There may be many reasons that could have been said to be caused of the student’s failure in 2017 biology, however, a reliable information from WAEC official has enumerated peculiar Reasons Why Candidates Fail 2017 Biology WAEC Practical. Below are the reasons:

  1. inability to answer questions on adaptation, taxonomy and ecology properly;
  2. poor spelling of technical terms and one-word answers;
  3. inability to correspond the answers on comparison of specimens;
  4. inability to title specimens correctly;
  5. inability to make a good diagram of specimen C (adult butterfly)
  6. not including the magnification of the diagram;
  7. making diagrams without the correct specification;
  8. labeling with guidelines that are not ruled;
  9. inability to distinguish between dorsal and ventral view;
  10. inability to classify specimens F (carrot) and G (Irish potato) as either stem tuber or root tuber;
  11. starting taxonomical names with small letters;

WAEC Recommendations by the Chief Examiner

The following remedies were proffered to overcome the weaknesses:

  1. students should be made to draw often in class, and be taught the basic skills of drawing;
  2. students should learn to use rulers to rule guidelines for labels;
  3. teachers should drill students on spellings so as to improve on their spelling of technical terms;
  4. students should be taught how to answer adaptation questions;
  5. students should write their answers themselves without external help;
  6. Chief Examiners’ Report should be made available to students and compulsory for teachers to read;
  7. teachers should attend seminars and workshops often;
  8. teachers should be encouraged to attend WAEC coordination and marking exercise.

Observed Candidates’ Strength

The observed strengths of the candidates include:

  1. writing answers neatly and clearly;
  2. ability to answer the three questions required of them;
  3. ability to follow the instructions of the questions;
  4. ability to label the diagrams correctly;
  5. some candidates were able to state the differences between specimens C (Adult butterfly) and D (Caterpillar);
  6. some candidates were able to state the differences between specimens C (Adult butterfly) and E (Grasshopper);
  7. ability to state the relationship between specimens C (Adult butterfly) and D (Caterpillar);
  8. ability to draw specimen R(Earthworm) perfectly;
  9. ability to name the habitat of specimen R (Earthworm);
  10. ability to answer questions on economic importance

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