Latest BECE Examiner’s English Language Report for 2024 BECE Candidates

The English Language paper at the BECE is an important and must-pass subject, but the latest BECE Examiner’s report on English Language based on the 2021 BECE showed that candidates have serious challenges that need to be worked on by 2024 BECE candidates if they are to excel.

English teachers who want their candidates to do well in the 2024 BECE must take this report seriously and work on their candidates for better performance or get ready for the shock of their lives when the results are released

Explained and expanded details of the latest BECE Examiner’s report on English Language for 2024 BECE candidates

According to the Chief Examiner’s report,

(i) Many of the candidates demonstrated a clear understanding of the passage.

This means candidates were able to answer questions based on the comprehension passage.

(ii) Paragraphs were well written and effectively linked by candidates.

Those preparing for the BECE must have these same skills and write very good and clear answers to comprehension questions. They must avoid one- to three-word answers and should not lift paragraphs directly from the passage.

Weaknesses of candidates that must be tackled ahead of the next BECE

(i) Students write debates and argumentative essays without using vocatives.

(ii) Some candidates, while answering debate-related questions, do not take sides or do not indicate which side they support.

(iii) Candidates provided very irrelevant responses to some of the essay questions they answered.

Often, this is a result of students’ failure to read and understand the questions.

Others fail to brainstorm the questions and, hence, fail to plan the points to raise.

Some students get carried away, and so they start to write all manner of paragraphs that are unnecessary.

Students also end up writing very long paragraphs. Sometimes candidates can write an entire half or full page with less than two paragraphs. The best practice is to not write more than two lines in each paragraph.

(iv) Some candidates showed inadequate knowledge of the literary texts.

(v) Candidates spent a lot of time on the essays to the detriment of other sections.

Often, some candidates forget that they are to answer one, an essay, a comprehension, plus literature or a summary, depending on the questions. In their state of forgetfulness, they spend an hour answering just the essay question.

Suggested Solutions for Candidates’ Weaknesses

1. Candidates should read not for leisure only but to improve upon their usage of the language.
2. Students should be given more lessons and explanations on every aspect of the syllabus.
3. Candidates should also pay particular attention to the prescribed texts to be able to answer the questions set.

Question 1: Write a letter to the Minister of Transport suggesting two ways of improving the public road transport system in the country.

Candidates made errors while answering this question.

The candidates were expected to make mention of the state of public transport and/or describe it. However, most candidates did not do that. While several of them mentioned the issues, they failed to describe the situation. According to the examiner, some candidates wrote only the first part and added,’so’the government should do something about it…’

The question is a typical formal letter, yet students made the following errors:.

• Some wrote the letter without the salutation.
• Others wrote the salutation after the title.
• Others did not sign their
• Some wrote their signatures after their names.
• Other students addressed the letter to their school’s head teachers instead of the Minister of Transport.

Clearly, teachers are not grooming their students well enough to help them master the features of the various types of letters.

There must be conscious effort to teach students how to brainstorm and plans essays.

Teach them the features of the various letter types without necessarily teaching how to write then requesting students to write out the features.

Guide learners to brainstorm and question and follow the format or features written in answering the question.

READ: Latest BECE Examiner’s report on Social Studies for 2024 BECE candidates

Other questions asked during that examination were:

QUESTION 2

As the main speaker in a debate on the motion, students should not wear uniforms to school. Write your speech for or against the motion.

QUESTION 3

Write a letter to invite your cousin to spend the holidays with your grandparents, giving two reasons why he or she should pay them a visit.

READ: Latest BECE Examiner’s report on Social Studies for 2024 BECE candidates

We challenge candidates to attempt the aforementioned questions under the guidance of their teachers.

Candidates and teachers, you now know what to do. Work on the issues raised and prepare for the BECE.