Social Studies remains one of the easy-to-pass subjects at the BECE and WASSCE, however many candidates fail to impress the examiner, leading to low and disappointing grades. At the end of the article, we offer free likely questions for WASSCE and BECE candidates as well.
In this article, we shall explain in detail how to Answer Social Studies Questions through a Step-by-step Guide for BECE and WASSCE.
It is hoped that candidates who master this guide and use them to attempt BECE and WASSCE questions will perform better and obtain good scores in their mocks and main examinations to be administered by WAEC this year.
Candidates need to understand that, they can not just start writing answers in their answer booklets after reading a question once. No, you must read the question a second time and all others in the set or category before choosing. Choose questions based on how much you know about the answers required, and the marks allocated to them.
How To Answer Social Studies Questions: Step-by-step Guide
Here is a guide to help you tackle BECE and WASSCE Social Studies questions effectively:
#1. Understand the Question:
It is prudent that, you read the question you want to answer or all the questions you want to choose from. Understand the demands or requirements of the question and pay very good attention to the keywords used in the question.
#2. Plan Your Answer For Each Question:
Do not be in a hurry, instead, do your best by planning your would-be answers. Jot down all the points you can raise and explain and examples you have in mind. If you do not do this, chances are that you will forget the points or the examples along the way.
If the question is an essay, as is the case with WASSCE Social Studies, think of a good introduction that will hook the examiner’s interest. Ensure that the introduction gives an overview of the answers. Use definitions, rhetorical questions, and quotes that are relevant to the point to start the introduction.
# Write answers in full, self-explaining sentences.
Take this from us, if you write lazy student answers for the Social Studies paper, you will surely fail the paper or score very disappointing marks. What are Lazy Students’ Answers? Well, let us use a question in BECE Social Studies to demonstrate that.
BECE 2008: Question 5b: In what four ways can productivity be increased in Ghana?
Let us look at the answers provided by four students for this question and who actually answered the question well.
Student One’s Answers
- Education
- Credit
- Ethics
- Course
Student Two’s Answers
- Credit facility
- Public Education
- Work ethics
- Training courses
Student Three’s Answers:
- Effective public education
- Planning and target
- Effective work ethics
- Using modern technology
Student Four’s Answers
- The conditions of service for workers must be improved so that workers will be happy to work hard.
- Also, there should be periodic training for all workers to sharpen their skills. The education or training provided should reduce negative practices such as lateness to work, which lower productivity.
- There should be a closer relationship between management and workers. This will enable workers to work heartedly to increase productivity.
- Authorities should provide workers with enough financial, material, tools, and other resources for workers to work with.
- The right persons who qualify to do the work should be employed and managers should set achievable goals with their staff
- Management must plan and set targets for their workers and allow workers to make inputs into such targets.
- Managers must increase their level of supervision and managerial skill. All staff must be supervised well when they report to work.
- Introduce technology and computers into the work of staff to increase the speed, efficiency, and productivity of the workers.
A student who writes clear and clean answers that provide further useful details, as has been done by candidate four, will earn nearly all the marks available for the question. This is the approach to use when answering BECE SOCIAL STUDIES QUESTIONS at the BECE.
From the above students and the answers provided, the one who will score the full marks or the highest score is student four. All the others provided various degrees of lazy students’ answers.
It is clear that the How To Answer Social Studies Questions: Step-by-step Guide for BECE and WASSCE provided above so far has opened your eyes to what examiners look out for.
After answering a question, go through it and correct spellings, subject-verb-agreement mistakes, etc.
If your answer is supposed to be in an essay form, as is the case with WASSCE, write in paragraphs and ensure that each paragraph focuses on one specific point. However, where the explanation is going beyond the standard one paragraph, there is no harm in breaking it into two and linking them with linking phrases that ensure the examiner is alerted.
For WASSCE students, ensure that you use linking words or phrases to glue your points and explanations together. Examples to consider are Again, Furthermore, Also, To add to the above, It is worth saying that, etc. Note that each of these must be followed by a comma before you introduce your new points or idea.
How to answer “What is questions” in BECE or WASSCE Social Studies Section B
“What is questions” are common during the WASSCE or BECE Social Studies exam.
Follow the guide below to solve such a question for full marks.
If it is a historical event related to “What is Question” e.g. What is the Poll Tax Ordinance?
Answer the following when providing answers to What is Questions in Social Studies
a. What was it?
When did it take place or was it started or both
Which person or people were behind it
Why did the event take place
What are the benefits or dangers (Just one)
READ: Examiner’s Report on 2023 BECE Super Mock 1: Must Read
BECE/SHS candidates can now attempt the following questions
SECTION I
Use the “How To Answer Social Studies Questions: Step-by-step Guide for BECE and WASSCE” Tips to answer the following questions.
THE ENVIRONMENT
Answer One Question Only from this Section
- a) Name and describe the three (3) types of rocks. [12mks]
- b) State four (4) characteristics of rocks [4mks]
- c) List four (4) planets in the solar system [4mks]
- a) In what four (4) ways is the forest vegetation important to the Ghanaian [8mks]
- b) State two (2) importance of highlands in Ghana. [4mks]
- c) Suggest four (4) measures that can be taken to protect the physical environment against degradation. [8mks]
SECTION II
GOVERNANCE, POLITICS, AND STABILITY
Answer One Question Only from this Section
- a) What is a constitution? [4 marks]
- b) With appropriate examples, differentiate between written and unwritten types of constitutions. [6 marks]
- c) Outline five (5) importance of a constitution. [10mks]
- a) State four (4) features of a good law [4mks]
- b) Explain four (4) negative effects of lawlessness in society. [12mks]
- c) Suggest four (4) ways by which law and order can be maintained.[8mks]
WASSCE /SHS candidates can now attempt the following questions
All SHS candidates should use the “How To Answer Social Studies Questions: Step-by-step Guide for BECE and WASSCE ” to answer these questions
Make sure you put in extra effort to use the Step-by-step Guide for BECE and WASSCE On How To Answer Social Studies Questions. Make it part of your preparation and examination passing strategy for SOCIAL STUDIES and RME.