how to write essay in english waec

WAEC English Marking Scheme (How SSCE Essays Are Marked)

Last updated on January 23rd, 2022 at 09:24 pm

The West African Examinations Council is an examination body that conducts examinations in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and Liberia. In this post, I’ll share with you four criteria WAEC uses to mark English essays. The tips herein are also similar to the NECO English marking scheme.

The National Examination Council (NECO) is an examination body exclusively for Nigeria. In this post, I’ll also share some tips with you on how to draw your plan on your preferred choice.

Criteria used by WAEC or NECO examiners to mark English Essay:

C: Content (10 marks)
O: Organisation (10 marks)
E: Expression (20 marks)
MA: Mechanical Accuracy (10 marks)

In all, your essay is 50 marks. The acronym for these criteria is COEM. If you like, you can refer to the above criteria as the WAEC English marking scheme. Let’s take the above point one after the other for a full explanation and how you can leverage them to score A1 in your SSCE English Language. Note : For essay, the instruction is usually “Your essay should not be less than 450 words” you must pay attention to this.

Content has to do with the relevance of your ideas to the topic and its specific audience and purpose. Does your idea align with the topic you’ve chosen? Are you using the appropriate language? Are your points relevant to the central theme and its development? Pay attention to this and ensure that your approach is original. Try as you can to avoid injecting irrelevant ideas in your essay in a bid to make up the number. You will be penalised if you injected irrelevant ideas into your essay.

How to write good content:

Make sure you understand the topic before jumping on it.
Ensure that the topic you pick is something you can effectively deal with.
Let your topic be something you have enough points on, very important.

According to Lagos Books Club, “Following the rules of grammar and punctuation judiciously is not sufficient, a passage without errors of language can be considered badly phrased or difficult to follow based on form and content.”

Organization

Organisation in your essay either in WAEC or NEC is very important. This isn’t limited to examination, in your speech and writing, you must perfectly arrange points. This refers to the correct use of formal features such as good paragraphing, appropriate use of emphasis and arrangement of ideas. Paragraphs are expected to be chronologically, spatially and logically coherent. It is advisable to have one point per paragraph, don’t cluster your points in one paragraph.

How to achieve great organisation in your English Essay

Examiners will always lookout for a good opening
Examiners will look out for adequate development into paragraphs
Make sure that there is balance and unity.
Let your paragraphs flow from one to the other to achieve coherence.
Ensure you have a logical flow of the paragraph.

Your expression carries the highest mark in English essays in NECO and WAEC. This is where you put your power of English expression and writing into work. The expression refers to the perfect use of grammar. Your expression must also be controlled and the structure of the sentence. A good expression will make your essay sound. It is an act of making your points known in clear words and sentences. Don’t be ambiguous.

How to achieve good expression in WAEC essay writing

Try not to use phrases such as: “In my opinion”
Avoid redundant word phrases.
Use linkers or linking words.

Linking Words you can use in English Essays are:

consequently,
subsequently,
in addition,
beside that,
additionally,
furthermore,
on the other hand,
on the contrary,
not only that

You don’t necessarily need to use “big” vocabulary when you have simple and easy-to-understand words that can convey the message appropriately. Write to express and convey your message, don’t write to impress

Mechanical Accuracy

Your use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling fall under mechanical accuracy. Your errors fall under mechanical accuracy. Each attracts 1/2 mark.

Important tips to know about NECO and WAEC essays

Credit will be awarded for what is done right while the penalty will be given for errors. You’re expected to write at least 450 words, but when a composition is below 450 words, the required length the maximum mark for M.A shall be proportionately reduced. If a candidate writes on a topic that is irrelevant to the question set, zero shall be awarded for content and organization.

Tips on how to prepare and Pass WAEC at one sitting

Read the recommended texts
Get past questions, compare and contrast to see some of the questions that are repeated nearly every year.
Revive what you’ve read before the exam date
Don’t be tense, ensure to relax before the exam date
In the exam hall, don’t panic.
Read the instructions when the question is given
Avoid any activity that could lead to being penalised by the invigilator
Read through the questions at least two times
Select the question which you have a comparative advantage on
Attempt the question that’s simple first to gain more time for those that looked technical.
Don’t waste time on a particular question
Try to finish before time, at least gain 20 minutes or more to go through your answers before submission. Avoid rush that could be costly.
Check your name, exam number, and centre before submission.
Strive as much as can to have your score fall between 60-75, this way you’re sure of at least C4, A1 is even better, you can do it.

Do you have questions on any of the tips shared above? Kindly use the comment box below to join start a conversation on WAEC marking scheme for the English language and tips on how to pass in WAEC and NECO.

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11 thoughts on “WAEC English Marking Scheme (How SSCE Essays Are Marked)”

How many Mark did article essay writing contain

Very insightful!

I’m essay marking, will the points raised after 450 words count as scoring points?

can i list my answer in summary as firstly,in addition, furthermore etc

It was a very thoughtful lecture which has given me a lot of knowledge on essay writing. Thank you very much

In counting the words on your eassy,are all the words counted? What about articles?. Are they part of the words to be counted?

I believe articles are counted. But, more importantly, don’t allow too much spacing between words especially after the first row.

Thank you Mr Peter for the insightful contribution.

My question is if you are doing a competition like you are about to write a composition and you don’t know the topics that will be given how to write them or how to plan ahead of questions how to be prepared for the questions when you meet those questions you be able to just write an Express yourself

I sat to waec English this year but I made a mistake in the word replacement and I had to erase it thickly Is it a crime

Does uniosun accept two sitting for political science? Or which university does?

Yes. UNIBEN does and a lot of other universities. Kindly check the requirements on their official portal for more.

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The 5-Paragraph Essay: A Simple Way to Write WAEC Essay

– Dr Ibraheem Dooba

When we were in secondary school, we had excellent English teachers. However, while they taught us essay writing, they paid scant attention to how to write it. That is, we were not shown the moves that matter in essay writing. This means that while we could tell a good essay from a bad one, we didn’t know the steps to follow to write good ones. So, we were left to shoot in the dark, sometimes we hit the target, some days we missed. Today, I want to remove students from the uncertain situation.

I understand that senior secondary students have started writing their NECO examinations and that they will sit for the English language exam on the second of August 2021.

Accordingly, the 5-paragraph essay is one useful tool that any student can use to write the required 450 words effortlessly. As the name implies, this essay is written in five paragraphs: one each for the introduction and conclusion and three paragraphs for the body.

The good thing about this tool is that you can use it to write any of the six questions in the essay section – from the formal letter to the article for publication.

But if I were a student writing the examination, I would choose to answer the debate question or the informal letter. The debate is easy to tackle. However, there are some years (such as WAEC 1997) that do not feature the debate question – even though such omissions are rare. When that happens, you should choose to write an informal letter.

In this article, I will show you how to write an essay using the 5-paragraph technique, then I will use one of the WAEC (1996) questions to implement the steps.

Here is a summary of how to write the essay: in the introduction, tell the readers what you want to tell them. In the body, tell them (using three or more points). Finally, use the conclusion to tell them that you have told them. Let me explain each step.

Introduction

The goal of the introduction is to tell your reader what the essay is about. Therefore, the introduction of a debate is divided into three parts: the greetings, stating your position (whether you’re opposing or proposing) and a brief mention of your three points.

Example: “Mr Chairman, the panel of judges, the time-keeper, my co-debaters, ladies and gentlemen. I stand before you today to oppose the motion that says ‘the female child is more beneficial to her parents than the male child’. In doing that, I will support my position with the following three points: one, the male child is the only one guaranteed to keep the family name. Two, it is the male child who shoulders the responsibility of providing for the family and the male presence in the family is enough security. In the next paragraphs, I will argue each point in detail.”

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The body has three paragraphs. One paragraph for each point. Some students find the body to be the most difficult part to write. After writing the first sentence of their point, they get stuck. They don’t know how to explain the point to increase their word count. I have a solution. For every paragraph, follow five steps: one, state your point. Two, use meta-commentary to repeat the point once or twice (setting it off by using phrases like that is, this means that, in essence, etc.). Three, give an example. Four, use a proverb, a quote or a metaphor and explain it. Five, introduce a naysayer. That is, argue the viewpoint of your opponent and immediately attack it. For example, “my opponent will argue that female children are more beneficial to their parents because they help in the kitchen. But that argument is weak if you consider the fact that it is the male child who provides the food for the parents. So I believe that the person who provides is more useful than the person who prepares.”

Then move on to the next point. If you follow the above five steps for each paragraph, you would never be short of what to write again. To demonstrate, let me write one complete paragraph.

“First, the male child keeps the family name. This means that it is the boy who perpetuates the father’s name. In essence, the girl will get married and adopt her husband’s name. For instance, my friend’s sister got married and changed from Maryam Ahmad Bukar to Maryam Mahmud Sodangi. Since they are the only children of their parents, it became the sole responsibility of my friend to maintain the father’s name. I agree with our religious teacher who was fond of saying “you boys are supposed to be the providers, the protectors and guardians to your female relatives. You should remember this responsibility. A boy is never too young to learn this.” The essence of my teacher’s counsel was to prepare us to shoulder our responsibilities and be the pillars of our families and communities. I know that the opposing speakers would say that some cultures, such as Islam, allow – even mandate – their women to keep their fathers’ names. I concede that this is true. But you should also concede that even in the Islamic culture, some women prefer to use their husband’s names.”

Easy isn’t it? I generated 178 words in the paragraph above because I followed the five steps. Two additional paragraphs will fetch you 500 words. So you should follow the same steps for the remaining two points. If you do that, your problem would be having too many words. But that is a better problem to have than having too few.

The conclusion is like the introduction except that it restates what you have already stated and why that is important. So it also has three parts: one, restate your position. Two, mention the three points again. Three, mention why your position is important and why it should be accepted.

“In conclusion, I am opposed to the motion say says boys are less beneficial to their parents and poignantly argued my position with irrefutable facts; namely, the male child is the only one guaranteed to keep the family name, it is he who shoulders the responsibility of providing for the family and it is the male child who offers security for the family. This position is important because while it is commendable to fight for the equality of women, it is completely unacceptable to demote and demean the men in the process.”

I wish you the best grade in your examination.

Series count: 17/100

Please share.

~ Ibraheem Dooba

HOW TO WRITE A HIGH-SCORING ESSAY IN YOUR WAEC ENGLISH EXAM

(Here’s an Audiovisual Lecture on How to Write a High-Scoring Essay in Your WAEC English Exam )

1. Why is it Important to Score High in Essay Writing in the WASSCE English Ex am?

Essay writing carries the highest marks in the WASSCE English exam. In the essay writing section, you’re given four or five topics and you’re required to write on only one of them; yet that single essay writing question carries 50 marks. This implies that if you can write a good essay you’ll score maximum marks in this section, and this will enhance your overall performance in the entire English exam. This is the focus of this article – to show you how exactly you can write a high-scoring essay that will boost your overall performance in the exam.

2. Types of Writing to Expect in the Essay Writing Section

In the essay writing section of the WAEC English exam, questions are usually set on the following various topics:

1. Letter Writing

2. Article Writing

3. General Essays

4. Speech Writing

5. Report Writing

6. Story Writing

From these various types of writing, 5 questions are set, and you’re required to pick just one question and write on it in about 450 words. This one question carries 50 marks, and your score will depend on how well you perform in the following areas of assessme nt: 1. Content = 10 marks 2. Organization =10 marks 3. Expression = 20 marks 4. Mechanical Accuracy =10 marks.

The following past WAEC English essay questions exemplify the types of essay questions that frequently occur in this theory section of the exam:

WASSCE JUNE 2020 ENGLISH LANGUAGE 2 THEORY QUESTIONS (SECTION A) ESSAY

1. Your brother who is in the third year in another school has written to confide in you that he is about to stop schooling and go into business. Write a letter to him advising him against the decision.

2. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The Importance of Promoting Good Reading Habits in Students.

3. As the Senior Prefect of your school, write a letter to the Principal pointing out at least two practices among students that should be discouraged and two habits that should be promoted among teachers.

4. A new Principal has been posted to your school. Write a speech you will deliver at the welcome party organized for him informing him about some of the problems faced by students.

5. Write a story that ends with the statement: I had never felt so embarrassed in my life.

In the above June 2020 WASSCE English essay questions, you can see two questions on letter writing, one question each on article writing, speech writing, and story writing respectively. From these five questions, you are expected to pick only one and write on it. Let’s assume that you finally pick a question on letter writing. How are you going to write a high-scoring letter in this exam?

Here are 15 Top Tips on How to Write a High-Scoring Letter :

1. Identify the Type of Letter you’re asked to write. Find out whether it is a formal letter, a semi-formal letter, or an informal letter. This is because each type of letter has a different way of writing it in terms of address, salutation, topic, language and tone, and so forth. For example, a formal letter requires two addresses and a title or topic, whereas an informal letter requires only one address and doesn’t need a title.

How exactly do you identify the type of letter you have been asked to write? The first thing to consider is the question “who am I going to write the letter to?” In question 1 of the June 2020 WASSCE Essay Section mentioned above, you are asked to write a letter to “your brother who is the third year in another school.” This is an informal letter because the person you are going to write to is someone who shares a personal relationship with you. Once it’s a personal letter, it’s an informal letter. In the other letter in question 3 above, you are to write a letter to “the Principal” of your school. This is a formal letter because the person you are going to write to occupies an official position. Once it’s an official letter, it’s a formal letter. Right?

2. Find out the Purpose of the Letter. This is important for two reasons. One, the purpose of the letter helps you to identify the type of letter you are going to write. Two, it helps you to know the exact content of your letter. Let’s take another look at the letter in question 1: Your brother who is in the third year in another school has written to confide in you that he is about to stop schooling and go into business. Write a letter to him advising him against his decision (WASSCE June, 2020). Here, the purpose of the letter is to advise your brother against the decision to stop schooling and go into business. One, since the purpose is to give personal advice, it’s an informal letter. Two, this given purpose provides the basis for your outline (the points to jot down – the exact things you’re going to say in your letter).

3. Write the Appropriate Address(es). Once you identify the type of letter you’re going to write, you will be able to start with the appropriate address(es). In a formal letter, write your address (the writer’s address), the date, and the the receiver’s official designation and full address. In a semi-formal or informal letter, you need to write only the writer’s address, and then go straight to the salutation.

4. Use Appropriate Opening and Closing Greetings. The following are the appropriate opening and closing greetings for the different types of letters: (1) Formal Letter: Dear Sir/Madam; Yours faithfully; (2) Semi-formal Letter: Dear Mr./Mrs/Dr./Prof. Okon; Yours sincerely; (3) Informal Letter: Dear Jane/Sister/Brother/Father/Mother; Yours sincerely/ever/affectionately… Or Your brother/son/daughter/…

5. Use a Title/Topic Where Necessary. The title is necessary in a formal letter but not in semi-formal and informal letters. In the letter to the principal of your school, for instance, you can create the following title: STUDENTS’ PRACTICES THAT SHOULD BE DISCOURAGED AND TEACHERS’ HABITS THAT SHOULD BE ENCOURAGED.

6. Start Your Letter with an Appropriate Introduction (Paragraph 1). Each type of letter requires its appropriate introduction, which is based on the given purpose of the letter. The following are some examples of different ways to introduce different types of letters:

Formal/Semi-formal: I am writing to inform you that…/I am writing to draw your attention to…./I am writing to apply for…/I am writing in connection with….

Informal: How are you doing?/I hope you and your family are all well/It’s been quite long since we were last in touch…

7. Create an Outline for the Content of Your Letter. For a letter to advise your brother against the decision to stop schooling and go into business, you can jot down the following points:

Outline: 1. Your dropping out of school will offend Dad and Mum 2.You need education to do better in business. 3.To occupy certain political offices in our country, you’ll need a certain academic qualification

8. Divide the Body of Your Letter into Paragraphs 2,3,4… as the case may be. Discuss one main idea in each paragraph. You can start each paragraph with a topic sentence, and then use two or three other sentences to support the point you’ve raised.

9. Make Sure You Discuss at Least the Specified Number of Points. Let’s take a second look at another past WASSCE letter writing question: You are dissatisfied with some practices in your school. Write a letter to your friend in another school discussing at least three of these practices and the improvement you desire (WASSCE June, 2018). In this example, you are required to discuss”at least three of these practices…”

10. Use the Last Paragraph for Conclusion. Use this last paragraph to make the appropriate call for action or simply to re-emphasize the key points already discussed.

11. Write your signature and name appropriately after the closing greetings:

Formal: Yours faithfully + signature + full name

Semi-formal: Yours sincerely + full name

Informal: Yours sincerely + first name only.

12. Use the Appropriate Language Variety and Tone for Your Letter. Examples:

Formal: Standard expressions, formal tone, no use of short forms, jokes, or slang expressions.

Semi-formal: Standard language and polite tone.

Informal: Short forms and decent jokes are allowed; informal language should reflect the level of familiarity you share with the addressee.

13. Write the Required Length of 450 Words. To do this, you can use the following smart technique for approximating the length of your letter:

Divide 450 words by the number of words you write per line to determine how many lines you ought to write, e.g. 10 words per line = 45 lines (450 divided by 10); 9 words per line = 50 lines; 8 words per line = 56 or 57; 7 words per line = 64 or 65, etc.

14 Use Clear, Legible Handwriting. You must avoid writing in unclear, illegible handwriting. If what you’ve written cannot be read, how can the marker know whether you wrote the right or wrong points? Illegible handwriting results in poor marks.

15. Crosscheck Your Letter and Correct All Errors. Use your time well to ensure you proofread your letter and correct errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, and any other mistakes. This will ensure that you don’t lose marks under mechanical accuracy.

If you follow the above tips, I am sure you will write a high-scoring letter that will enhance your overall performance in your WASSCE, NECO/SSCE, NABTEB or any other English exam.

For a more detailed audiovisual explanation of how to writes high-scoring essay in WAEC English exam, watch the following video lecture: https://youtu.be/Z9AqetXxkRA

The following eBooks will give you further insight into other areas of language proficiency, such as grammatical structures, essay writing – letter writing, article writing, speech writing, report writing, story writing – comprehension, summary writing, vowel and consonant sounds, and so forth:

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Good Success English Handbook

About the Author

Benjamin Abugu is a university graduate with a flair for content writing. He is an English teacher with over twelve years experience, a published author of many books (both paperback and eBook editions), a blogger and Youtuber.

How To Write A Good Essay In WAEC and NECO

To be able to write a good essay in WAEC and NECO examinations is something that pleases the mind of the marker or an examiner. One wonders why writing a good essay can be so frustrating to some candidates. But it doesn’t have to be. If you know the steps and understand what to do, writing can be easy and even very interesting.

This is a must read post that will provide you the simplified steps to take that will teach students how to write a good essay and come out in flying colour in your WAEC and NECO.

A good essay therefore is a complete work that has the following features be it argumentative, narrative or expository or descriptive:

Good introduction
Body of the essay
Good and simplified diction or chosen language
Mechanical accuracy
A good conclusion
Introduction : Having a good introduction to an essay or letter writing is key to passing English language in your WAEC and NECO. You don’t jump into writing any topic without giving the examiner the insight or central idea of what you are writing on. It shows a focal point and directs the marker or the examiner’s mind towards a good end.
Body of the Essay : This tells the story or describes or argue in details events that happened with good diction or language otherwise referred to as good grammatical structures in sequence, that is, one good point linking the other.
Good and simplified diction : Otherwise referred to as simple and carefully selected words to build up your topic essay. In this wise, a candidate should avoid bombastic words; that is the use of big words that may complicate issues or defeat the whole write up. Employ good English in your explanation and avoid too long sentences to drive home your points or argument.
Mechanical Accuracy : Develop the idea invariably. The problem is that most students shift topics and lose focus within their paragraphs because they do not know how to adequately develop their ideas. They usually know the paragraph needs to be longer, but they don’t know how to expand their idea to fill that length. Indeed a paragraph should be at least half a page long. Good punctuations like coma, semi colon, invited comas, exclamation mark and full stops should be applied appropriately.
Conclusion : A good conclusion of any good essay should have an overview of the entire topic, elements of logicality, carefully selected words, brilliant technicalities and a brilliant end.

For instance, write an essay on the topic Night Rain you experienced, sometime ago, its damage and how you were able to salvage the situation.

A topic like this should take a good introduction which should show an unforgettable experience, date and time of such event.

The body of the essay should describe in detail how it all happened that faithful night, the psychological effect it had on you battling with the night rain. The narration should be simple, have good diction and of course laden with emotion and good English. For instance, I summoned up courage as a man to salvage the situation by ensuring that the flood that entered the house did not spread to other rooms. The paragraphs should be sequentially arranged with good English and a moderate length.

In addition, a good essay should have good punctuations with correct spellings. Above all, avoid too long sentences that will throw you off balance. Avoid repetition and remain accurate in your explanation.

A good conclusion of the topic for instance should have an overview of the entire essay with logicality and brilliant end. For instance, the Night Rain which occurred on that fateful date was an unforgettable experience in my life even if I become the President of Nigeria.

I tell you, nobody will begin to count the number of words you wrote with good introduction, good body of the essay, mechanical accuracy and a brilliant conclusion. The marker will joyfully read your work and give you a better mark that will make you to pass your English language in WAEC AND NECO without tears.

I URGEE YOU TO PLEASE Read how to pass English in WAEC and NECO. GOOD LUCK.

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The Ultimate Comprehensive Guide for Passing WAEC's Examinations

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English Language

The resources below on English Language have been provided by WAEC to assist you understand the required standards expected in English Language final Examination. Students performance in examination under review was done by the Chief examiner,this you will see while exploring links like General Comment, Performance, Weaknesses, Strength and Observation on respective Questions.

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“Top Reasons Why Students Fail English in WAEC: How to Avoid Them and Make an A Grade

Did you know that approximately 1.5 million students like you take the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) every year? Sadly, various sources including the statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs at WAEC, Mrs Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, for the English Language, about 40% of the students who sat for the WAEC English exam failed to make a passing grade.

What is the cause of this mass failure in English Language? As you prepare for your WAEC exam, you definitely want to know why students fail English in WAEC to avoid making the same mistakes, especially as English is often a prerequisite for further education and employment opportunities.

In this article, we’ll explore the common mistakes many students have made in the different sections of the WAEC English exam and, more importantly, provide you with actionable tips to help you overcome these challenges and improve your performance.

Let’s get started!

The sections of the waec english exam.

Before we discuss the common reasons why students fail English in WAEC, let’s take a quick look at the structure of the senior secondary certificate examination:

Paper 1: Objective (Multiple Choice) – This section tests students on grammar, vocabulary, and reading comprehension.
Paper 2: Essay and Letter Writing – Students are required to write essays and letters on given topics.
Paper 3: Test of Orals – This section assesses students’ listening comprehension, pronunciation, and intonation.

Common Mistakes Students Make in Each Section & How to Avoid Them

A. paper 1: objective (multiple choice), lack of vocabulary and grammar knowledge.

One reason why students fail English in WAEC is due to a limited vocabulary and grammar knowledge. This leads to difficulty in understanding questions and selecting the correct answers.

To improve in these areas, consider the following tips:

Read widely, including newspapers, novels, and articles, to expose yourself to new words and expressions.
Maintain a vocabulary journal where you write down unfamiliar words, their meanings, and usage examples.
Practice grammar exercises regularly to reinforce your understanding of grammar rules.

Misinterpreting questions

Sometimes students misinterpret the questions, leading to incorrect answers. This misunderstanding is another reason why students perform poorly in certificate examinations. To avoid this, work on your reading comprehension skills by:

Reading questions carefully and underlining keywords.
Breaking down complex sentences into simpler parts.
Paraphrasing questions in your own words to ensure understanding.

Time management issues

Another factor that contributes to why students fail English in WAEC is poor time management skills. Managing time effectively is crucial for success in the objective section. Poor time management contributes to why students fail the English language in WASSCE. Here are some tips for better time management:

Quickly skim through the questions before answering them to understand the time required for each question.
Allocate a specific amount of time for each question and stick to it.
Answer more straightforward questions first to build confidence and save time for more challenging ones.
Practice objective questions under timed conditions to simulate exam conditions. The good thing is Edubaloo has a timer feature. So you can time yourself when practicing with your Edubaloo app. Set a goal you want to reach with your timing, note how long it takes, and keep working on your timing until you achieve the goal. >>>CHECK: Click here to see how the app can help you

B. Paper 2: Essay and Letter Writing

Poor essay structure and organization.

A well-structured and organized essay is crucial for scoring high marks. Many secondary school students need help organizing their thoughts, which is one reason they fail English in WAEC.

To improve your essay structure, follow these tips:

Begin with an introduction that clearly states your main point or thesis.
Organize your body paragraphs logically, each discussing a single idea related to the main point.
End with a conclusion that summarizes your main ideas and restates your thesis.

Weak argument development and lack of supporting details

A strong essay requires well-developed arguments and supporting details. Unfortunately, many students fail to provide enough evidence to support their claims, contributing to poor performance in the West African Examination Council WAEC. To strengthen your arguments, consider these strategies:

Start by brainstorming your main points and gathering evidence to support them.
Clearly state your argument in each body paragraph and provide relevant examples, facts, or anecdotes to support it.
Address possible counterarguments or objections to your argument to show your understanding of different perspectives.

Incorrect grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling can negatively impact your essay score, and it’s another reason why students fail the English language in WAEC. To minimize these errors:

Proofread your work multiple times, checking for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.
Use grammar and spell-check tools to help identify errors.
Have a friend or teacher review your work for additional feedback.

Inappropriate tone and style in formal letters

Maintaining an appropriate tone and style in formal letters is essential for achieving a high senior secondary certificate examination score. Many students fail to differentiate between formal and informal language, leading to lower marks. To improve your formal letter-writing skills:

Familiarize yourself with formal letter-writing conventions, such as proper salutations, closing phrases, and formal language.
Avoid using slang, abbreviations, or overly casual expressions in your letters.
Practice writing different types of formal letters to gain experience and confidence.

C. Paper 3: Test of Orals

Inadequate listening comprehension skills.

Listening comprehension is a vital component of the Test of Orals section, and students who struggle with it are more likely to fail English in WAEC. To enhance your listening comprehension abilities:

Regularly listen to English audio materials like podcasts, radio programs, and audiobooks.
Practice active listening by taking notes while listening, summarizing the content, and discussing it with others.
Complete listening comprehension exercises to test your understanding and identify areas for improvement.

Poor pronunciation and intonation

Pronunciation and intonation are essential aspects of oral communication, and students with difficulties in these areas are more likely to perform poorly in the examination council WAEC. To improve your pronunciation and intonation:

Practice speaking English regularly, focusing on accurate pronunciation and natural intonation.
Listen to English podcasts and audio recordings of native speakers to become familiar with the correct pronunciation and intonation patterns.

Limited understanding of stress patterns

A solid grasp of stress patterns in English words and sentences is essential to performing well in the orals section. Many students struggle with this, but you can master stress patterns by:

Studying the rules of word stress and sentence stress in English
Practicing speaking English out loud, focusing on applying the correct stress patterns
Listening to native English speakers and paying attention to the stress patterns they use

Additional Factors Contributing to Why Students Fail English in WAEC

A. ineffective study habits.

Developing effective study habits is vital to improving your performance in the WAEC English exam. Some tips for creating efficient study routines include:

Setting specific goals for each study session
Breaking study sessions into shorter, focused periods with breaks in between
Reviewing material regularly to reinforce your learning

B. Lack of motivation and self-confidence

Boosting your motivation and self-confidence is essential for success in the WAEC English exam. Here are some strategies to help you stay motivated and confident:

Set clear goals and celebrate small victories along the way
Remind yourself of your reasons for wanting to succeed in the exam
Surround yourself with positive influences, like supportive friends with common interests and family members

C. Exam Anxiety

Managing exam-related stress is crucial for performing well in all certificate examinations . Here are some techniques to help you cope with anxiety:

Practice past English WAEC questions and answers to familiarize yourself with what to expect in the Exam. You can download some here.
Practice relaxation techniques, like meditation, deep breathing, or progressive muscle relaxation
Develop a healthy lifestyle by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep
Seek support from friends, family, or a counselor if your anxiety becomes overwhelming

>>>CHECK RELATED POSTS: HOW TO PREPARE FOR JAMB-5 EASY STRATEGIES

How Edubaloo Can Help Improve English Language Performance in WAEC

Let’s look at some of Edubaloo’s features and how they specifically address common mistakes why students fail English in WAEC:

Daily Streak: By committing to a daily study routine, you can consistently work on improving your English language skills. The Daily Streak feature keeps you motivated by tracking your progress and rewarding you for maintaining a consistent study schedule. This helps you develop good study habits and reinforces your learning of English language concepts. See how to create a study schedule here: HOW TO CREATE A STUDY SCHEDULE.
Performance Insight: With the Performance Insight feature, you can track your WAEC English exam preparation progress. This tool identifies your strengths and weaknesses in different aspects of the English language, such as vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension. You can tailor your study efforts to maximize your exam preparation by focusing on the areas that need improvement.
Explanation: The Explanation feature provides clear and concise explanations for key English language concepts and common mistakes. This helps you understand why you made specific errors and how to avoid them in the future. By offering step-by-step explanations, Edubaloo ensures you fully grasp the material and improve your comprehension.
Simulator: The Simulator feature creates a realistic learning environment, allowing you to practice for the WAEC English exam under exam-like conditions. By replicating the exam experience, you can familiarize yourself with different testing formats, build confidence, and reduce test anxiety. This innovative approach to exam preparation ensures that you are well-equipped to tackle the WAEC English exam head-on.
Study by Topic: The “Study by Topic” feature offers a structured, organized method for exam preparation, focusing on specific English language topics. By allowing you to concentrate on individual topics sequentially, you can build a solid foundation of understanding and knowledge while increasing material retention. This feature caters to the unique needs of each student, ensuring a more effective exam preparation experience for the WAEC English exam.

Frequently Asked Questions on Why Students Fail English in WAEC

What are the main reasons why students fail english in waec.

Why do students fail English? They may fail due to a lack of vocabulary and grammar knowledge, poor reading comprehension skills, inadequate essay writing skills, insufficient practice in oral tests, ineffective study habits, low motivation, and exam anxiety.

How can I improve my vocabulary and grammar for the WAEC English exam?

Regularly reading books, articles, and newspapers can help improve your vocabulary. Additionally, you can practice grammar exercises, use flashcards, and leverage online resources like Edubaloo to strengthen your grammar skills.

What are some tips for effective essay writing in the WAEC English exam?

Focus on creating a clear and logical essay structure, developing strong arguments, providing supporting details, maintaining an appropriate tone and style, and proofreading your work for grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors.

How can I overcome exam anxiety during the WAEC English exam?

Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing exercises and visualization, maintain a positive mindset, and ensure that you are well-prepared by consistently practicing and reviewing the material.

How can I improve my listening and speaking skills for the WAEC English oral test?

Regularly engage in listening and speaking activities, such as watching English movies or videos, listening to English podcasts, and conversing with native English speakers. Practice pronunciation and intonation, and familiarize yourself with stress patterns in English words and sentences.

Are any resources or tools available to help me prepare for the WAEC English exam?

Yes, Edubaloo is a comprehensive study tool that offers various features tailored to help students improve their performance in the WAEC English exam. These features include Daily Streak, Performance Insight, Explanation, Simulator, and Study by Topic.

Can poor time management during the exam lead to WAEC English exam failing?

Yes, poor time management contributes to why students fail English in WAEC. It can cause students to rush through sections or fail to complete the exam. Practising time management strategies is crucial, such as allocating time for each section and regularly checking the clock to stay on track.

Each of the factors outlined in this article explains why students fail English in WAEC. By being aware of the common pitfalls across the different sections of the exam and implementing the strategies and tips we’ve shared, you’ll be well on your way to overcoming these challenges that result in why students fail English in WAEC and achieving the results you desire. Remember, adequate preparation and consistent practice are essential to mastering English. So, don’t be discouraged by past statistics. Implement these strategies alongside your Edubaloo app , and you’ll be on your way to joining the successful students who smash the WAEC English exam. DOWNLOAD YOUR EDUBALOO APP HERE.

Blessing Olaoye

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WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers

October 3, 2023 Victoria Jackson English , WAEC Past Questions 0

WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers – WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers serve as invaluable tools for students preparing for the West African Examination Counc i l (WAEC) English exam. This comprehensive collection follows a structured pattern to help candidates hone their essay-writing skills and excel in the English language test. The pattern typically includes a diverse range of essay topics, comprehension passages, and tasks like letter and speech writing, all closely aligned with the WAEC syllabus. What makes these materials especially useful is the detailed answers provided, which not only offer correct responses but also expla i n the reasoning and writing techniques behind them. This facilitates a deeper understanding of essay construction, grammar, vocabulary usage, and overall exam requirements. By studying and practicing with these past questions and answers, students can gain confidence, refine their writing abilities, and boost their chances of achieving outstanding results in the WAEC English exam.

Why you need WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers

1. It enlightens you on the scope of the exam.

2. You won’t be in the dark about quest i ons to expect in the examination.

3. You won’t need support rather you’ll be confident in yourself.

4. In like manner, you won’t develop examination fever as a result of not knowing where the questions will be coming from.

5. It equips you beforehand.

6. it guides you on how to answer exam technical questions.

WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers Pattern

WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers follow a structured pattern to aid students in their exam preparation. These materials encompass various essay top i cs, comprehension passages, and letter or speech writing tasks in line with the WAEC syllabus. The pattern includes questions that assess grammar, vocabulary, and the ability to construct well-organized essays. Answers often provide model responses, highlighting key points and appropriate writing styles. This pattern aids students in understanding the expected format and content for essay questions. By practicing with these past questions, candidates can improve their writing skills and effect i vely prepare for the WAEC English exam, increasing their chances of success. WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers

Sample of WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers

In the questions below, choose the word(s) or phrase that best fills the gap(s).

Jubril found that thieves had entered his house in his absence. He went to the police to report the… (A) break out(B) break up (C)break-in (D) break into

After the accused was found guilty by the court, his counsel… before the sentence was passed (A) begged for mercy (B)made a plea for mitigation (C) made an ovation (D) made a plea for litigation

The officer was compelled to… the suspect’s car. (A)seize (B) cease (C) size (D) disease

If you are going to the market, may I… please? (A) follow you (B)come with you (C) come by you (D) come as your second

Ans: B WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers

Thank you for the party, we … (A) enjoyed ourselves (B)enjoyed (C) enjoyed very much (D) enjoyed too much.

The complete WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers with accurate answers is N2,000.

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Each year, thousands of students gain admission into their schools of choice with the help of our past questions and answers.

7 Tips to Prepare for WAEC English Exams

Don’t make reading your hobby: A lot of people put reading as a hobby in their CV, they might be right because they have finished schooling. But “You” are still schooling, so reading should be a top priority and not a hobby. Read far and wide to enhance your level of aptitude
Get Exams Preparation Materials: These involve textbooks, dictionaries, Babcock University Post UTME Past Questions and Answers, mock questions, and others. These materials will enhance your mastery of the scope of the exams you are expecting.
Attend Extramural Classes: Register and attend extramural classes at your location. This class will help you refresh your memory and boost your classroom understanding and discoveries of new knowledge.
Sleep when you feel like: When you are preparing for any exams, sleeping is very important because it helps in the consolidation of memory. Caution: Only sleep when you feel like it and don’t oversleep.
Make sure you are healthy: Sickness can cause excessive feelings of tiredness and fatigue and will not allow you to concentrate on reading. If you are feeling as if you are not well, report to your parent, a nurse, or a doctor. Make sure you are well.
Eat when you feel like it: During the exam preparation period, you are advised not to overeat, and to avoid sleep. You need to eat little and light food whenever you feel like eating. Eat more fruits, drink milk and glucose. This will help you enhance retention.
Reduce your time on social media: Some people live their entire lives on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, Messenger chat. This is so bad and catastrophic if you are preparing for exams. Try and reduce your time spent on social media during this time. Maybe after the exams, you can go back and sleep in it.

If you like these tips, consider sharing them with your friends and relatives. Do you have a question or comments? Put it on the comment form below. We will be pleased to hear from you and help you score as high as possible. myPastQuestion.com .

We wish you good luck!

Past Questions and Answers
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How To Answer Questions on Essay and Letter Writing In WAEC & NECO – Tips and Strategies

Essay and Letter Writing In WAEC and NECO in English language pose a lot of challenges to most students who do not know the skills, tips and strategies of passing this part in the theory section. WAEC and NECO examiners made this paper compulsory for all candidates to attempt because they know if candidates are given as an option, 90% would skip this part.

I will give you some key-points to note which would aide you in answering Essay writing as well as letter writing questions with ease in your exam. Also, i will put you through on how to count the words to ensure you are on track because when faced with writing an essay or letter writing of about 450 words, you need to be sure much time isn’t wasted on this section because there are other questions that need to be attempted with the limited time awarded to you.

Points To Note

1) Ideally, English language paper 1, section A allocates 50 minutes for you to choose just one (1) question among five questions set, be it an essay or letter writing topic, to prove your ability to communicate in writing.

2) The one question to be answered carries 50 marks, distributed thus;

Content (substance) of your work and relevance to the set question – 10 marks
Organization (including use of correct formats and paragraphing) – 10 marks
Expression (Effective use languages) – 20 marks
Mechanical accuracy (avoidance of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors) – 10 marks

3) You are required to prove your ability to communicate in writing in not less than 450 words. That is, if you are to write 10 words in a line, you should be able to produce an essay of not less than 45 lines long; if 9 words per line – 50 lines; if 8 words – 56 lines; if 7 words – 64/65 line; If 6 words – 75 line; if 5 words – 90 lines, etc.

Always ensure you start from the beginning of the first paragraph of your word (be it an essay or letter writing) to count.

By now you ought to have known the average number of words you write on a line. If not, start practicing now.

How To Count The Number of Words In Essay and Letter Writing In WAEC & NECO Exam

Write up a page, pick 6 lines at random and count the number of words each contains. The number of words that appear most frequently should be taken as the number of words you write on a line. For example, if line 1 contains 7 words, line 2 – 8 words, line 3 – 6 words, line 4 – 7 words, line 6 – 6 words and line 6 – 7 words; then you write 7 words in a line. You already know that 7 words in a line will give you 65 lines. Count out 65 lines before you begin to answer your questions and put a dot at the margin of your answer sheet to remind you to start rounding off as you approach 65 lines.

4) The five questions usually set are drawn from essay and letter writing type. They include;

Letter writing – Formal, informal and semi formal
Narrative essay
Descriptive essay
Argumentative essay – Debates/Speeches
Expository essay – Explanations and Directions.
Creative writing

Questions are set on Article and Report Writing. Article writing falls into any of the types listed above, except letter writing. Report writing equally falls into any of the listed types, except argumentative essay. The question asked will specify whether your report writing will be in letter or essay form.

Guidelines on Essay and Letter Writing – Tips and Strategies

1) Read through all the questions with an open mind. Give each some thoughts, the select the one you understand properly and have sufficient points to write on. For instance, some candidates wrongly make up their minds before entering the examination hall, that they will answer any question asked for informal letter writing . A case in point is that of informal letter writing asking a candidate to write ‘explaining how a relationship with a friend went sour’. Many candidates dabble into that question without knowing the meaning of ‘sour’. The result is that they wrote out of point and lost all their marks in both content and organization (20 marks out of 50 marks).

2) Know your limitations and choose an appropriate question. If you are not good at creating a story or managing the past tense, definitely you cannot write well on a narrative essay topic, etc. Remember you have a wide choice as you are required to answer only one question out of five.

3) Note the appropriate format to use in answering the question you have carefully chosen. For instance, if you have chosen a question on Article Writing, do not use a letter writing format. Write only the topic and start your introductory paragraph. You will lose marks under organization if a letter writing format is used.

4) Jot down the points you want to use as they come to your mind. Number them sequentially, as you intend to bring them into your work. The few minutes devoted to planning your work are extremely useful as they help you produce organized work with full control.

5) Just incase you have jotted too many points down, select 4 good written points to expatiate on. Dwelling on them at length and convincingly while remembering your essay should not be more than 450 words long. At the same time, a short essay will earn you low scores in organization and mechanical accuracy .

6) Pay good attention to paragraphing. The first word of each paragraph should begin about three centimetres away from the left-hand margin. Each paragraph should begin with a new idea, so begin a new paragraph as you move to a new idea. However, two similar ideas that are brief can be merged into one paragraph. The content of the introductory and concluding paragraph must be appropriately chosen to match the format of the topic chosen.

7) Do not write on either margin of your answer sheets. The instructions there even tells you not to. Ensure you obey it. Number your questions you have chosen and are writing on, as well.

8) Devote the last 5 minutes of the time allotted for this section to reading over your work carefully, with the intention of detecting errors, misspelt words and incorrect punctuation that can cost you marks under Mechanical Accuracy.

9) After effecting corrections of detected errors, read through your work once more before finally moving to other sections of English language paper 1.

N.B: Try and limit or avoid the use of big words, especially the ones you cannot spell correctly nor use appropriately. Use simple English that takes you straight to the point without rigmarole. Use British spellings, not American spellings, as they are the ones commonly used in West Arica.

The points, tips, strategies explained above are the current WAEC and NECO recommended approach in Essay and letter writing from the examiners point of view. Using the guidelines and approach would fetch you a good score in essay and letter writing in WASSCE and NECO as well.

I hope this helps? Remember you can reach me via the comment section below should you have any question as regards letter and essay writing tips , approach, strategies and guidelines for English language exam in WAEC or NECO and I will be glad to assist.

How to Pass WAEC Literature-in-English

To be able to pass WAEC Literature-in-English requires at least five things from you: start preparing early for the Literature test, cover all sections of the WAEC Literature syllabus, study closely how WAEC set their Literature questions, provide only the material that the questions ask for, and make sure your expression is clear enough.

Have you been asking yourself how do I pass a Literature exam? Well in this post, I will share with you the strategic steps that should make it easier for any senior high school student to pass WAEC Literature.

These are the secrets behind the amazing success of a few WAEC/NECO/JAMB candidates who take the Literature-in-English test. Are you a private candidate in the Nov/Dec WASSCE? These tips will guide you to pass your WAEC/WASSCE Literature once and for all.

1. Start Your Preparations Early

Starting early means at least two things. First, you must know all the prescribed Literature books and poems right from your first year in Senior High School. And if you’re hoping to pass Literature as a private candidate find a way to know the titles of all the novels, plays and poems you need to study. It is best if you know these at least one year before the exam.

Secondly, get hold of all the Literature texts. Then begin to read them there and then. Do not overwhelm yourself by attempting to read all at once. Depending on your abilities, you may decide to read one prose text first. And while at it, you can also be taking a look at one or two of the poems.

2. Cover All the Sections of the Literature Syllabus

For example, while you are enjoying yourself studying African Prose or Non-African Drama, you need to at the same time get enough time for Non-African poetry or unseen prose.

3. Participate in Lively Group Discussions

Granted, there is nothing wrong with trying to go solo with your studies. But let’s face it, group discussions help students to better understand and remember concepts they have learned.

4. Educate Yourself on How WAEC Set Their Questions

This is important because ignorance about the secrets behind WAEC questions has cost a lot of Literature candidates dearly. Let me explain this to you.

Now you entered the exam room only to realize that there is no question like this. Your first reaction is an expression of shock. It is quickly followed by fear. Then comes disappointment and a strong desire to throw in the towel.

You ignored this question because you found it too difficult or too strange. It is not what you prepared for. But it is! Yes, it is. These two questions are asking almost the same answer from you. So you can use what you studied for the first one to write a wonderful essay for the other.

400+ Likely WAEC Literature Questions for Practice

5. Stay On Point

So how do you answer English Literature test questions? You see, besides everything else, the answer you give in a Literature essay must address only what is necessary. Any other points or ideas are irrelevant and useless.

To pass WAEC Literature with relative ease demands self-restraint as you write a Literature essay. Do not give too little or too much. Do not forget that the Literature marking scheme only takes into consideration material that is relevant to the question and nothing more.

6. Expression Matters

Good grammar contributes to the clarity of expression. For that matter, learn to use verb forms correctly. Bad spelling can spoil your essay so avoid it as much as possible.

7. Have a Good Knowledge of Literary Terms

You will impress your examiner a great deal if you are able to identify some poetic devices in a particular poem and explain how they relate to whatever theme you’re discussing in your essay.

8. Additional Tips to Pass WAEC Literature

Final thoughts.

It has always been the dream of every senior high school student or WAEC private candidate to obtain the kind of grade that can push them to the next level. But, sadly, for many, this goal remains evermore elusive. Elsewhere, I have pointed out the reasons why students fail the Literature paper . I urge you to read that post too. Combine what you have learned here with the insights from that post. With these, I trust that you will be in a better position to pass your next WAEC Literature-in-English test.

Did you find this information helpful? Then share it on your favourite social media platform for the benefit of others you care about. Thank you!

Ralph Nyadzi

Ralph Nyadzi is the founder of Cegast Academy. He is a qualified English tutor with decades of experience behind him. Since 2001, he has successfully coached thousands of High School General Arts WASSCE candidates in English, Literature and related subjects. He combines his expertise with a passion for lifelong learning to guide learners from varying backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. He lives with River, his pet cat, in the Central Region of Ghana.

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10 compulsory topics of English Language in WAEC

There are some compulsory subjects that are common with every WAEC candidate, they include English language and mathematics. Then, there are compulsory topics of English Language in WAEC as well.

In the English language, some topics are constant in the WAEC examination. Proper knowledge of these topics of the English language is a big boost to the candidate’s chances of passing the English language with flying colours.

compulsory topics of English Language in WAEC

Table of Contents

The importance of the English language in the WAEC examination

There are some reasons why the English language is a very important subject in the WAEC examination. The reasons include:

The English language is the official language of the member countries, whose citizens sit for the prestigious WAEC examination.
The English language is a required subject for many purposes, such as employment and educational purposes.

These two reasons outlined above are among the chief reasons, why knowledge of the English language is very important, because every WAEC candidate, irrespective of his chosen field of work or course of study will still need at least a credit (or a pass) in the English language.

The compulsory topics of English Language

For a WAEC candidate to pass the English language WAEC examination, there are some topics that are regular or integral in the English language syllabus of the WAEC examination.

Those topics appear in every WAEC English language examination from year to year, so they have been compiled, so that WAEC candidates can easily access them and study them well, to increase their chances of passing the English language.

The top 10 compulsory topics of English language in the WAEC examination include:

Summary writing
Essay writing
Lexis and structure: The Lexis as a major topic has some subtopics under its wings, they include:
Vowels (Diphthongs and monophthongs)
Rhymes (Homophones)
Word stress (Monosyllables and polysyllables).
Formal and informal letter
Phrases and clauses.

NB: Under Lexis and structure, we have sub-topics such as:

Clause and sentence patterns
Word classes and their functions.
Comprehension
Use of speech
Punctuation and spelling
Mood, tense, aspect, number, concord, degree, and question tags.
Verbs and verbal formation.
Differentiating between the consonant types.
Oral English (Including vowel and consonant sounds).

Things to note about English language examination in WAEC

There are three sections in the English language examination. They include:

Objective (Section I )
Theory (Section II )
Oral English section (Section III )

In the first section of the English language examination, you will be tasked with going through and providing correct answers for a total of 100 answers. This section is usually multiple choice objective questions.

In the second section, the theory section; candidates will be tasked with writing strings of words, and that may come in form of articles, essays, and letter writing. This is a very important aspect of the English language examination.

Every student knows which writing they can do best, so it’s advisable that every WAEC candidate stick to their strength, and avoid their weaknesses.

In the last section of the English language examination, one of the most controversial topics of the English language will be treated: oral English. This aspect tests a candidate’s grasp of the English language, ranging from rhymes to syllables, and covers subtopics such as phonetic symbols, intonation, vowel sounds, and consonant sounds

Recommended textbooks for effective learning of English language for WAEC

The need for suitable study materials for the study of the English language cannot be underestimated, based on how important the subject is to candidates and their potential future careers.

The recommended materials for learning English language include:

Modern English
Essential English

These two textbooks are two of the most common English textbooks that are used in secondary schools, which makes them the most popular choice among tutors and students alike.

Extra tips to boost knowledge of English language topics

Candidates are advised to cultivate the habit of making use of the dictionary whenever they are reading so that they can easily look up strange words, and improve their knowledge of topics such as antonyms and synonyms.
Candidates are encouraged to also cultivate the habit of reading literature books, or articles at their leisure or dedicated study period. The reading of literature books or articles tends to improve general control of the English language, which will reflect through writing, use of idioms, and general use of grammar.
Browsing or looking up books written by experts in oral English may go a long way in improving the knowledge of oral English. Oral English is a section or topic of the English language where students struggle a lot because they are not familiar with its official usage. Engaging materials that treat oral English may help improve candidates’ grip on oral English.

Frequently asked questions about compulsory topics of English language

Where do these topics of the english language occur the most in the waec examination.

The topics of the English language, which were highlighted in this article are important topics of English language, and they are sprinkled across the objective and theory sections of the English language. They are not limited to any section of the English language.

Are they any other topic of the English language that is common in the WAEC examination?

Yes. The above-listed topics are the most important and common topics of the English language in the WAEC examination, but this doesn’t rule out the occurrence of some topics which are as important as the above-mentioned topics. An example of a topic that is important in the English language examination, but not included in the list is: • Formation of words, which includes synonyms, antonyms, prefixes, suffixes, direct and indirect speeches.

Getting a credit in the English language is one of the most common requirements for most academic establishments in English-speaking countries of west Africa.

To pass the English language in the WAEC examination, there are some compulsory topics of English Language that are inevitably present in every edition of the WAEC examination.

Good knowledge of those topics of the English language is essential for any candidate who wishes to reach the minimum requirement of getting credit in the English language for the WAEC examination.

Candidates are being advised to study those topics, as they are a proven pathway to passing the English language in WAEC.

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What are the 9 Art Subjects in WAEC?

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What are the 9 Science Subjects in WAEC?

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How to write an excellent WAEC essay

I was completely clueless about writing strategies when I was in secondary school preparing for WAEC. Of course my friends came to me seeking guidance…

I was completely clueless about writing strategies when I was in secondary school preparing for WAEC. Of course my friends came to me seeking guidance on how to write their essays. My approach and answer to their quest was to grab a pen, train it at the paper and to begin writing furiously to beat time. After I had written paragraphs, I told them: “like this.” Of course it worked for me. But I don’t think it did for my friends/students.

The only improvement on the above approach was to tell them what my teachers told me and what many English teachers tell their students: “Use outline,” that way you would be guided on what to write. Although this is a fair point, the benefit of outlining is rather limited. For a student who doesn’t know how to argue persuasively or doesn’t understand that writing is like joining a conversation or having a discussion, outlining wouldn’t help. He would do the outlining alright, but that wouldn’t improve the quality of the writing. It would be “step one, I will write this nonsense, then followed by that nonsense, I will also not forget to write the other nonsense.”

I managed to pass the English language paper and so did many of my friends. But I’ve since learned that for any writing (actually for anything) I do, it helps to develop a system on how to accomplish it, so that when inspiration refuses to prod you with its mesmerizing fingers, one would wheel out the system and produce content at will.

Some teachers are doing an amazing job, where some get it wrong however, is when they focus on grammar and other technicalities like proper address and punctuation. But you have to have content before you think about punctuation. Many students already have sufficient punctuation skills anyway, what is usually the challenge is producing the words. And essays are nothing but words properly arranged. So what approach can students use to easily generate the words at will and under the pressures of the examination? This is the question I try to answer today.

A more appropriate question would be, if I were a secondary school student preparing for WAEC, how would I approach the essay question?

I would use two things: a strategy and a template/steps. My strategy would be to answer any question that gives me an opportunity to argue. Luckily, out of the five (they used to be six in the late 80s and 90s) essay questions, four of them satisfy this condition. I bought the past questions book from Amab, a bookstore belonging to a friend in Minna yesterday to prepare for this column. While reading the book, I observe that out of the five questions, at least two are letters (formal and informal), one is a speech or debate, one is an article suitable for publication and the last question is usually a story that illustrates and ends with a moral of some description.

Only the last question could be viewed as not providing the opportunity for argument – but even that is arguable.Why do we choose questions which offer the opportunity for argument? This is due to the fact that it is the nature of man to argue – including about things he knows nothing about. If you doubt my claim, visit any group on the social media. It’s where people join discussion without first asking what the discussion is about. A commenter on the U.K. Guardian website accurately described this phenomenon: “Ah, the internet, where strongly-held opinions are strongly put, and facts be damned.”

Except that it is not only on the internet that people have strong-held opinions. They do so too offline. And even if someone doesn’t have an opinion, he can instantly generate one depending on the question you ask.

That’s why, when I want to elicit a lot of comments on my Facebook page, I couch a post in the form an argument. For example, “what is your assessment of this administration in the last two and half years?” would not generate as much reaction as “do you think this administration has performed well or poorly and what reasons do you have to justify your opinion?” now watch as everyone becomes a skilful debater.

It is for the same reason why questions are easier to respond to than statements. If I say, “write about WAEC” you may struggle to come up with words to use in your response, but if I say, “in what ways do you think WAEC has been useful to schools and students in West Africa?” now you don’t have to think deeply before you’re able to answer that question. That’s why when writing becomes a challenge for me, as it often becomes, I simply ask relevant questions such as why, how and so what.

Now that I’ve my strategy, the second thing I need is a template and the steps to follow for the student to easily produce more words than he or she needs. The next column will address that. Therefore, whether you’re a student preparing for WAEC or a teacher preparing students or anyone who no longer wants to suffer from paucity of words when writing should read this column next week.

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HOME » WAEC » WAEC English Lang. Scheme of Examination & Sample Questions

WAEC English Lang. Scheme of Examination & Sample Questions

WAEC English Lang. Scheme of Examination & Sample Questions:

You can also check: WAEC Sample Questions, Scheme: All Subjects

DISCLAIMER: The questions and answers contained on this website are not in any way inferred as the original questions you will write on your WAEC examination. We do not provide students with any material that promotes examination malpractice. The contents on this website are purely educational and suited for students preparing for the said exams.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE

SCHEME OF EXAMINATION

There will be three papers – Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1: Will consist of eighty multiple choice questions, all of which should be

answered within 1 hour for 40 marks.

PAPER 2: Will consist of five essay topics and a passage each to test candidates’

comprehension and summary skills. Candidates will be expected to write an essay on one of the topics and answer all the questions on Comprehension and Summary passages. The paper will last 2 hours and carry 100 marks.

PAPER 3: Will consist of sixty multiple choice items on Test of Orals for candidates

in Nigeria and Liberia, and that on Listening Comprehension for candidates in Ghana, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. All the questions will be answered in 45 minutes for 30 marks.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

PAPER 1 SECTION 1

In each of the following sentences, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.

1. Most African countries face poverty while few enjoy ……………………….

A. influence

B. money

C. affluence

D. power

2. Last year our farmers cultivated more crops than they……………………….

A. destroyed

B. uprooted

C. harvested

D. yielded

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes each of the following sentences.

3. There would have been a riot in our school but for the timely……………..of our staff.

A. intervention

B. interruption

C. interference

D. invasion

4. The armed robbers ……………every room in the bank to look for money.

A. explored

B. ransacked

C. raked

D. swept

After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the interpretation that you consider most appropriate for each sentence.

5. Ade is too clever by half. This means that Ade is

A. far cleverer than others.

B. actually very stupid in his behaviour.

C. annoyingly clever.

D. behaving to be clever but is not.

6. Ameh is really being economical with the truth. This means that Ameh

A. is being praised for being honest.

B. does not know enough.

C. knows more than he is prepared to say.

D. is not telling the truth.

From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, chose the word or group of words that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence .

7. By failing to attend the interview, Idoko has lost a golden opportunity.

A. blessed

B. bright

C. good

D. delightful

8. I hope the principal would be gracious enough to forgive us.

A. cordial

B. polite

C. merciful

D. gentle

From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences .

9. A good citizen abides ………….. the rules of the land.

A. with

B. in

C. at

D. by

10. Since his swearing in, the governor ……………….. his hometown.

A. had not been visiting

B. has not visited

C. did not visit

D. had not visited

Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words.

You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.

Your friend in another school has requested information about your school to enable him to decide on moving over to your school. Write a letter to him discussing at least three areas in which your school excels.
Write an article for publication in your school magazine, discussing the reasons why children in your area drop out of school and suggesting ways of minimizing it.
As the president of your youth club, write a letter to the chairman of your Local Government Association complaining about the increasing rate of child labour and suggesting ways of curbing it.
You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic : Women should not be in paid employment while still bearing children. Write your contribution for or against the topic.
5. Write a story that ends with the words: That experience will linger on my mind for a long time.

Dele groaned and got out of bed. There was no clock on the mantel piece and the room was still dark, but he knew that he was already late for work, probably by an hour. He was a commercial bus driver and had to get started as early as 5.00a.m. and go almost non-stop till about 9.00 p.m. to be able to make the daily returns that the bus owner demanded.

On the previous day, he had attended an all-night party – a late uncle’s burial ceremony – where he had drunk himself almost senseless before crawling home in the early hours of the morning. Now, he got up shakily, splashed water on his face and hurried off to work, but not before carefully fastening on his upper left arm the amulet he had always worn for protection against accidents. A similar amulet hung concealed under the steering column of his bus. On his way, still feeling groggy, he caught his left toe against a stump and had some misgiving. It was a bad sign, and he was supposed to go back home and then set out again. But there was no time for that now, so he hurried on.

At the bus station, Dele quickly loaded his bus and sped off without any of the necessary checks on the vehicle. He had to make up for lost time. It was the rush hour, so the bus was overloaded as it often was, with many passengers hanging on to the doors. The tyres were threadbare, the brakes were faulty and the road was wet, but, still feeling a little sleepy, Dele sped on. Many passengers protested about his reckless driving, but he would not listen. After all, didn’t he have protection against accident?

As the vehicle took the last turn before its destination, Dele saw a broken-down truck blocking his side of the road. Under normal circumstances, he could have brought the bus safely to a halt, bur the circumstances were far from normal. The careering bus hit the parked vehicle, swerved wildly across the road and plunged into a ditch.

Dele’s surprise before he sank into oblivion was the failure of his supposedly protective amulets.

(a) Why did Dele wake up late?

(b) … he caught his left toe against a stump and had some misgivings . What does this tell us about Dele?

(d) Why was Dele unable to stop his faulty vehicle?

(e) What was Dele’s condition after the accident?

(f) After all, didn ’t he have protection against accident? What literary device is used in this expression?

(g) …wildly across the road…

(i) What grammatical name is given to the expression as it is used in the passage?

(ii) What is its function?

(h) For each of the following words, find another word or phrase which means the same and can replace it in the passage: i. probably;

ii. returns;

iii. groggy;

iv. misgiving

v. threadbare

vi. reckless.

(SUMMARY) [30 MARKS ]

Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions on it.

You cannot expect to go through life without meeting problems. Difficulties, perplexities and frustrations are an inevitable part of human experience. Accepting this idea of the inevitability of problems will help you to approach them in a robust frame of mind rather than thinking that you are a victim specially singled out by malignant fate. When confronted with a problem, the first thing to do is gather all relevant data to get acquainted with the facts of the case. Then write down exactly what the problem is, stating it simply in black and white. This gives you something definite with which to come to terms. The problem is assessed and you will now have something concrete to deal with.

Next, give serious thought to the problem, making sure that such thought does not degenerate into worry as worry accomplishes nothing. Aim at clear, dispassionate thought, viewing the problem as if it were a friend’s and not your own. Look at it from all angles and from the point of view of all concerned. You court disaster if you are entirely selfish in your outlook. The single important purpose of all this is to discover all possible solutions to the problem.

Having examined the problem broadly and impartially, carefully examine all the possible solutions or courses of action. The knowledge that you have done this will keep you from useless regrets later, when you can remind yourself that all courses of action were examined and you chose what appeared to be the best. Next, eliminate all proposed solutions which are seen on further thought to be impracticable.

You will now find that your list has been whittled down to two or three possibilities. At this stage it is often a good plan to get out into the open air. Go for a walk or a ride, preferably somewhere with wide horizons. There, out in the open, review the problem afresh. You will find it appears less formidable. Ask yourself how the difficulty will appear in ten years’ time or even one! This fresh review will enable you to make a final choice as you turn to the remaining solutions and, before you return home, decide which one you are going to adopt. As you go to sleep that night, let your last thoughts be upon your decision. If, in the morning, you still feel it is the best one to take, go ahead.

If you have a friend who is capable of giving sound advice, consult him. Do this before your final decision, so that you will have the benefit of his views before you decide. Talking things over with another is always a great help. It enables you to isolate the problem and to decide which on which factors are important. Even if the friend offers no advice, a sympathetic ear will help you. Furthermore, as you describe to your friend the courses open to you, you will see them in clearer light. Some will appear impossible even as you speak. Alternatively, one will appear most attractive.

In dealing with problems, remember the time factor. Although some problems solve themselves in time, and delaying tactics is therefore the best form of action for them, most other problems generally get more complicated the longer they are left. You should therefore get to grips with the problems immediately they occur.

All told, reasonable foresight and imagination can prevent many problems ever arising. Tact, thoughtfulness and responsible conduct can also keep life largely problem-free.

In six sentences, one for each , summarize the steps to be taken when faced with a problem and state why each step is necessary.

PAPER 3 (TEST 0F ORALS]

For candidates in Nigeria and Liberia only

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one represented by the letters underlined.

1. w i t

A. fright

B. wheat

C. tree

D. market

2. l oo k

A. glue

B. you

C. cup

D. curious

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that has the same consonant sound(s) as the one represented by the letter(s) underlined.

3. d ance

A. handsome

B. sandwich

C. adjective

D. pounding

4. pluck ed

A. smiled

B. slammed

C. luck

D. table

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that rhymes with the given word.

5. carrier

A. area

B. barrier

C. serious

D. ravine

6. drought

A. crowd

B. nought

C. shout

D. taught

In each of the following questions, the main/primary stress is indicated by writing the syllable on which it occurs in capital letters. From the words lettered A to D, choose the one that has the correct stress.

7. acrimony

A. A-cri-mo-ny

B. a-CRI-mo-ny

C. a-cri-MO-ny

D. a-cri-mo-NY

In the following options lettered A to D, all the words except one have the same stress pattern. Identify the one with the different stress pattern.

8. A. sanctify

B. promising

C. notify

D. organic

In each of the following sentences, the word that receives the emphatic stress is written in capital letters. From the questions lettered A to D, choose the one to which the given sentence is the appropriate answer.

9. The DOCTOR examined the patient with a stethoscope.

A. Did the teacher examine the patient with a stethoscope?

B. Did the doctor cure the patient with a stethoscope?

C. Did the doctor examine the nurse with a stethoscope?

D. Did the doctor examine the patient with a telescope?

From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that contains the sound represented by the given phonetic symbol.

10. / ǝ /

A. accurate

B. nephew

C. ageless

D. waddle

Provided by MSG Team

How English Essays Are Marked by WAEC and NECO

Thread starter Uzoamaka Martins
Start date Jul 8, 2023

Uzoamaka Martins

Jul 8, 2023

WAEC English Marking Scheme (How SSCE Essays Are Marked) Criteria used by WAEC or NECO examiners to mark English Essay: C: Content (10 marks) O: Organisation (10 marks) E: Expression (20 marks) MA: Mechanical Accuracy (10 marks) In all, your essay is 50 marks. The acronym for these criteria is COEM. If you like, you can refer to the above criteria as the WAEC English marking scheme. Let’s take the above point one after the other for a full explanation and how you can leverage them to score A1 in your SSCE English Language. Note: For essay, the instruction is usually “Your essay should not be less than 450 words” you must pay attention to this. Content Content has to do with the relevance of your ideas to the topic and its specific audience and purpose. Does your idea align with the topic you’ve chosen? Are you using the appropriate language? Are your points relevant to the central theme and its development? Pay attention to this and ensure that your approach is original. Try as you can to avoid injecting irrelevant ideas in your essay in a bid to make up the number. You will be penalised if you injected irrelevant ideas into your essay. How to write good content: Make sure you understand the topic before jumping on it. Ensure that the topic you pick is something you can effectively deal with. Let your topic be something you have enough points on, very important. Organization Organisation in your essay either in WAEC or NEC is very important. This isn’t limited to examination, in your speech and writing, you must perfectly arrange points. This refers to the correct use of formal features such as good paragraphing, appropriate use of emphasis and arrangement of ideas. Paragraphs are expected to be chronologically, spatially and logically coherent. It is advisable to have one point per paragraph, don’t cluster your points in one paragraph. How to achieve great organisation in your English Essay Examiners will always lookout for a good opening Examiners will look out for adequate development into paragraphs Make sure that there is balance and unity. Let your paragraphs flow from one to the other to achieve coherence. Ensure you have a logical flow of the paragraph. Expression Your expression carries the highest mark in English essays in NECO and WAEC. This is where you put your power of English expression and writing into work. The expression refers to the perfect use of grammar. Your expression must also be controlled and the structure of the sentence. A good expression will make your essay sound. It is an act of making your points known in clear words and sentences. Don’t be ambiguous. How to achieve good expression in WAEC essay writing Try not to use phrases such as: “In my opinion” Avoid redundant word phrases. Use linkers or linking words. Linking Words you can use in English Essays are: thereby, consequently, subsequently, in addition, beside that, additionally, furthermore, moreover, on the other hand, on the contrary, also, however, not only that You don’t necessarily need to use “big” vocabulary when you have simple and easy-to-understand words that can convey the message appropriately. Write to express and convey your message, don’t write to impress Mechanical Accuracy Your use of grammar, punctuation, and spelling fall under mechanical accuracy. Your errors fall under mechanical accuracy. Each attracts 1/2 mark. Important tips to know about NECO and WAEC essays Credit will be awarded for what is done right while the penalty will be given for errors. You’re expected to write at least 450 words, but when a composition is below 450 words, the required length the maximum mark for M.A shall be proportionately reduced. If a candidate writes on a topic that is irrelevant to the question set, zero shall be awarded for content and organization.

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25 BECE English Language Essay Questions That WAEC Will Choose From in 2023

As a BECE candidate, it is important to be well prepared for the English Language exam, which usually consists of both objective and essay questions. While the objective questions may be easier to answer, the essay questions require more critical thinking and writing skills. In this article, we will be discussing 25 essay questions that WAEC may choose from in the 2023 BECE exam.

Write a letter to your friend describing how you spent your last holiday.
Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the topic: How to Improve Your Study Habits.
Write a story that ends with the sentence, ‘It was the best day of my life.’
Write a letter to your father telling him how proud you are of him for achieving a major milestone in his career.
Write an essay on the topic: The Importance of Education in Today’s Society.
Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper expressing your opinion on a controversial topic in your community.
Write a descriptive essay on your favorite childhood memory.
Write a letter to your school principal suggesting ways to improve the quality of education in your school.
Write an argumentative essay on the topic: Should Social Media Be Banned in Schools?
Write a letter to your local government representative addressing a community issue that needs attention.
Write a story that ends with the sentence, ‘I knew I had found my true calling.’
Write a persuasive essay on the topic: Should Students Be Allowed to Use Cell Phones in Class?
Write a letter to your friend telling him or her about a life-changing experience you had.
Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The Effects of Climate Change on Our Environment.
Write a story that ends with the sentence, ‘I finally found the courage to speak up.’
Write a letter to your school principal suggesting ways to promote better sportsmanship in your school.
Write an argumentative essay on the topic: Should Animals Be Kept in Zoos?
Write a letter to your friend describing your favorite hobby.
Write an essay on the topic: The Benefits of Reading.
Write a story that ends with the sentence, ‘I never thought I could do it, but I did.’
Write a letter to your school principal suggesting ways to reduce bullying in your school.
Write a persuasive essay on the topic: Should School Uniforms Be Mandatory?
Write a letter to your friend telling him or her about a cultural event you recently attended.
Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The Effects of Technology on Our Society.
Write a story that ends with the sentence, ‘I learned that day that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.’

These are just a few of the many essay questions that WAEC may choose from in the 2023 BECE exam. It is important to prepare thoroughly for the exam by practicing writing essays on a variety of topics. Good luck!

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5. Report Writing. 6. Story Writing. From these various types of writing, 5 questions are set, and you're required to pick just one question and write on it in about 450 words. This one question carries 50 marks, and your score will depend on how well you perform in the following areas of assessme nt: 1.
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B. Paper 2: Essay and Letter Writing Poor essay structure and organization. A well-structured and organized essay is crucial for scoring high marks. Many secondary school students need help organizing their thoughts, which is one reason they fail English in WAEC. To improve your essay structure, follow these tips:
WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers
Why you need WAEC English Essay Past Questions and Answers. 1. It enlightens you on the scope of the exam. 2. You won't be in the dark about quest i ons to expect in the examination. 3. You won't need support rather you'll be confident in yourself. 4.
How To Answer Questions On Essay And Letter Writing In WAEC & NECO
1) Ideally, English language paper 1, section A allocates 50 minutes for you to choose just one (1) question among five questions set, be it an essay or letter writing topic, to prove your ability to communicate in writing. 2) The one question to be answered carries 50 marks, distributed thus; Content (substance) of your work and relevance to ...
How to Pass WAEC Literature-in-English
Write in simple English. Avoid very long sentences and unnecessarily difficult words. Go straight to the point and state exactly what you want to put across. Good grammar contributes to the clarity of expression. For that matter, learn to use verb forms correctly. Bad spelling can spoil your essay so avoid it as much as possible.
10 compulsory topics of English Language in WAEC
The top 10 compulsory topics of English language in the WAEC examination include: Summary writing. Essay writing. Lexis and structure: The Lexis as a major topic has some subtopics under its wings, they include: Vowels (Diphthongs and monophthongs) Consonants.
WAEC WASSCE ONLINE TUTORIAL. HOW TO WRITE A GOOD ESSAY ...
How to write an essay in an exam.How to write an essay.Essay Writing.Argumentative essay.Descriptive essay.Narrative Essay.Expository Essay.Letter Writing.WA...
How to write an excellent WAEC essay
I would use two things: a strategy and a template/steps. My strategy would be to answer any question that gives me an opportunity to argue. Luckily, out of the five (they used to be six in the late 80s and 90s) essay questions, four of them satisfy this condition. I bought the past questions book from Amab, a bookstore belonging to a friend in ...
WAEC English Lang. Scheme of Examination & Sample Questions
Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting. PAPER 1: Will consist of eighty multiple choice questions, all of which should be. answered within 1 hour for 40 marks. PAPER 2: Will consist of five essay topics and a passage each to test candidates'. comprehension and summary skills.
How English Essays Are Marked by WAEC and NECO
A good expression will make your essay sound. It is an act of making your points known in clear words and sentences. Don't be ambiguous. How to achieve good expression in WAEC essay writing Try not to use phrases such as: "In my opinion" Avoid redundant word phrases. Use linkers or linking words. Linking Words you can use in English ...
25 BECE English Language Essay Questions That WAEC Will Choose From in
Write a story that ends with the sentence, 'I learned that day that anything is possible if you believe in yourself.'. These are just a few of the many essay questions that WAEC may choose from in the 2023 BECE exam. It is important to prepare thoroughly for the exam by practicing writing essays on a variety of topics. Good luck!
HOW TO WRITE A WAEC STANDARD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH ESSAY IN 5 ...
HOW TO WRITE A WAEC STANDARD LITERATURE IN ENGLISH ESSAY
Rethinking English essay scores: The argument for ...
To get high scores at essay writing tests, learners of English as a foreign language need to focus on good arguments more than on complex grammar. The finding challenges conventional approaches to ...
How Biden's New Immigration Policy Works
President Biden's new immigration policy protects some 500,000 people who are married to U.S. citizens from deportation and gives them a pathway to citizenship.
How to Write a Good Descriptive Essay/Sample Essay/Waec Past Question
A descriptive essay gives a detailed description of the topic and paints a picture with words in the reader's mind. It could be about an object, place, perso...

WAEC English Marking Scheme (How SSCE Essays Are Marked)

Criteria used by WAEC or NECO examiners to mark English Essay:

How to write good content:

Organization

How to achieve great organisation in your English Essay

How to achieve good expression in WAEC essay writing

Linking Words you can use in English Essays are:

Mechanical Accuracy

Important tips to know about NECO and WAEC essays

Tips on how to prepare and Pass WAEC at one sitting

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How To Write A Good Essay In WAEC and NECO

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+ MAY/JUN. WASSCE 2008

“Top Reasons Why Students Fail English in WAEC: How to Avoid Them and Make an A Grade

Table of Contents

Common Mistakes Students Make in Each Section & How to Avoid Them

Misinterpreting questions

Time management issues

B. Paper 2: Essay and Letter Writing

Weak argument development and lack of supporting details

Incorrect grammar, punctuation, and spelling

Inappropriate tone and style in formal letters

C. Paper 3: Test of Orals

Poor pronunciation and intonation

Limited understanding of stress patterns

Additional Factors Contributing to Why Students Fail English in WAEC

B. Lack of motivation and self-confidence

C. Exam Anxiety

How Edubaloo Can Help Improve English Language Performance in WAEC

Frequently Asked Questions on Why Students Fail English in WAEC

How can I improve my vocabulary and grammar for the WAEC English exam?

What are some tips for effective essay writing in the WAEC English exam?

How can I overcome exam anxiety during the WAEC English exam?

How can I improve my listening and speaking skills for the WAEC English oral test?

Are any resources or tools available to help me prepare for the WAEC English exam?

Can poor time management during the exam lead to WAEC English exam failing?

Blessing Olaoye

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How To Answer Questions on Essay and Letter Writing In WAEC & NECO – Tips and Strategies

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How To Count The Number of Words In Essay and Letter Writing In WAEC & NECO Exam

Guidelines on Essay and Letter Writing – Tips and Strategies

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How to Pass WAEC Literature-in-English

1. Start Your Preparations Early

2. Cover All the Sections of the Literature Syllabus

3. Participate in Lively Group Discussions

4. Educate Yourself on How WAEC Set Their Questions

5. Stay On Point

6. Expression Matters

7. Have a Good Knowledge of Literary Terms

8. Additional Tips to Pass WAEC Literature

Ralph Nyadzi

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