Reasons Candidates Fail Waec English

Many SSCE candidates Fail Waec English Language yearly. This is most times not because they didn’t read well for the Subject. In fact, poor reading habits and even bad writing can make you fail Waec Use of English.

I have an article on how to pass Waec. I have also stated reasons you may fail Waec and what to do. Unlike Jamb, Success in Waec or Neco is based on Subjects. For Example, if you pass other Waec Subjects but Fail Waec English, we comfortably say that you failed Waec.

Almost every University and Polytechnic in Nigeria requires that you pass the English Language before you are qualified for admission. English is a Compulsory Waec and Jamb Subject. This shows how important the Use of English is to you.

Your best bet is to make sure you Pass all your Five core subjects. Core subjects in Waec include Mathematics, English and three other subjects relevant to the course you wish to study in School. Check here for Relevant Waec Subjects or Continue reading why Candidates Fail Waec English and What to do in Waec 2021.

Recommended How to know if you are ready for Waec

1. Poor Reading Habit

A poor or bad reading habit leads to a poor understanding of Questions. The best way to fail English in Waec is to jump into answers without properly understanding the questions asked.

Read English Questions and passages extensively to broaden your horizon and linguistic repertoire; take time to identify the actual demand of the questions before attempting them.

Good knowledge of the basic rules of English grammar will enhance your understanding of Questions. Don’t be under pressure, don’t be too much in a haste to provide answers. Relax and be sure you are doing the right thing.

2. Poor Expression

Lack of appropriate vocabulary to pass your ideas, faulty analogy and concord, wrong use of tenses, poor use of conjunctions, prepositions and articles will greatly harm your Waec English; especially Waec English Essay/Theory.

Always read through your work to correct grammatical errors and spellings before submitting your script. If you are a slow writer, ensure to improve your speed by practicing as many questions and Waec past questions as possible before the exam date.

Familiarize yourself with as many words as possible to boost your expression. Sound knowledge of parts of speech and figures of speech will go a long way to boost your expression.

3. Poor Use of Punctuation Mark

Many persons are fond of writing without proper punctuation. Waec English is not Whatsapp or Instagram where anything is permitted. No matter how good your write up is, if you don’t know where to put a full stop, comma, paragraph, Quotation, Semi-Colon, etc, you will not score high.

Prepare adequately for the Examination. Ensure to break down your Letter Writing, passages or articles into paragraphs for better Understanding. Each paragraph must contain a fresh idea and properly punctuated. Put full stop, comma and other punctuation marks where necessary. Make sure your sentences are simple and meaningful.

4. English Spelling Errors

Spellings won’t affect you in multiple-choice questions (Objective). But when it comes to Waec English theory, your spelling will be properly checked. Waec will penalize you for errors in spelling.

Converse frequently in simple correct English. Don’t write what you don’t know in the name of grammar. Nobody is impressed with your “Amoebatic vocabulary”. Don’t sound like an “ungrammatical lunatical imbecile”; use the words you can spell.

5. Writing More Than Required

Oversabi simply means going out of point (doing what you are not told just to impress). Many students write above the number of words they are required to write. Some even list twenty advantages when only five were required.

Some Waec candidates attempt more than the number of Questions they are required to answer in Waec English. You are going out of instructions and would be penalized.

Those marking Waec are not your mate; neither are they your roommates; Follow simple instructions. Don’t write essays far below or far above the number of words required. If Waec says, “in not more than 300 words“, don’t write above 300 words (270 to 300 words is okay).

6. Poor Writing 

Many people fail Waec, not because they are not intelligent or know what they are doing, but because of poor writing. If those marking can’t see your wiring properly, they will assume what you are not writing.

We can’t say a girl is sexy when we can’t see her body.  Ensure to Work on your writing. Your writing may not be beautiful, but let it been seen by those marking.

Do not paint your work, don’t cancel too much (stroke out mistakes). Just do everything possible to improve your writing so that it doesn’t hinder your success.

7. Slow Writing

Examiners don’t care to know whether you can answer all the Questions; They only work with the answers you provide. When it comes to Waec English Language, don’t be too fast to avoid errors and don’t be too slow to the extent you can’t put down everything you know.

Don’t waste your time on one question. No matter how correctly you answer one question, it can not make you pass. But attempting all questions imperfectly can even give you an A in Waec English.

Hope you found this article helpful? This article covers the reasons people fail English in Waec particularly. You may also click here to see why people fail Waec generally. I wish you the very best.