In line with the data obtained from the verified handle of WAEC, the following were identified as the reasons why candidates fail 2019 literature in English WAEC – paper 2. The peculiar reasons were picked after thorough checking of the student’s weak point. This information is still very valid and applicable even till today.
Candidate’s Weakness
The Chief Examiners identified the following as some of the weaknesses of the candidates:
- Inability to meet the demands of the questions.
- Shallow knowledge/understanding of set texts.
- Wrong interpretation of questions.
- Violation of rubrics.
- Little or no knowledge of literary appreciation.
- Illegible handwriting.
- Writing of irrelevancies.
- Inability to express answers in good English.
- Dependency on summarized texts.
Suggested Remedies
To remedy the observed weaknesses, the Chief Examiners recommended that:
- Candidates should buy and read the set texts before examination.
- Candidates should not depend on key points and summary notes alone.
- Candidates should always read instructions before they start answering questions.
- Competent teachers should be employed to teach Literature-in-English.
- Teachers should attend workshops and seminars occasionally to familiarize themselves with the demands of the subject.
Candidate’s Strength
The Chief Examiners reported that some candidates demonstrated good knowledge of the set texts. This was evident in their references to the texts in their answers. Also, few of the candidates possessed the language skill to organize their thoughts in the required manner.
