Weakness and Remedies

The observed weaknesses of the candidates this year include:

• identify the diagrams especially the pooter, sweep net and quadrat;
• inability to state the functions of the pooter, sweep net and quadrat;
• inability to explain how the pooter, sweep net and quadrat are used;
• wrong spellings of biological names, terms, structure and features;
• use of poor grammar to express explanation of terms;
• grammatical errors in the expression of facts in most answers;
• inability to name some labelled parts;
• inability to state the structural adaptations of butterfly.

The following remedies were proffered to overcome the weaknesses:

• candidates should cover the syllabus before taking the examinations;

-     candidates should improve on their written English;
-     candidates should try as much as possible to spell properly;
-     candidates should read and understand a question properly before attempting it;
-     candidates should engage in practical activities so as to understand some practical topics better;
-     candidates should study past questions and Chief Examiner’s Report;

• candidates should avoid copying answers;
• candidates should study structures on organisms and learn their functions so as to be able to answer adaptation questions;
• the general principles and terms used in Biology should be studied with practical examples.