MORE DETAILED STEPS FOR PASSING WAEC/NECO EXAMS (1)

STEP A

KNOW YOUR SYLLABUS

You should know the topics to be covered as well as the marks and time allowed for each paper (Theory, Objective, Practicals & Oral). You must know the level of knowledge and technique expected of each candidate (usually stated in the syllabus for each subject). You must also know the list of possible misconduct that students are warned about (we have already provided a write-up on this). You must also know the format of compulsory questions and their mark allocations. Above all you must prepare intelligently against questions.

STEP B

GET THE RELEVANT TEXTBOOKS/MATERIALS

The syllabus usually have a list of recommended texts but the emphasis and illustrations may not be equal in the various textbooks available. When the exams are still many months away it is recommended that candidates use at least two textbooks for each subject for better overall understanding, but since the cost of textbooks is high on the purchasing power of most candidates, a candidate who cannot buy all books can buy some and borrow others.

A few weeks to the exam however, the relevant materials for students are revision notes

(Red Notes or Salvation Lines) or low-cost revision notes available for all subjects + key point booklets.

STEP C

COVER THE GIVEN SYLLABUS

As it has been stated in step “A” above, every examination has its own syllabus. Every topic in the syllabus should be treated with as much importance as stated. Examiners have the liberty to set questions from any topics they like regardless of how difficult or simple such a topicS may be considered by candidates. For example, examiners can decide to bring the simplest questions from those topics generally considered to be difficult. Some candidates out of ill preparation do what they call “PERMING” or “ODU” in which they select only topics they consider to be likely examination questions and read only same. Many candidates who scream aloud or walkout during GCE Examinations at the start of a paper are mostly victims of “PERMING”.

It is recommended that candidates preparing for WAEC /NECO Examinations should always attempt to cover all topics listed in the syllabus. This can guarantee at least an average grade no matter how difficult the examination may look. It is not possible for you not to be familiar with at least half of the questions if you effectively covered your syllabus. And if you can answer at least half of the questions well and attempt the other half scantily, you can be sure of an average pass mark. Permutation or preparation of “ODU” tables is usually good for emergency situations or for JAMB-type of exams only

STEP D

READ FOR UNDERSTANDING

Some candidates find out that despite the fact that they spend more time reading than their colleagues when results are released they do not perform as well as those who supposedly spent lesser time reading. This has made some people to erroneously conclude that they are either under a spell or not academically gifted and as such lose hope of being academically successful.

But the truth is that there is a big difference between reading for understanding and reading for leisure or for the sake of it. Those who spend more hours reading may actually be reading for the sake of seemingly reading for a long time or for leisure.On the other hand those who spend lesser hours reading purely for understanding might do better. Reading for understanding requires full concentration of the mind and body. The environment must be conducive for reading and the reader should not be bothered much with the volume read but with volume understood. Too many candidates preparing for examinations read as if they are reading for pleasure. They either read on the bed, inside buses or time themselves to finish a particular topic or text within a specific time limit. Under such reading conditions, no extra effort is made to understand difficult or complex topics and diagrams, charts or figures. A candidate reading a newspaper or a magazine could not be said to reading for understanding.

It is recommended that in preparing for examination. Reading should be done only in the most conducive environment and time. Read only when the brain and body are relaxed with no tension hanging on them. Let the mind be tuned to reading. Jotting or underlining of crucial points should be made The emphasis should be on how much is understood and not how much is read. Do not time yourself as to when you must finish a topic. Instead put more effort in ensuring you understand whatever is covered.