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.