WAEC GCE Biology 2027 (Objective, Essay & Alternative to Practical) Questions and Answers: This study guide is for private candidates preparing for the Nov/Dec 2027 (2nd Series) WAEC GCE Biology exams. It explains the exam format and gives original practice questions with model answers for the objective, essay and alternative to practical papers.
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) conducts the Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates twice a year. Biology is one of the most popular science subjects, and it is assessed through Biology 1 (Objective), Biology 2 (Essay) and Biology 3 (Alternative to Practical Work). This article helps you understand each paper and practise with past-style questions.
WAEC GCE Biology 2027 Exam Details
| Date | Exam Subjects | Time (recent series) | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| To be announced | Biology 2 (Essay) | 9:30 am – 11:10 am | 1 hr 40 mins |
| To be announced | Biology 1 (Objective) | 11:10 am – 12:00 pm | 50 mins |
| To be announced | Biology 3 (Alternative to Practical Work) | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm | 2 hrs |
Note on the exam date: The official WAEC 2027 GCE timetable has not yet been released, so no confirmed date exists. The times above are those used in recent series. Confirm your date, time and venue on your registration slip and at waecnigeria.org, and always follow the time printed on your question paper.
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About the WAEC GCE Biology Papers
- Biology 1 (Objective): multiple-choice questions covering the whole syllabus. Answers are normally shaded on an answer sheet, so follow the instructions on your paper carefully.
- Biology 2 (Essay): structured questions that ask you to explain, describe, compare and draw.
- Biology 3 (Alternative to Practical Work): written questions based on experiments, specimens and diagrams. You may be asked to identify specimens, draw and label, carry out calculations, and state precautions and conclusions.
The topics that appear most often include cell biology, nutrition and enzymes, transport in plants and animals, photosynthesis, respiration, reproduction, genetics and evolution, ecology, and diseases. For further revision of core concepts, you can use Khan Academy Biology. Candidates who also write other GCE subjects may find our guide on WAEC GCE Government questions and answers useful for essay-writing technique.
Quick Reference: Vitamins, Sources and Deficiency Diseases
| Vitamin | Good sources | Deficiency disease |
|---|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Carrot, palm oil, liver | Night blindness |
| Vitamin B1 | Whole grains, beans | Beriberi |
| Vitamin C | Orange, guava, tomato | Scurvy |
| Vitamin D | Sunlight, fish liver oil, eggs | Rickets |
| Vitamin K | Green leafy vegetables | Poor blood clotting |
Use this table for fast revision, and make sure you can state the function of each vitamin in your own words.
WAEC GCE Biology Objective Questions and Answers (Practice)
These are original practice questions modelled on the style of the WAEC objective paper. They are not actual exam questions. Try each one before checking the answer.
1. Which cell organelle is the main site of aerobic respiration?
A. Ribosome B. Mitochondrion C. Nucleus D. Vacuole
Answer: B.
2. Photosynthesis takes place in the:
A. Chloroplast B. Mitochondrion C. Golgi body D. Cell wall
Answer: A.
3. The cell membrane is described as selectively permeable because it:
A. Allows all substances through B. Allows only some substances through C. Allows no substance through D. Is made of cellulose
Answer: B.
4. A blue-black colour with iodine solution shows the presence of:
A. Protein B. Starch C. Fat D. Reducing sugar
Answer: B.
5. A brick-red precipitate on heating with Benedict’s solution indicates:
A. Starch B. Reducing sugar C. Protein D. Oil
Answer: B.
6. A purple or violet colour in the Biuret test shows the presence of:
A. Protein B. Starch C. Glucose D. Fat
Answer: A.
7. Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of:
A. High concentration to low concentration through a semi-permeable membrane B. Low water concentration to high water concentration through an open space C. Solute to solvent only D. Cold to hot regions
Answer: A. Water moves from a dilute solution to a more concentrated one.
8. An enzyme is best described as a:
A. Biological catalyst B. Hormone C. Vitamin D. Mineral
Answer: A.
9. Enzymes are denatured by:
A. Very high temperature B. Water C. Oxygen D. Sunlight
Answer: A.
10. Water and mineral salts are transported in plants by the:
A. Phloem B. Xylem C. Cambium D. Epidermis
Answer: B.
11. The movement of manufactured food in plants is called:
A. Translocation B. Transpiration C. Osmosis D. Diffusion only
Answer: A.
12. Stomata are surrounded by:
A. Guard cells B. Root hairs C. Xylem vessels D. Palisade cells
Answer: A.
13. Scurvy is caused by a deficiency of vitamin:
A. A B. C C. D D. K
Answer: B.
14. The pigment in red blood cells that carries oxygen is:
A. Chlorophyll B. Haemoglobin C. Melanin D. Keratin
Answer: B.
15. The number of chromosomes in a normal human body cell is:
A. 23 B. 44 C. 46 D. 48
Answer: C.
16. Meiosis is important because it:
A. Produces gametes with half the chromosome number B. Produces identical cells for growth C. Repairs wounds D. Increases the chromosome number
Answer: A.
17. When two heterozygous tall plants (Tt) are crossed, the expected phenotypic ratio is:
A. 1:1 B. 3:1 C. 2:1 D. 1:2:1
Answer: B. Three tall plants to one short plant.
18. In a food chain, the producer is the:
A. Green plant B. Herbivore C. Carnivore D. Decomposer
Answer: A.
19. The malaria parasite is transmitted by the:
A. Female Anopheles mosquito B. Housefly C. Tsetse fly D. Cockroach
Answer: A. The parasite is Plasmodium.
20. The end product of protein digestion is:
A. Glucose B. Amino acids C. Fatty acids D. Glycerol
Answer: B.
21. The part of the brain that controls balance and coordination is the:
A. Cerebrum B. Cerebellum C. Medulla oblongata D. Pituitary
Answer: B.
22. Insulin is produced by the:
A. Liver B. Pancreas C. Kidney D. Thyroid
Answer: B. It controls blood sugar level.
23. The organ that filters waste from the blood to form urine is the:
A. Liver B. Lung C. Kidney D. Skin
Answer: C.
24. Gaseous exchange in the lungs takes place in the:
A. Trachea B. Bronchi C. Alveoli D. Diaphragm
Answer: C.
25. The male reproductive part of a flower is the:
A. Stamen B. Carpel C. Sepal D. Petal
Answer: A.
26. Transfer of pollen from anther to stigma is called:
A. Fertilisation B. Pollination C. Germination D. Dispersal
Answer: B.
27. Which of these is a decomposer?
A. Fungus B. Grass C. Lion D. Grasshopper
Answer: A.
28. The relationship in which both organisms benefit is called:
A. Parasitism B. Mutualism C. Predation D. Competition
Answer: B.
29. Which gas is released during photosynthesis?
A. Carbon dioxide B. Oxygen C. Nitrogen D. Hydrogen
Answer: B.
30. The theory of natural selection was proposed by:
A. Gregor Mendel B. Charles Darwin C. Louis Pasteur D. Robert Hooke
Answer: B.
WAEC GCE Biology Essay Questions and Answers (Practice)
Essay questions test understanding, so write in full, organised points with a short explanation for each. Here are four original practice questions with model answers.
Essay Question 1: State four differences between a plant cell and an animal cell.
| Plant cell | Animal cell |
|---|---|
| Has a cell wall made of cellulose | No cell wall |
| Contains chloroplasts | No chloroplasts |
| Has a large central vacuole | Has small or no vacuoles |
| Stores food as starch | Stores food as glycogen |
Essay Question 2: (a) Write the word equation for photosynthesis. (b) State three factors that affect the rate of photosynthesis. (c) State two importance of photosynthesis.
(a) Carbon dioxide + water, in the presence of sunlight and chlorophyll, produces glucose + oxygen.
(b) Factors: light intensity, carbon dioxide concentration and temperature. Water availability and the amount of chlorophyll also matter.
(c) Importance: it produces food for plants and, through food chains, for all other organisms; and it releases oxygen into the atmosphere, which is needed for respiration.
Essay Question 3: In a certain plant, tallness (T) is dominant over shortness (t). A heterozygous tall plant is crossed with a short plant. Work out the genotypes and phenotypes of the offspring.
Model answer: Parents: Tt (tall) × tt (short). Gametes: T, t from the first parent, and t, t from the second.
- Offspring: Tt, Tt, tt, tt.
- Genotypic ratio: 1 Tt : 1 tt (that is, 2 Tt : 2 tt).
- Phenotypic ratio: 1 tall : 1 short.
Essay Question 4: (a) Name the causative organism and vector of malaria. (b) State four symptoms. (c) State four ways of controlling malaria.
(a) The causative organism is Plasmodium, and the vector is the female Anopheles mosquito.
(b) Symptoms: high fever with chills, headache, sweating and body weakness. Vomiting and joint pains are also common.
(c) Control:
- Sleep under insecticide-treated nets.
- Clear stagnant water and bushes around the home to remove breeding places.
- Use window and door screens and insect repellents.
- Seek early diagnosis and treatment at a health facility.
For reliable information on malaria, see the World Health Organization malaria fact sheet.
Essay Question 5: State five functions of the kidney and name two organs of excretion other than the kidney.
- Excretion: It removes urea and other nitrogenous wastes from the blood.
- Osmoregulation: It controls the amount of water in the body.
- Salt balance: It regulates the level of salts such as sodium in the blood.
- pH control: It helps keep the blood at the correct acidity.
- Removal of excess substances: It removes surplus vitamins, drugs and toxins.
Other organs of excretion are the skin, which removes sweat, and the lungs, which remove carbon dioxide and water vapour.
Essay Question 6: Describe how water pollution may arise and state four of its effects.
Causes: dumping of refuse and sewage into rivers, oil spills, industrial waste and the washing of farm chemicals into water bodies.
Effects:
- It kills fish and other aquatic organisms.
- It spreads water-borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
- It reduces the oxygen available to aquatic life.
- It makes water unfit for drinking, farming and recreation.
WAEC GCE Biology Alternative to Practical: Worked Examples
The Alternative to Practical paper tests skills you would normally develop in the laboratory. Practise these four common question types.
1. Food Tests
| Food substance | Test | Positive result |
|---|---|---|
| Starch | Add iodine solution | Blue-black colour |
| Reducing sugar | Add Benedict’s solution and heat | Brick-red precipitate |
| Protein | Add Biuret reagent (or sodium hydroxide and copper sulphate) | Purple or violet colour |
| Fat or oil | Shake with ethanol, then add water | Milky white emulsion |
2. Magnification
Question: A student draws a specimen of length 60 mm. The actual length of the specimen is 2 mm. Calculate the magnification.
Answer: Magnification = size of drawing / actual size = 60 / 2 = ×30.
3. Osmosis in Potato Strips
Question: Two potato strips of equal length are placed in distilled water and concentrated salt solution for 30 minutes. State what will be observed and explain.
Answer: The strip in distilled water becomes longer and firmer because water enters its cells by osmosis. The strip in concentrated salt solution becomes shorter and soft because water leaves its cells by osmosis.
Precautions: use strips of the same length and from the same potato, blot each strip before measuring, and use the same volume of liquid in each container.
4. Drawing a Specimen
- Use a sharp pencil and draw on the space provided, using at least half of it.
- Draw clear, continuous lines without shading.
- Draw label lines with a ruler, without arrows, ending at the part being labelled.
- Write the title of the drawing and the magnification below it.
Past Question Images
Note: the images below are past questions, shown for practice and to help you understand the style of the paper.
How to Prepare for the 2027 Exam
- Learn definitions precisely. Terms such as osmosis, diffusion, enzyme, habitat and population appear in almost every paper.
- Practise drawing and labelling. Neat, accurate diagrams earn marks in the essay and alternative to practical papers.
- Learn the food tests and enzyme experiments. They appear often in the practical paper.
- Answer in points. For “state” questions give short numbered points, and for “explain” questions add a reason to each point.
- Practise genetics problems. Use Punnett squares and show parents, gametes and offspring.
- Revise diseases in a table. Compare cause, vector, symptoms and control.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing osmosis with diffusion, or xylem with phloem.
- Forgetting to write the magnification and title on drawings.
- Giving fewer points than the question requires.
- Drawing arrows on label lines or shading diagrams heavily.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2027 WAEC GCE Biology exam?
The official 2027 timetable has not been released yet. Check waecnigeria.org for updates, and follow the time on your question paper.
Is the WAEC GCE Biology exam computer-based?
Private candidates have traditionally written the GCE on paper, with objective answers shaded on an answer sheet and essay questions written out. Confirm the format for your series with WAEC or your exam centre, because arrangements can change.
Are these the actual 2027 questions?
No. No one can lawfully have the 2027 questions before the exam. The questions here are past-style and original practice questions that show the format and standard expected.
How should I use these questions?
Attempt each question first without looking at the answer, then compare your answer with the model answer and note what you missed.
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