Latest BECE Examiner’s report on Integrated Science for 2024 BECE candidates

Ghana Education News | Latest BECE Examiner’s report on Integrated Science for 2024 BECE candidates

Candidates preparing for the 2024 BECE need to consider the comments of the chief examiner in the latest BECE Examiner’s report on Integrated Science.

The said report outlines the strengths, weaknesses, and strengths of candidates. It can serve as a tool for preparing candidates for the impending examination. Let us take a careful look at the critical issues raised in the BECE Examiner’s report on Integrated Science for the 2021 BECE and how teachers and candidates can make good use of the comments.

Latest BECE Examiner’s Report on Integrated Science for 2024 BECE

According to the chief examiner’s report,.

(1) Students who sat for the examination were able to identify the different types of soil.

(2) Students were also able to define mixed farming. Candidates preparing for the 2024 BECE should master the definitions such as mixed cropping, mixed farming, pastoral farming, and all the other farming methods. If you cannot define them, you are advised to work hard at each. You should be able to tabulate at least two differences between any two pairs of these methods, as well as clearly outline two advantages and two disadvantages of each method.

(3) The definition of pollination was well done. As a student preparing for the BECE, you should be able to define this term. Learn the definition of “pollutant” as well.
(4) You must be able to solve calculation-related questions, just like those who sat the examination in 2021.
(5) According to the report, most candidates were able to identify some laboratory apparatus. Can you do the same thing as well?

Weaknesses to work on

(1) Some candidates could not state the correct scientific units. Students must learn the basic scientific units of measurement. So that they can attach them to their final answers. Without the scientific units of measurement, you will lose the allocated marks outright.

Here are 15 basic scientific units of measurement:

1. Metre (m): unit of length
2. Kilogramme (kg): unit of mass
3. Second (s): unit of time
4. Kelvin (K): unit of temperature
5. Ampere (A): unit of electric current
6. Candela (cd): unit of luminous intensity
7. Mole (mol): unit of amount of substance
8. Square metre (m2): unit of area
9. Cubic metre (m2): unit of volume
10. Gramme (g): unit of mass (often used in chemistry)
11. Litre (L): unit of volume (often used in chemistry)
12. Hertz (Hz): unit of frequency
13. Newton (N): unit of force
14. Pascal (Pa): unit of pressure
15. Joule (J): unit of energy

.

(2) According to WAEC, I did not use the correct scientific formulas and expressions while solving calculation questions. If you are also making the same mistakes, you have the time to correct them now by knowing your basic science formulas.

Here are four basic science formulas across different disciplines:

1. Newton’s Second Law of Motion: $F=ma$ where $F$ is the force, $m$ is the mass, and $a$ is the acceleration.
2. Ohm’s Law (for electricity): 𝑉=𝐼𝑅V=IR,$=IR$ where $V$ is the voltage, $I$ is the current, and $R$ is the resistance.
3. Speed (in physics): speed = distance/time ​
4. Density (in physics): Density=mass/volume ​

(3) Many of the candidates failed to distinguish between experimental observation and conclusion.

(4) Most candidates did not understand the formation of an eclipse as they were unable to explain the concept. Do well to study the entire topic related to this and master the basic definitions and diagrams related to this phenomenon.

A lot of the candidates lacked adequate knowledge of agricultural concepts. This could mean that teachers often skipped these topics and concentrated on teaching the science aspect.

WAEC will end up covering more of these concepts in the coming examinations if this trend is noticed in the 2022 and 2023 BECE as well.

(6) Practical questions give students a lot of challenge in the examination hall and contribute to their poor performance in the Integrated Science paper.

(7) Clearly, students are not taught how to answer questions or the difference between key words such as explain, what is, state, etc. According to WAEC, this made it difficult for students to understand questions, leading to the misinterpretation of questions by candidates.

The following can also be done to deal with the above issues:.

1. Teachers must work hard to explain the meanings of terms such as explain, what is, state, etc. when it comes to science questions. This will help candidates know what to write and how to write it when these words are used in science questions.
2. Teachers must dedicate a lot of effort to teaching practical questions and how students are to answer them. They must not forget to teach students how to solve practical questions relating to basic scientific terms and conventions.
3. Teachers provide their students with a lot of practical questions to practice in school and at home. They must teach their students how to draw, interpret, observe, and draw correct conclusions.
4. Give several assignments related to the use of scientific formulae, calculations, and.
5. Teach candidates to read questions carefully and brainstorm before attempting them.

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

The latest BECE Examiner’s report on Integrated Science for 2024 BECE candidates  shared here with detailed explanations should serve as an important study guide to students and well as teachers preparing their candidates.