The standard of the paper compared favourably with those of the previous years. The questions were syllabic and well framed in simple comprehensible language. The questions and the rubrics were unambiguous. The paper tested the candidates in the following areas:
- Familiarity with the use of common laboratory apparatus;
- Ability to read/take measurement;
- Ability to interpret and comply with instructions;
- Knowledge of how to record data in acceptable form (composite table);
- Ability to manipulate/analyse data, making deductions from such data;
- Understanding of the theories behind an experiment.
The marking scheme was quite clear and detailed.
The candidates’ population of 137,127 recorded a raw mean score of 21 with a standard deviation of 10.68 indicating a poorer performance than in the November/December 2008 WASSCE with a raw mean score of 23 and a standard deviation of 11.49 was recorded with a candidature of 152,599.
