WAEC PRACTICAL SPECIMENS 2023

WAEC PRACTICAL SPECIMENS 2023: Are you a student preparing for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) practical examinations for 2023? If so, you should be aware of the importance of the valuable specimens. This article will discuss everything you need to know about the WAEC practical specimens for 2023, including the format, subjects, and tips for success.

Introduction

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is a regional examination body that conducts examinations in English-speaking West African countries. The council was established in 1952, and its examinations are recognized internationally, serving as a yardstick for educational standards in the sub-region. A critical aspect of the WAEC examinations is the practical specimens, which are used to test candidates’ practical knowledge and skills.

What are WAEC practical specimens?

WAEC practical specimens refer to the practical items that candidates must identify, describe, and manipulate during the practical examinations. The specimens are typically related to the subjects being tested and are designed to test the practical skills of the candidates. The specimens can include biological specimens, chemicals, apparatus, and other items.

Importance of WAEC practical specimens

WAEC practical specimens are essential for several reasons:

1. They help test candidates’ practical skills, an essential part of education.
2. They help ensure that candidates understand the subjects being tested, as the specimens are usually related to the subject matter.
3. They help standardize the examination process; all candidates must identify and manipulate identical specimens.

Subjects that require WAEC practical specimens

Several subjects require WAEC practical specimens, including:

1. Biology
2. Chemistry
3. Physics
4. Agricultural Science
5. Further Mathematics
6. Home Management
7. Food and Nutrition
8. Clothing and Textiles
9. Visual Arts

CHEMISTRY SPECIMEN:

1. Great care should be taken to ensure that the information given in the items 2 and 3 below does not reach the candidate either directly or indirectly before the examination.

1. In addition to the fittings and reagents normally found in a chemistry laboratory, the following apparatus and materials will be required by each candidate:

(a) One burette of 50 cm3 capacity;

(b) One pipette, either 20 cm3 or 25 cm3. (All candidates at one centre must use pipettes of the same volume. These should be clean and free from grease)

(c) The usual apparatus for titration;

(d) The usual apparatus and reagents for qualitative work including the following with all reagents appropriately labelled;
(i) Dilute sodium hydroxide solution;
(ii) Dilute hydrochloric acid;
(iii) Dilute trioxonitrate
(V) Acid;
(iv) Silver trioxonitrate
(V) Solution;
(v) Acidified potassium dichromate solution;
(vi) Aqueous ammonia;
(vii) Lime water;
(viii) Red and blue litmus paper
(ix) Dilute tetraoxosulphate (VI) acid;
(x) Fehlings solution A & B.

(e) Spatula;

(f) Filtration apparatus;

(g) One beaker

(h) One boiling tube;

(i) Four test tubes;

(j) Methyl orange as indicator;

(k) Glass rod;

(l) Wash bottle containing distilled/deionized water;

(m) Burning splint;

(n) Watch glass;

(o) Bunsen burner/source of heat;

(p) Droppers;

(q) Mathematical table/calculator.

1. Each candidate should be supplied with the following, where ‘n’ is the candidiate’s serial number

(a) 150 cm3 of a solution of HCl in a corked flask or bottle labelled ‘An’. These should all be the same containing 8.5 cm3 of concentrated HCl per dm3 of solution.

(b) 150 cm3 of Na2CO3.10 H2O in a corked flask or bottle labelled ‘Bn’. These should all be the same containing 5.0 g of the hydrated salt per dm3 of solution.

(c) One spatulaful of glucose in a specimen bottle labelled ‘Cn’. This must be the same for all candidates.

(d) One spatulaful of zinc oxide powder in a specimen bottle labelled ‘Dn’. This must be same for all candidate.

 

BIOLOGY SPECIMEN:

Specimen A – Mature fresh eggs of catfish

Specimen B – Fresh egg of domestic fowl (raw, with shell intact)

Specimen C – Picture/model/chart of uterus containing a foetus

Specimen D – Longitudinal section of ovary of pride of Barbados flower

Specimen E – leaf of pride of Barbados flower

Specimen F – Panicum plant/Guinea grass (whole plant)

Specimen G – Cocoyam plant/Caladium plant (whole plant)

Specimen H – Corm of cocoyam

Specimen J – Dry humus in a beaker

Specimen K – Moist humus in a beaker

Specimen L – Ripe orange fruit (whole)

Specimen M – Longitudinal section of coconut fruit

Specimen N – Longitudinal section of fresh chilli pepper fruit.

(b) it is essential that each candidate should be provided with the following materials;

I. hand lens/magnifying lens;

II. scalpel/razor blade/knife;

III. pair of forceps;

IV. hand gloves;

V. spatula;

VI. Petri dish;

VII. Fehling’s solutions A and B;

VIII. Iodine solution.

 

---

THE BELOW SPECIMENS WILL BE UPDATED WHEN AVAILABLE

---

PHYSICS SPECIMEN:

ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SPECIMEN:

AGRICULTURAL SPECIMEN:

COMPUTER STUDIES SPECIMEN:

DATA PROCESSING SPECIMEN:

 

WILL BE POSTED WHEN AVAILABLE

KINDLY WAIT FOR THEM

How are WAEC practical specimens formatted?

WAEC practical specimens are typically provided to candidates as a list containing the specimens’ names and descriptions. Candidates must then identify and manipulate the specimens as part of the practical examinations. In some cases, candidates may be required to draw or label diagrams of the specimens.

Tips for success in WAEC practical examinations

If you want to succeed in the WAEC practical examinations, there are several tips that you should keep in mind, including:

1. Study the subject matter thoroughly: Make sure you understand the subject matter well, as this will help you identify and manipulate the specimens more effectively.
2. Practice regularly: Regular practice will help you to improve your practical skills and become more familiar with the specimens.
3. Please pay attention to detail: Make sure you pay attention to the details of the specimens, as this can help you identify them more accurately.
4. Use the appropriate apparatus: Make sure you use the appropriate apparatus when manipulating the specimens, as this can help you achieve better results.
5. Manage your time effectively: Make sure you manage your time effectively during the practical examinations, as this will help you complete all the tasks within the allotted time.

Conclusion

WAEC practical specimens are an important part of the WAEC examinations, as they help test candidates’ practical skills and knowledge. It is essential for students to understand the format of the specimens, the subjects that require them, and the tips for success in the practical examinations. By following the tips outlined in this article and practicing regularly, students can increase their chances of success in the WAEC practical examinations.

FAQs

1. 1. Q: Are WAEC practical specimens the same every year? A: No, the specimens can vary from year to year.
   2. Q: Can I bring my specimens to the practical examinations? A: No, candidates are only allowed to use the specimens provided by WAEC.
   3. Q: Can I request a specific type of specimen for the practical examinations? A: No, candidates are not allowed to make requests for specific specimens.
   4. Q: How long do the WAEC practical examinations last? A: The length of the examinations varies depending on the subject, but they usually last between 1-3 hours.
   5. Q: Are the WAEC practical examinations graded on a curve? A: No, the examinations are graded based on a standard, not a curve.