Studies from the 2018 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) reveals performance of candidates in three core subjects, English Language, Integrated Science and Core Mathematics have dropped significantly.
There was, however, some improvement in the other core subject, Social Studies.
Presenting an analysis of the results for the WASSCE for School Candidates at the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) Distinction Awards Ceremony on Friday, the Head of National Office of WAEC, Mrs Wendy Addy-Lamptey, said performance in English Language dropped from 52.24 per cent in 2017 to 46.79 per cent in 2018.
In Integrated Science, she said performance dropped from 52.89 per cent in 2017 to 50.48 per cent in 2018.
“The performance in Mathematics (Core) was not any better as 41.66 per cent of candidates obtained Grades C6 and better in 2017 as against 38.15 per cent 2018. There was, however, a marked improvement in the percentage in Social Studies increasing from 42.52 per cent in 2017 to 73.25 per cent in 2018,” she said.
Mrs Wendy Addy-Lamptey said WAEC was of the view that the drop in performance could be attributed in a large measure to the activities of rogue websites, adding that “these websites peddle fake questions which unsuspecting students tend to rely on instead of preparing adequately for the examination”.
The Chief Examiners’ Report, she said on the past questions was a useful source of information for prospective candidates, and could be accessed freely on the council’s website: www.waecgh.org.
Regarding English Language, she said poor grammar, spelling, the use of abbreviated words and the dearth of sufficient vocabulary on the part of candidates were some of the weaknesses identified.
