To be prepared for the WAEC exam, you should review the material covered in the subject’s official curriculum. The exam’s goals, outline, and structure are all included.
You can’t pass the examination without first mastering the material included on the Mathematics curriculum. If you use this, you’ll have a good idea of what to read about. There are also reminders of essential ideas that you should study carefully.
Studying for a math test without consulting the course outline is like trying to cultivate a crop without any tools. You will fail to accomplish anything.
Be sure to start your exam preparations using the course outline.
The West African Examination Council’s mathematics curriculum and suggested texts are posted here (WAEC).
Do not hesitate to post questions or comments below.
Contents
The goal of the WAEC math curriculum
The goals of the test are to see if candidates can:
math skills and the ability to do computations; an understanding of math concepts and how they relate to learning business skills for everyday life in a global world; the ability to translate problems into mathematical language and solve them using the right methods; the ability to be accurate to a degree that fits the problem at hand; and the ability to think in a way that is logical, abstract, and precise.
This syllabus isn’t meant to be used as a guide for teaching. Teachers are told to do this by following their own National teaching syllabuses or curricula.
Examination Scheme
There will be two tests, Papers 1 and 2, and you must take both of them.
Paper 1 will have 50 multiple-choice, objective questions from the common parts of the curriculum. You will have 1 1/2 hours to answer these questions for 50 marks.
Paper 2 will have 13 essay questions in two parts, A and B, and you will have 2 1/2 hours to answer them for 100 points.
The candidates will have to answer a total of ten questions.
Section A will have five simple, required questions that are worth a total of 40 points.
The questions will come from the most important parts of the curriculum.
In Section B, there will be eight questions that are longer and harder.
There will be up to two questions that come from parts of the curriculum that may not be unique to the candidates’ home countries.
For 60 marks, candidates will have to answer five questions.
WAEC Mathematical Exam Outline
The topics, contents, and notes are meant to give you an idea of what kinds of questions will be asked.
The notes should not be thought of as a complete list of examples or limits.
Number and How to Write It
Number bases
Fractions, decimals, and rough estimates in modular arithmetic
Indices
Logarithms
Order and Sequence
Sets
Using your head
Positive and negative whole numbers are called rational numbers.
Surds (Radicals) (Radicals)
Matrixes and Factors
Rates, Ratios, and Proportions
Percentages
Difference in Financial Math
Algebraic Processes
Algebraic expressions
Algebraic expressions that are easy to work with
The Answer to Linear Equations
Subject Change in a Formula or Relation
Quadratic Equations
Graphs of functions that are both linear and quadratic.
Inequalities in a line
Fractions in Algebra
Roles and connections
How to Measure Lengths and Diameters
Areas
Volumes
Geometry of Planes
Angles and points where two parallel lines meet.
Polygons and triangles.
Circles
Construction \sLoci
Coordinates of a straight line in geometry
The idea behind the x-y plane.
Points on the x-y plane and their coordinates
Trigonometry
An angle’s sine, cosine, and tangent.
Angles of height and low point
Bearings
Introductory Calculus
Algebraic functions that can be differentiated.
Putting together simple math functions
Statistics and Probability
Probability Vectors and Transformation in the Cartesian Plane WAEC Mathematics Units
The following units and their symbols should be known by the candidates.
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Length 1000 millimetres (mm) = 100 centimetres (cm) = 1 metre (m).
1000 metres = 1 kilometre (km)
Area 10,000 square metres (m2) = 1 hectare (ha)
One liter is equal to 1000 cubic centimeters (cm3) (l)
Mass 1000 milligrammes (mg) = 1 gramme (g)
1000 grammes (g) = 1 kilogramme ( kg )
1000 ogrammes (kg) = 1 tonne.
Currencies
The Gambia – 100 bututs (b) = 1 Dalasi (D)
Ghana – 100 Ghana pesewas (Gp) = 1 Ghana Cedi (GH¢)
Liberia: 1 Liberian Dollar = 100 cents (c) (LD)
Nigeria – 100 kobo (k) = 1 Naira (N)
Sierra Leone – 100 cents (c) = 1 Leone (Le)
100 pence (p) = 1 pound (£) in the UK.
USA – 100 cents (c) = 1 dollar ($)
French 100 centimes (c) is equal to 1 franc (F) (fr)
We will explain any other units that are used.
Information on the WAEC Exam
Use of tables for math and statistics
In the exam room, you can use math and statistics tables that have been published or approved by WAEC.
When a question doesn’t say how accurate it needs to be, the level of accuracy expected is the level that can be found in the math tables.
How to Use a Calculator
Calculators that can’t be programmed, are quiet, and don’t have a cord can be used.
The calculators must not, however, be able to print, receive, or send any information.
There can’t be any phones, with or without calculators.
The rest of the story
Candidates should bring things like rulers, compass pairs, protractors, set squares, etc., that are needed for exams on the subject.
They won’t be able to borrow these instruments or anything else from other test takers in the testing room.
For any paper that needs it, graph paper with 2mm squares will be available.
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Disclaimer
Even though 4 (1) and 4 (2) say that tables and/or calculators can be used, it is important to note that some questions may not let you use them.
WAEC Textbooks for Math
Here is a list of the math books that WAEC recommends;
Adelodun A. A. (2000). Distinction in Mathematics: A Comprehensive Revision Text (3rd Edition) Ado –Ekiti: FNPL.
Anyebe, J. A. B. (1998). Basic Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools and Remedial Students in Higher Institutions.
J. B. Channon, Jr. A. M. Smith (2001) Longman published New General Mathematics for West Africa SSS 1–3: Lagos.
David –Osuagwu, M., et al. (2000). New School Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools.
Egbe. E et al (2000) Africana FIRST Publishers, Onitsha, Further Mathematics.
Ibude, S. O. et al (2003) LINCEL Publishers has books on algebra and calculus for schools and colleges.
Tuttuh = Adegun M. R. et al.