General Mathematics Paper 2,May/June. 2008
General Comments
The paper was quite fair and within the reach of any candidate who had prepared well for the examination. All the questions were within the content of the syllabus and there was no ambiguity of any sort. The standard of the paper as well as the clarity of the rubrics were maintained.
The marking scheme was as usual, flexible to accommodate various approaches presented by the candidates in solving the problems. Apparently, the performance of the candidates was not significantly different from those of the previous years.
Candidates’ Weaknesses From candidates’ responses, it was evident that questions from some areas of the syllabus were poorly handled. This may be attributed to inadequate preparation or poor interpretation of the demands of the questions. The identified areas are:
(1) Commercial arithmetic
(2) Geometry – majority of the candidates avoided the question on construction. Some of those who
attempted it did not go beyond constructing angles 90˚ and <120˚;
(3) Word problems leading to simple linear equations;
(4) Mensuration
(5) Statistics as in question 5.
Suggested Remedies
Candidates should be encouraged to study effectively and be exposed to mathematical facts, concepts and principles as well as how to apply them accurately in answering questions. \
Candidates should be taught to adhere to the rubrics, study and comprehend the demands of the questions before attempting them.
Candidates should be well exposed to past WASSCE questions
Candidates’ Strengths
Many candidates showed a good understanding of the following areas of the syllabus:
(1) Set theory - drawing of Venn diagrams
(2) Algebra - computing the table of values as well as drawing of algebraic graphs
(3) Arithmetic progression.
(4) Trigonometry - angles of elevation and depression.
The performance of candidates in Geometric Progression (G. P.) was only fair. Furthermore, a good number of the candidates were able to apply the sine rule correctly. There was also a noticeable improvement in the performance of candidates in problems involving longitude and latitude.
GCE – Nov/Dec. 2008
General Comments
The paper was quite fair and within the reach of any candidate who had prepared well for the examination. All the questions were within the content of the syllabus and there was no ambiguity of any sort. The standard of the paper as well as the clarity of the rubrics were maintained.
The marking scheme was as usual, flexible to accommodate various approaches presented by the candidates in solving the problems. Apparently, the performance of the candidates was not significantly different from those of the previous years.
Candidates’ Weaknesses
From candidates’ responses, it was evident that questions from some areas of the syllabus were poorly handled. This may be attributed to inadequate preparation or poor interpretation of the demands of the questions. The identified areas are:
(1) Commercial arithmetic
(2) Geometry – majority of the candidates avoided the question on construction. Some of those who attempted it did not go beyond constructing angles 90˚ and <120˚;
(3) Word problems leading to simple linear equations;
(4) Mensuration.
(5) Statistics as in question 5.
Suggested Remedies
Candidates should be encouraged to study effectively and be exposed to mathematical facts, concepts and principles as well as how to apply them accurately in answering questions.Candidates should be taught to adhere to the rubrics, study and comprehend the demands of the questions before attempting them. Candidates should be well exposed to past WASSCE questions.
Candidates’ Strengths
Many candidates showed a good understanding of the following areas of the syllabus:
(1) Set theory - drawing of Venn diagrams
(2) Algebra - computing the table of values as well as drawing of algebraic graphs.
(3) Arithmetic progression.
(4) Trigonometry - angles of elevation and depression.
The performance of candidates in Geometric Progression (G. P.) was only fair. Furthermore, a good number of the candidates were able to apply the sine rule correctly. There was also a noticeable improvement in the performance of candidates in problems involving longitude and latitude
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