In Question 2a, candidates were able to enumerate the reasons for preserving foods, such as to prevent wastage, to reduce post-harvest losses, ensure food security, to prevent spoilage etc. Majority of them even gave more answers than required. Also, candidates performed brilliantly in 2b where they stated the methods of food preservation and their examples. However, in 2c candidates were unable to state the principles of food preservation as they seemed to confuse principles of food preservation - which include destruction of micro-organisms, arrest of actions of food enzymes and micro-organisms - with reasons for preserving foods and methods of foods preservation. Therefore the answers given in 2c consisted of those already stated in 2a and 2b and this turned out to be one of the candidates’ weaknesses.