Mathematics unlike other subjects is time consuming and calls for ultimate concentration when answering the paper, because, a little unwarranted adjustment will render the work inaccurate. It is therefore needful to hint on the weaknesses or reasons why candidates fail Mathematics 2017 WAEC. This information will be of great insight to prospective candidates and mathematics instructors.
Candidates’ Weakness
The Chief Examiner observed that Candidates’ exhibited significant weakness in the following areas:
- Translation of word problems into Mathematical Expressions and Diagrams.
- Commercial Arithmetic
- Probability
- Geometry – Circle Theorems and Plane Geometry
- Adherence to rubrics of questions
- Reading and answering questions from graphs
- Approximations
- Measures of Dispersion – Inter – quartile Range
- Rates and Proportion
Suggested Remedies from the Council
The remedies suggested by the Chief Examiner are summarized as follows:
Candidates’ should be encouraged to read questions carefully so as to understand its demand before attempting it.
- Teachers should endeavour to use interactive method of teaching.
- Teachers should give more worked problems during class lesson.
- Teachers and Candidates’ were encouraged to put in more effort to the teaching and learning of Geometry and Commercial Arithmetic.
- Teachers as well as Candidates’ are encouraged to cover the syllabus while preparing for examination for improved performance.
- Qualified Mathematics Teachers should be engaged to teach the subject.
- Teachers were encouraged to participate in the WASSCE main coordination as this would help improve on their teaching skills.
Candidates’ Strengths
The Chief Examiner reported that, there are a lot of improvement this year which include the following areas
- Set Theory
- Arithmetic Progression (A.R)
- Indices and Logarithms
- Algebraic Fractions
- Completing the Squares to solve Quadratic Equations
- Binary Operations
- Matrices
- Trigonometry
- Calculation of Mean and Standard Deviation.
