WASSCE Past Questions

Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid During WASSCE 2025 Practical Exams – Expert Tips from WAEC Chief Examiners

2nd July 2025

Brighter Curriculum Reforms for SHS: What GES Confirms 2025/2026 SHS Academic Calendar, Introduces Structured Off-Campus Learning for Transition Schools Students Need to Know in Ghana (2025 Update) Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid During WASSCE 2025 Practical Exams – Expert Tips from WAEC Chief Examiners — Curriculum Reforms for SHS: What Students Need to Know in Ghana (2025 Update)

Ferdinand | EducationGhana | July 2 | Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid During WASSCE 2025 Practical Exams – Expert Tips from WAEC Chief Examiners

Avoid costly errors in the WASSCE 2025 Practical Exams with these top 10 expert-reported mistakes. From biology diagrams to titration measurements, learn how to score higher with precision and confidence.

Introduction

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) practicals are crucial for candidates in science, ICT, and vocational programs. However, WAEC Chief Examiner Reports consistently show that many students lose marks due to avoidable mistakes.

Here are the top 10 most common mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. 🚫 Poor Observation and Measurement Skills

Mistake:
Failing to take accurate readings from instruments (e.g., burette, voltmeter, stopwatches, or thermometer).

Avoid It:

Practice regularly in labs.
Always record values to the required decimal places.
Read at eye level to avoid parallax error.

Check This Out:

First Series NOV/DEC: Projected Topics to Study for January 2025 Private WASSCE

2. ❌ Incomplete or Incorrect Tables and Graphs

Mistake:
Leaving out headings, using wrong units, or poorly scaling graphs—especially in Physics.

Avoid It:

Label all axes with correct units.
Choose appropriate scale for clarity.
Ensure neat tabulation before plotting.

3. 📉 Poor Titration Technique in Chemistry

Mistake:

Not rinsing apparatus with appropriate solutions.
Reading burette upside down.
Recording inconsistent titres.

Avoid It:

Use white tiles to detect color change.
Record three concordant readings.
Practice common titrations like NaOH vs HCl or KMnO₄ vs Fe²⁺.

4. 🧬 Incorrect or Untidy Biological Drawings

Mistake:

Drawing too small or using shading.
Labels crossing lines or not aligned.
Misspelling biological terms.

Avoid It:

Use sharp pencils and draw large, clean diagrams.
Label neatly and horizontally.
Avoid shading; use clear outlines only.

5. 🧪 Misidentification of Specimens in Biology

Mistake:
Mislabeling specimens or mixing animal and plant features.

Avoid It:

Study WAEC specimen lists early.
Revise functions and classifications.
Join group study for practical identification.

6. 📉 Incorrect Use of Instruments

Mistake:

Connecting voltmeters or ammeters wrongly.
Using expired or damaged apparatus.

Avoid It:

Practice setting up circuits.
Ask your teacher to verify your setup before exams.
Test meters before use.

7. ⚠️ Ignoring Examiner Instructions

Mistake:
Skipping steps or misreading experiment procedures.

Avoid It:

Read every instruction twice before beginning.
Underline key words like “record,” “plot,” “calculate.”
Do not skip any steps—even “minor” ones.

8. 🕒 Poor Time Management

Mistake:

Spending too long on one experiment.
Rushing through analysis or calculations.

Avoid It:

Allocate time per section of the paper.
Leave the last 10–15 minutes for checking.

9. 🧤 Neglecting Lab Safety

Mistake:

Handling acids bare-handed.
Not reporting spills or injuries.

Avoid It:

Wear basic protection (lab coats, gloves).
Report and clean spills immediately.

10. 📋 Not Revising Chief Examiner Reports and Past Papers

Mistake:
Relying only on class notes or textbook theory.

Avoid It:

Download and study Chief Examiner Reports.
Review past practical exam questions and specimen answers from WAEC or myexamcode.net.
Join school-organized mock practicals.

📝 Quick Recap: WASSCE Practical Exam DOs & DON’Ts

✅ DOs ❌ DON’Ts Practice regularly in lab Guess measurements Label diagrams neatly Shade or draw too small Follow exam instructions Skip steps Use past WAEC practicals Memorize without understanding Keep calm & focused Panic or rush

📣 Final Advice

WAEC practicals test not just knowledge but precision, observation, and discipline. Avoiding these top 10 mistakes can dramatically improve your final score and boost your overall WASSCE performance.

Prepare smart, practice regularly, and walk into the exam confident and well-equipped.

Join Our Official PS Revision WhatsApp Channels

For daily PS mock questions, explanations, and supervision insights:

🔗 https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va8kqLX47XeFdyJ0nT3b

Related Internal Links

How to write and address any form of Letter to the Ghana Education Service HERE

How to write and address an Application for Car Maintenance Allowance as a Teacher HERE

How to write and address an Application for Responsibility Allowance as a Teacher HERE

Check This Out: Top 10 Steps to Register and Write Exams in KATon Computing Training Workshop

Check the SHS Grading System HERE

Download the 2022 basic and SHS Academic Calendar HERE

Check This Out:JUST IN: Coalition of Concerned Teachers sacks acting President King Ali Awudu

Prospective students can also check out the Admission Deadlines for Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as their Entry Requirements before Applying.

They can also check the institutions’ cut off pointsandHow to Applyto the various Tertiary Institutions in Ghana as well as the institutions’ Fees Schedulesfor any particular Semester or Year.

ELLIS FERDINAND IS THE 2024 EDUCOM BLOGGER OF THE YEAR

SEND US YOUR STORIES FOR PUBLICATION VIA WHATSAPP NUMBER0206361048

Get the WAEC Marking Schemes HERE

Get theNaCCA/GES Standard-Based Lesson Plans HERE

Get the Ghana Education ServiceNew Standard–Based Scheme of Learning (SOL)HERE

Get the Ghana Education Service New Standard–Based Curriculum HERE

Get the WAEC BECE, WASSCE, NTC Licensure Exam, and Teachers’ Promotion Exam Past Questions HERE

Download the Teachers Guide on SBCand CCP Curriculums HERE

♥Copyright Notice: Content on This Website is Copyright Protected. No Part of this Content should be reproduced without the Consent of the Author(s) or Recognition of the source of the content. © 2025 Ellis Multimedia: EducationGhana.org: All Rights Reserved