6. Hang out with mathematicians
Make friends with people you know that love mathematics. You can join them to participate in the mathematics questions they are working on. You can also challenge these types of people. It can help to boost your confidence and also help you practice more.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions does WAEC set for mathematics
Currently, the West Africa Examination Council set 13 theory questions for paper 2 out of which candidates are required to attempt 10 questions plus 50 multiple questions for paper 1
Which grade is required to pass WAEC mathematics
To pass mathematics in WAEC candidate grades need to be either A1, B2, B3, C4, C5, or C6. Any grade other than these is regarded to be a poor performance or a fail
Is D7 pass in WAEC mathematics
