As a beginner, the WAEC examination can feel overwhelming, especially if you haven't participated before or don't know much about it.
As an experienced student, I understand what it feels like for a beginner. I know you have many things to learn, and some of these might be causing you concern as you're eager to understand them all. If I am not mistaken, you might be anxious about questions like the following:
- How do I register for a WAEC examination?
- What are the requirements to register for the WAEC examination?
- How do I pass my WAEC examination?
These are just a few of the questions that typically come to mind. It's completely normal to have such thoughts. I remember feeling very anxious when I was enrolled for my WAEC examination.
But there's no need to be afraid anymore because this article covers everything you need to know about WAEC registration. In this article, you will learn how to prepare for the WAEC examination, the right materials to use to pass the examination, as well as all the errors you need to avoid when writing the examination.
How to Start Preparing for the WAEC Examination:
If you are planning to take the WAEC examination, you need to know where and how to start. You should be aware of the first and last steps you need to take. Understanding these steps will help you succeed and avoid any pitfalls. That's why I'm here to guide you through the process. Below are the step-by-step instructions that will assist you.
1. Choose Your Course:
The first thing you need to do is select a course. You should choose the course you want to study when you get to higher institutions. To choose a course, you need to identify your strengths. You can determine this based on your performance in the subjects you are studying at your secondary school.
For a good start, students are advised to choose a course they excel in at the early stages of the Senior Secondary School (SSS 1) level. This will help you focus more on particular subjects that you excel in rather than trying to excel in everything at once.
There are three main departments at the secondary level: the Science Department, the Art Department, and the Social Sciences Department. These are where you can choose your course. To find out the correct subjects for your course, refer to this article: subject combination for all courses and departments.
For example, a student who excels in mathematics, physics, and chemistry is automatically considered a good fit for engineering courses like electrical or chemical engineering, while one who excels in economics, mathematics, and commerce will also be considered a good fit for accounting.
2. Plan Your Enrollment Fee:
The enrollment fee is the money you need to pay for the registration and other expenses during that period. You need to plan and prepare your WAEC enrollment fee in advance. Ideally, the money for your payment should be available at least two months before the registration.
3. Choose an Examination Type:
Keep in mind that there are two major types of WAEC examinations. Make sure you know which one you need. For example, WAEC conducts examinations for both school and private candidates. School candidates are for students who are completing their secondary school level, while private candidates are for those who have participated in WAEC before. To learn more about this topic, please refer to this article: type of WAEC examination. In this article, you will learn how to register, the fees involved, and the examination period.
4. Enroll in Your Course:
Students can enroll as internal or external candidates. The difference between the two is as follows: internal candidates are students from the school, while external candidates are students from another school or those who have participated in the GCE examination but did not succeed.
To enroll in a WAEC course, follow these steps:
- Meet with the school administrator.
- Obtain a form from the school administrator.
- Fill out the form and submit it to the administrator.
- Make your payment.
5. Get Your WAEC Syllabus and Recommended Textbooks:
You need to obtain all the WAEC syllabi related to the course you have enrolled in. The WAEC syllabus is essential for students. With the aid of the syllabus provided by the WAEC management, students can easily identify the topics they need to study before the examination day. Each syllabus includes all the recommended textbooks you need to use for your studies to become familiar with the way WAEC sets examinations.
6. Get WAEC Past Questions:
Previous questions set by WAEC will help you prepare for your upcoming WAEC examination. Past questions have helped millions of students and continue to do so. Since the WAEC board does not have enough fresh questions to set, they are likely to use old questions. Therefore, it's important to study them. To ensure you can pass your examination with confidence, it's advisable to focus on the past five years' questions.
There are numerous places where you can obtain past questions. You can purchase them as hard copies from any bookstore near you or obtain them as soft copies. I recommend visiting the WAEC official website at WAEC eLearning to access everything you need to get started. There are plenty of subjects and their past questions available on the website.
If you need assistance finding the best place to get WAEC past questions, please don't hesitate to contact me or reach out via the comment section.
7. Start Early:
There's a proverb that says, "early to bed, early to rise." The earlier you start studying, the better. When you start studying early, you will be able to cover all the topics you need to pass your examination. It's important to cover all the basic topics because that's where WAEC will set the questions for the examination. One important reason to start early is that it will help you gain a thorough understanding of how WAEC sets its examinations and enable you to cover the syllabus on time.
8. Avoid Procrastination:
Putting off studying until later can be detrimental to your academic performance. Avoid procrastination if you want to pass your examination with flying colors. Always ensure your "yes" means "yes" and your "no" means "no."
9. Avoid Examination Malpractice:
To prevent WAEC from canceling or withholding your results, you must avoid participating in or engaging in examination malpractice. Never consider paying for exam leaks because even the sources you trust may provide incorrect answers. You are better off studying on your own rather than relying on others to cheat for you.
Another reason why it's important not to depend on malpractice is that the WAEC management now has measures in place.