The best reasons are drawn from the prevalent the endemic and peculiar weaknesses from the students, in line with this, the following were observed as the leading reasons why candidates fail 2014 physics WAEC. These reasons remain valid and very useful for every prospective candidate for this exam [WAEC] at all time, therefore, if you are one, carefully read through and note the reasons.
Candidates weaknesses
Observed weaknesses of candidates include:
- poor manipulation of arithmetic processes
- Inability to convert units correctly e.g., length in millimeter to meter; area in cm2 to m2 etc
- inadequate grasp of many basic concepts in physics
- inability to interpret graphical representation of physical quantities
- inability to relate acquired knowledge to real life situations
- failure to correctly distinguish between static and kinetic friction
- inability to give acceptable description of laboratory experiment poor/incomplete rendering of laws and definitions
- not realizing that diagrams are as important as the explanations
- difficulty in solving problems involving power of 10 (Standard forms)
- inability to differentiate between objects undergoing a certain type of motion and when these objects are actually in motion
- language problem hence they could not understand the demands of some questions nor were they able to express themselves clearly
Suggested Remedies
The suggested remedies were as follows:
- motivation of both teachers and students;
- ensuring adequate provision of teaching and learning materials in schools
- students to expend their energy studying every aspect of the syllabus
- teachers to emphasis the understanding of basic principles of physics
- teachers to stress salient points in the definition of laws and terms.
- WAEC, to derecognize schools without qualified teachers and well-equipped laboratory,
- teachers should endeavour to attend coordination meetings so as to know areas to emphasize when
- stating laws.
- government /private schools to recruit qualified physics teachers
- teachers to stress to candidates how to make deductions from graphs.
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