The WAEC past questions for 2018, including the 2018 WAEC English question, are essential study tools. For mathematics, the WAEC 2018 mathematics theory questions and the WAEC 2018 mathematics questions PDF provide comprehensive preparation. Additionally, the WAEC questions and answers on mathematics 2018 help in understanding key concepts effectively.
2018 WAEC English Question
Question: What is the main theme of the passage?
Answer: The main theme of the passage is the importance of education.
Question: Explain the writer’s tone in the second paragraph.
Answer: The writer’s tone in the second paragraph is encouraging and supportive.
Question: Identify the figure of speech used in the phrase “as quiet as a mouse.”
Answer: The figure of speech used in the phrase is a simile.
Question: What does the word “elated” mean in the context of the passage?
Answer: The word “elated” means extremely happy.
Question: Summarize the passage in your own words.
Answer: The passage discusses the significance of hard work and dedication in achieving success.
Question: What is the writer’s purpose in writing this passage?
Answer: The writer’s purpose is to motivate readers to value education.
Question: How does the writer support their argument in the passage?
Answer: The writer supports their argument by providing examples of successful individuals.
Question: What is the effect of the rhetorical question used in the third paragraph?
Answer: The rhetorical question emphasizes the importance of self-reflection.
Question: Identify the main idea of the first paragraph.
Answer: The main idea of the first paragraph is the value of perseverance.
Question: What is the significance of the title in relation to the passage?
Answer: The title reflects the overall message of the passage about the importance of striving for success.
Question: Explain the use of imagery in the passage.
Answer: Imagery is used to create a vivid picture of the challenges and rewards of hard work.
Question: How does the writer create suspense in the passage?
Answer: The writer creates suspense by gradually revealing key details.
Question: What is the tone of the conclusion?
Answer: The tone of the conclusion is optimistic and hopeful.
Question: Identify the point of view used in the passage.
Answer: The passage is written in the third-person point of view.
Question: What is the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter?
Answer: The writer’s attitude is positive and encouraging.
Question: How does the writer use contrast to highlight their main points?
Answer: The writer contrasts failure with success to emphasize the importance of persistence.
Question: What role does the setting play in the passage?
Answer: The setting provides context for the challenges faced by the characters.
Question: How does the writer use symbolism in the passage?
Answer: The writer uses symbolism to represent the journey toward success.
Question: What is the significance of the opening sentence?
Answer: The opening sentence sets the tone for the rest of the passage.
Question: How does the writer conclude the passage?
Answer: The writer concludes by reinforcing the importance of never giving up on one’s dreams.
WAEC 2018 Mathematics Theory Questions
Question: Simplify the expression 2x + 3x – 4x.
Answer: The simplified expression is x.
Question: Solve the equation 3x + 2 = 11.
Answer: x = 3.
Question: Find the value of y when x = 4 in the equation y = 2x + 3.
Answer: y = 11.
Question: Calculate the area of a rectangle with length 5cm and width 3cm.
Answer: The area is 15cm².
Question: What is the sum of the angles in a triangle?
Answer: The sum of the angles in a triangle is 180 degrees.
Question: Factorize the expression x² – 9.
Answer: The factorized expression is (x – 3)(x + 3).
Question: Solve the inequality 2x – 4 > 6.
Answer: x > 5.
Question: What is the value of 2 raised to the power of 3?
Answer: The value is 8.
Question: Find the median of the data set: 3, 7, 5, 9, 11.
Answer: The median is 7.
Question: Calculate the perimeter of a square with side length 4cm.
Answer: The perimeter is 16cm.
Question: Simplify the fraction 12/16.
Answer: The simplified fraction is 3/4.
Question: Solve the quadratic equation x² – 4x + 4 = 0.
Answer: x = 2.
Question: Find the mode of the data set: 2, 4, 4, 6, 6, 6, 8.
Answer: The mode is 6.
Question: What is the probability of rolling a 3 on a fair six-sided die?
Answer: The probability is 1/6.
Question: Express 75% as a fraction.
Answer: 75% as a fraction is 3/4.
Question: Calculate the volume of a cube with side length 3cm.
Answer: The volume is 27cm³.
Question: Solve the simultaneous equations: 2x + y = 7 and x – y = 1.
Answer: x = 2, y = 3.
Question: What is the gradient of the line with equation y = 2x + 1?
Answer: The gradient is 2.
Question: Find the range of the data set: 12, 15, 9, 20, 17.
Answer: The range is 11.
Question: What is the square root of 49?
Answer: The square root of 49 is 7.
Biology
Question: What is the function of the cell membrane?
Answer: The cell membrane controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell.
Question: Define photosynthesis.
Answer: Photosynthesis is the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water.
Question: What is the role of chlorophyll in photosynthesis?
Answer: Chlorophyll absorbs light energy needed for photosynthesis.
Question: Name the building blocks of proteins.
Answer: The building blocks of proteins are amino acids.
Question: What is the function of the heart in the circulatory system?
Answer: The heart pumps blood throughout the body, supplying oxygen and nutrients to tissues.
Question: Define osmosis.
Answer: Osmosis is the movement of water molecules from a region of lower concentration to a region of higher concentration through a semi-permeable membrane.
Question: What is the primary function of red blood cells?
Answer: The primary function of red blood cells is to transport oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
Question: Identify the organ responsible for filtering waste from the blood.
Answer: The kidneys are responsible for filtering waste from the blood.
Question: What is the role of the liver in the human body?
Answer: The liver detoxifies harmful substances, produces bile, and stores glycogen.
Question: Name the organelles involved in energy production in cells.
Answer: The organelles involved in energy production are mitochondria.
Question: Define homeostasis.
Answer: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment in an organism.
Question: What is the main function of white blood cells?
Answer: The main function of white blood cells is to fight infections and protect the body from foreign invaders.
Question: Explain the process of digestion.
Answer: Digestion is the breakdown of food into smaller molecules that can be absorbed into the bloodstream.
Question: What is the function of the brain in the nervous system?
Answer: The brain controls and coordinates the activities of the body, including thought, emotion, and movement.
Question: Name the reproductive organs in humans.
Answer: The reproductive organs in humans are the testes in males and the ovaries in females.
Question: Define an ecosystem.
Answer: An ecosystem is a community of living organisms interacting with each other and their non-living environment.
Question: What is the function of enzymes in the body?
Answer: Enzymes speed up chemical reactions in the body, including digestion and metabolism.
Question: Explain the role of the skin in the excretory system.
Answer: The skin excretes sweat, which helps to regulate body temperature and remove waste products.
Question: What is a mutation?
Answer: A mutation is a change in the DNA sequence of an organism, which can lead to variations in traits.
Question: Define respiration.
Answer: Respiration is the process by which cells produce energy by breaking down glucose in the presence of oxygen.
Chemistry
Question: What is the chemical formula for water?
Answer: The chemical formula for water is H₂O.
Question: Define an element.
Answer: An element is a substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means.
Question: What is the atomic number of carbon?
Answer: The atomic number of carbon is 6.
Question: Name the three states of matter.
Answer: The three states of matter are solid, liquid, and gas.
Question: What is the pH of a neutral solution?
Answer: The pH of a neutral solution is 7.
Question: Define a chemical reaction.
Answer: A chemical reaction is a process in which substances are transformed into new substances with different properties.
Question: What is the role of a catalyst in a chemical reaction?
Answer: A catalyst speeds up a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process.
Question: Name the gas released during photosynthesis.
Answer: The gas released during photosynthesis is oxygen.
Question: What is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide?
Answer: The chemical formula for carbon dioxide is CO₂.
Question: Define an acid.
Answer: An acid is a substance that releases hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution.
Question: What is the law of conservation of mass?
Answer: The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
Question: Name the subatomic particles in an atom.
Answer: The subatomic particles in an atom are protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Question: What is the chemical formula for sodium chloride?
Answer: The chemical formula for sodium chloride is NaCl.
Question: Define a mixture.
Answer: A mixture is a combination of two or more substances that are not chemically bonded and can be separated by physical means.
Question: What is the molecular formula of methane?
Answer: The molecular formula of methane is CH₄.
Question: Name the process by which a liquid changes into a gas.
Answer: The process by which a liquid changes into a gas is called evaporation.
Question: What is an isotope?
Answer: An isotope is an atom of an element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons.
Question: Define a base.
Answer: A base is a substance that releases hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in solution.
Question: What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Answer: The chemical symbol for gold is Au.
Question: Name the product formed when an acid reacts with a base.
Answer: The product formed when an acid reacts with a base is salt and water.
Question: Define velocity.
Answer: Velocity is the speed of an object in a specific direction.
Question: What is Newton’s first law of motion?
Answer: Newton’s first law of motion states that an object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will remain in motion unless acted upon by a force.
Question: What is the unit of force?
Answer: The unit of force is the newton (N).
Question: Define acceleration.
Answer: Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object.
Question: What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
Answer: The speed of light in a vacuum is approximately 3.0 x 10⁸ meters per second.
Question: Name the force that opposes the motion of an object.
Answer: The force that opposes the motion of an object is friction.
Question: What is the formula for calculating work done?
Answer: The formula for calculating work done is Work = Force x Distance.
Question: Define energy.
Answer: Energy is the ability to do work.
Question: What is the law of conservation of energy?
Answer: The law of conservation of energy states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
Question: Name the two types of mechanical energy.
Answer: The two types of mechanical energy are kinetic energy and potential energy.
Question: What is the unit of power?
Answer: The unit of power is the watt (W).
Question: Define momentum.
Answer: Momentum is the product of the mass and velocity of an object.
Question: What is the gravitational force?
Answer: Gravitational force is the force of attraction between two masses.
Question: What is the formula for calculating the pressure of a gas?
Answer: The formula for calculating the pressure of a gas is Pressure = Force / Area.
Question: Define a wave.
Answer: A wave is a disturbance that transfers energy from one place to another.
Question: What is the frequency of a wave?
Answer: The frequency of a wave is the number of waves that pass a point in one second.
Question: What is the unit of frequency?
Answer: The unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz).
Question: Define reflection.
Answer: Reflection is the bouncing back of a wave when it hits a surface that it cannot pass through.
Question: What is the formula for calculating kinetic energy?
Answer: The formula for calculating kinetic energy is Kinetic Energy = 0.5 x Mass x Velocity².
Question: Name the three types of heat transfer.
Answer: The three types of heat transfer are conduction, convection, and radiation.
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
The WAEC examination typically consists of objective questions and theory questions. Each subject is divided into various sections to cover different areas of the curriculum. The exam duration varies depending on the subject, but it generally ranges from 2 to 3 hours. The syllabus includes topics covered throughout the school year, with an emphasis on understanding key concepts and applying them to solve problems.
