Observed Weaknesses of candidates include:
- poor manipulation of arithmetic processes;
- Inability to convert units correctly e.g length in millimeter to meter; area in cm2 to m2 etc;
- inadequate grasp of many basic concepts in physics;
- inability to interpret graphical representation of physical quantities;
- inability to relate acquired knowledge to real life situations;
- failure to correctly distinguish between static and kinetic friction;.
- inability to give acceptable description of laboratory experiment
- poor/incomplete rendering of laws and definitions;
- not realizing that diagrams are as important as the explanations;
- difficulty in solving problems involving power of 10 (Standard forms);
- inability to differentiate between objects undergoing a certain type of motion and when these objects are actually in motion.
- language problem hence they could not understand the demands of some questions nor were they able to express themselves clearly.
(2) The suggested remedies were as follows:
- motivation of both teachers and students;
- ensuring adequate provision of teaching and learning materials in schools
- students to expend their energy studying every aspect of the syllabus
- teachers to emphasis the understanding of basic principles of physics
- teachers to stress salient points in the definition of laws and terms.
- WAEC, to derecognize schools without qualified teachers and well equipped laboratory.
- teachers should endeavour to attend coordination meetings so as to know areas to emphasize when stating laws.
- government /private schools to recruit qualified physics teachers
- teachers to stress to candidates how to make deductions from graphs.
