CANDIDATES’ WEAKNESSES
The observed weaknesses of the candidates include:
- inability to answer questions on adaptation, taxonomy and ecology properly;
- poor spelling of technical terms and one-word answers;
- inability to correspond the answers on comparison of specimens;
- inability to title specimens correctly;
- inability to make a good diagram of specimen C (adult butterfly)
- not including the magnification of the diagram;
- making diagrams without the correct specification;
- labeling with guidelines that are not ruled;
- inability to distinguish between dorsal and ventral view;
- inability to classify specimens F (carrot) and G (Irish potato )as either stem tuber or root tuber;
- starting taxonomical names with small letters;
The following remedies were proffered to overcome the weaknesses:
- students should be made to draw often in class, and be taught the basic skills of drawing;
- students should learn to use rulers to rule guidelines for labels;
- teachers should drill students on spellings so as to improve on their spelling of technical terms;
- students should be taught how to answer adaptation questions;
- students should write their answers themselves without external help;
- Chief Examiners’ Report should be made available to students and compulsory for teachers to read;
- teachers should attend seminars and workshops often;
- teachers should be encouraged to attend WAEC coordination and marking exercise.