The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) Biology Syllabus is drawn up from the Biology Teaching Curricula of the member countries of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC).

The international syllabus should be used in conjunction with the respective teaching syllabuses where the candidates are domiciled.

The Biology Syllabus is divided into three sections, A, B, and C. Section A is for all candidates. Section B is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Section C is for candidates in Nigeria.

 

 WASSCE / WAEC Biology Syllabus Aims and Objectives

This Elective Biology syllabus is designed to assess candidates on the following areas below:

1. Understanding of the structure and functions of living organisms as well as appreciation of nature;

1. Acquisition of adequate laboratory and field skills in order to carry out and evaluate experiments and projects in Biology;

1. Acquisition of necessary scientific skills for example observing, classifying and interpreting biological data;

1. Relevant knowledge in Biology, needed for future advanced studies in biological science;

1. Acquisition of scientific attitudes for problem solving;

1. Ability to apply biological principles in everyday life in matters that affect personal, social, environmental, community health and economic problems.

Examination Scheme

There will be two papers, Paper 1/3 and Paper 2, both of which must be taken with a total score of 200 marks.

Paper 1

This paper will be a practical test (for school candidates only) lasting 2 hours and consisting of three parts I, II and III. The paper will carry a total score of 80 marks. Candidates will be expected to answer all the questions in part I and in addition one question from either part II or III.

Part I

This part will consist of two compulsory questions drawn from Section A of the Syllabus each carrying 25 marks.

Part II

This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. It will consist of one question drawn from section B of the Syllabus, carrying 30 marks.

Part III

This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of one question drawn from Section C of the Syllabus, carrying 30 marks.

Paper 2

This paper will consist of two sections A and B, lasting 2½ hours.

Section A

This section will consist of 60 multiple-choice objective questions drawn from Section A of the Syllabus. It will carry 60 marks and last for one hour.

Section B

This section will consist of eight (8) essay questions drawn from all the sections of the syllabus. The section will consist of three parts : I, II and III candidates will be expected to answer three questions in 1½ hours.

Taking two questions from part I and one question from either part II or III. Each question will carry 20 marks. The total score will be 60 marks.

Part I

This part will consist of four questions drawn from Section A of the Syllabus.

Candidates are expected to answer two questions from this part.

Part II

This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra-Leone and The Gambia. It will consist of two questions drawn from Section B of the Syllabus. Each question carries 20 marks. Candidates will be expected to answer one question from this part.

Part III

This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of two questions drawn from Section C of the Syllabus, each question carries 20 marks. Candidates will be expected to answer one question from this part.

Paper 3

This paper which is for private candidates only, will be a Test of Practical Work lasting 2 hours and carrying 80 marks.

The paper will consist of three parts, I, II and III.

Candidates will be expected to answer all the questions in part I and in addition, all the questions in either part II or part III.

Part I

This part will consist of questions drawn from section A of the Syllabus carrying a total of 50 marks.

Part II

This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra-Leone and The Gambia. It will consist of questions drawn from section B of the Syllabus carrying a total of 30 marks.

Part III

This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of questions drawn from section C of the Syllabus carrying a total of 30 marks.

 Continuous  Assessment

The continuous assessment component shall form 30% of the total marks for the assessment of candidates.

Details of the input into the continuous assessment shall be given by the Council.

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West African Senior School Certificate Examination

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a type of standardized test in West Africa. It is administered by the West African Examinations Council. It is only offered to candidates residing in Anglophone West African countries. The academic school-leaving qualification awarded upon successful completion of the exams is the West African Senior School Certificate (WASSCE).

 

Contents

• 1 The examinations

• 2 Subjects

• 3 WAEC grading system 1992

• 4 WAEC grading system

• 5 Official guideline for university admission

  • 5.1 Nigeria

  • 5.2 United Kingdom

• 6 References and footnotes

• 7 External links

 

The examinations

There are two different types of the examination:

• WASSCE (November/December) - Also known as the General Certificate Examinations (GCE), by its former name; all students from private and public schools are allowed to take this examination, and uniforms are not compulsory. However, other rules and regulations are applied on every candidate. This examination is only offered during the autumn season, and the results are available by December.It is also called private examinations of which now its compulsory to register biometrically.

• WASSCE (May/June) - Also known as the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), by its former name; this examination is made for all private and public schools in West Africa. They must also wear distinctive uniforms as described in the standards set by the school boards. This examination is offered during the summer (May to June), and the results are available by August.

Subjects

The following subjects are offered for West African Senior School Certificate Examination candidates:[1]

• Mathematics

• Further Mathematics (Elective Mathematics)

• Biology

• Government

• Chemistry

• Accounting

• Physics

• Geography

• Technical Drawing

• English Language

• English Literature

• Fine Art

• Music

• French

• Commerce

• Economics

• Auto Mechanics

• Book keeping

Local Languages in Ghana:[2]

• Dagaare

• Dagbani

• Dangme

• Ewe

• Ga

• Gonja

• Kasem

• Nzema

• Twi (Akuapem)

• Twi (Asante)

• Hausa Language

• Ibo Language

• Yoruba Language

• Edo

• Government

• Civic Education

WAEC grading system

Grades              Definition                Interpretation            Equivalent

A1                          Excellent                       75% - 100%                            1

A2                          Very Good                    70% -  74%                             2

A3                          Good                            65% -  69%                             3

C4                          Credit                           60%-   64%                             4

C5                          Credit                           55% -  59%                             5

C6                          Credit                           50% -  54%                             6

P7                           Pass                             45% -   49%                             7

P8                           Pass                             40% -   44%                             8

F9                           Fail                                 0% -  39%                             9

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Official guideline for university admission

Candidates are advised that they will be required to satisfy not only the university's general entrance requirements but also the requirements of the particular faculty which they wish to enter and that these requirements vary considerably. Particulars of entrance requirements and exemption regulations may be obtained from the universities or professional bodies concerned.

Nigeria

Students who choose to study in Nigerian universities are required to sit for the entrance examinations administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

United Kingdom

Universities in the United Kingdom may in addition, require candidates to complete a one-year foundation course or acceptable alternative.[3]

References and footnotes

1. ​

• "Senior Secondary School Certificate Examinations", http://www.waecnigeria.org/

• ​

• "WASSCE", http://www.ghanawaec.org/Exams/WASSCE.aspx

• ​

1. "Guidelines for university entrance", http://www.waecnigeria.org/exams_3.htm.

External links

• Waec time table

• Waec time table

• May June WASSCE Syllabus page

• WAEC May June Schemes for All Subjects

• Waec Syllabus

• Waec Past Questions Practice

• WASSCE / WAEC Past Questions

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