One of the reasons why students fail in How To Answer WAEC Questions Exams has been proven over the years, that many students fail WAEC not because they are dull, but because they answer questions wrongly. Are you one of the WAEC Candidate for 2026/2027 Exam, read this Article How To Answer WAEC Questions in 2026/2027 carefully. Every year, examiners report that a large percentage of candidates know the answers but still lose marks due to poor interpretation of questions, ignoring instructions, and bad exam techniques.
This is why Candidates are advised to put efforts in learning How To Answer WAEC Questions, Is just as important as reading textbooks or solving past questions.
In this detailed BLOG (guide), you will discover practical, examiner-approved strategies that can dramatically improve your WAEC scores, whether you are writing Arts, Science, or Commercial subjects.
Understanding the WAEC Examination Format
Before learning How To Answer WAEC Questions in 2026/2027 correctly, you must understand how WAEC exams are structured.
What Does WAEC Mean?
WAEC stands for West African Examinations Council. It is the official examination body responsible for conducting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) across five Anglophone West African countries:
Nigeria
Ghana
Sierra Leone
Liberia
The Gambia
WAEC Exam Structure Explained
Most WAEC subjects are divided into:
Objective (Multiple Choice) Questions
Essay (Theory) Questions
Practical Exams (for subjects like Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and some vocational subjects)
Typically:
Candidates answer all objective questions
Candidates choose 3 or 4 essay questions out of 6
Practical exams are written on a separate day
Knowing this structure helps you plan time management and answering strategy, which is crucial for success.
Table of Contents
Do Not Write on the Margin Line
Read WAEC Questions Carefully
Always Answer Easy Questions First
Answer Objective Questions First
Use Capital Letters When Required
Shade Your Answers — Don’t Tick
Avoid Unnecessary Cancellations
Always Provide Your Exam Details
Do Not Give in to Exam Anxiety
Avoid Examination Malpractice
Hidden Secrets for Answering WAEC Questions
How to Answer “List and Explain” Questions
How to Answer “Mention” Questions
How to Answer “Describe” Questions
How to Answer “Define” and “Highlight” Questions
Conclusion
How To Answer WAEC Questions
1. Do Not Write on the Margin Line
One of the most ignored WAEC instructions is boldly written on the answer booklet:
“DO NOT WRITE ON EITHER MARGIN.”
Yet, many candidates still write across the margin lines.
Why This Is Dangerous
The margin is used by examiners to allocate marks
Writing there may obscure scoring
Some examiners deduct marks for it
While a few examiners may overlook it, others strictly penalize candidates. To be safe, never write on the margin line, not even accidentally.
2. Read WAEC Questions Carefully
Overconfidence has caused more WAEC failures than lack of knowledge.
Many candidates misread questions, miss keywords like NOT, EXCEPT, or ONLY, and end up answering a completely different question.
Real-Life Example
A question once asked:
“Discuss three systems of government that have NOT been practiced in Nigeria.”
Missing the word NOT changes everything.
Best Practice
Read each question at least twice
Underline keywords mentally
Ask yourself: What exactly is WAEC asking?
This simple habit can save you massive marks.
3. Always Answer Easy Questions First
WAEC exams are time-bound, often lasting about 2 hours to 2 hours 30 minutes.
Spending too much time on one difficult question can cost you easy marks elsewhere.
Smart Strategy
Start with questions you understand well
Build confidence and momentum
Return to tougher questions later
Remember: Easy questions often carry the same marks as hard ones.
4. Answer Objective Questions First
Although essay questions usually carry more marks, it is wise to answer objective questions first.
Why?
They require less time
They warm up your brain
Some essay answers appear in objective questions
WAEC often recycles content, so solving objectives first may refresh your memory for theory questions.
5. Use Capital Letters When Required
WAEC exams test more than knowledge—they also test instruction compliance.
Where instructed:
Write your name in capital letters
Write your subject in capital letters
Write clearly and legibly
Failing to follow simple instructions may cost you marks unnecessarily.
6. Shade Your Answers. Do not Tick
WAEC objective answers are marked using Optical Mark Recognition (OMR) machines.
Important Rule
❌ Do NOT tick
✅ Always shade completely
Recommended Tool
Use HB pencil, as specified by WAEC
Poor shading can lead to unrecognized answers, even if you chose correctly.
7. Avoid Unnecessary Cancellations
one of the Reasons for this Article How To Answer WAEC Questions in 2026/2027 is to avoid Too many cancellations, as it makes your script look messy and suspicious.
Plan your answers mentally first
Write neatly
If you make a serious mistake and time permits, request a new answer booklet
Neat work improves examiner perception and clarity.
8. Always Provide Your Exam Details
Before writing anything else:
Write your full name
Write your exam number
Write your seat number
Write the date and subject
Failing to do this can result in loss of your script or zero score.
9. Do Not Give in to Exam Anxiety
Exam anxiety is normal, but uncontrolled anxiety ruins performance.
Quick Breathing Technique
Inhale for 4 seconds
Exhale for 8 seconds
Repeat 3–5 times
This calms your nervous system and improves focus.
10. Avoid Examination Malpractice
Examination malpractice may seem tempting, but it has long-term consequences:
Cancellation of results
Disqualification
Damage to your academic record
WAEC is becoming more technologically strict each year. Honest preparation is safer and more rewarding.
11. Hidden Secrets for Answering WAEC Questions Correctly
One major secret to scoring high in WAEC is understanding instruction keywords.
WAEC awards marks based on command words.
12. How to Answer “LIST AND EXPLAIN” Questions
If WAEC says “List and Explain”, it means:
Marks for listing
Marks for explanation
Correct Structure Example
Question: List and explain five causes of soil erosion.
Step 1: List
Deforestation
Overgrazing
Poor farming practices
Construction activities
Heavy rainfall
Step 2: Explain Each Separately
Deforestation: Cutting trees removes roots that hold soil together.
Overgrazing: Animals remove vegetation, exposing soil.
Poor Farming Practices: Improper plowing loosens soil structure.
Construction Activities: Disturb soil and remove plant cover.
Heavy Rainfall: Washes away topsoil, especially on slopes.
13. How to Answer “MENTION” Questions
When WAEC says “Mention”, do NOT explain fully.
Just briefly state the points.
❌ Writing long explanations wastes time
✅ Short, direct answers score better
14. How to Answer “DESCRIBE” Questions
“Describe” requires detailed but relevant explanation.
Example
Describe the human skeleton
Definition
Major parts
Functions
Avoid discussing unrelated body systems
15. How to Answer “DEFINE” and “HIGHLIGHT” Questions
DEFINE
Be precise
Short and accurate
Include key terms
HIGHLIGHT
Brief points
No storytelling
Go straight to the point
READ ALSO:
WAEC Timetable 2026/2027 for Art Students
WAEC Subject Combination for 2026 Examination (Science, Arts & Commercial)
Conclusion
Knowing how to answer WAEC questions correctly in 2026/2027 can transform your results, even without reading harder than others.
WAEC rewards:
Accuracy
Obedience to instructions
Clarity
Proper structure
Avoid unnecessary writing, respect keywords, and focus on what the question demands, not what you know.
Apply these strategies correctly, and passing WAEC with excellent grades becomes much easier and achievable. For more information Visit the Official WAEC Portal https://www.waeconline.org.ng/ for more details.
