WAEC (West African Examinations Council) remains one of the most important examinations in West Africa. Every year, millions of candidates sit for this exam, hoping to secure good grades that will give them admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education. Yet, despite studying for months, many students still fail certain topics repeatedly.Some of these topics cut across Mathematics, English, Chemistry, Literature, and other subjects. They are the “nightmare topics” for many WAEC candidates — and even teachers know them as the areas students usually fail. But the good news is that no topic is too difficult when the right method is used to study it.In this comprehensive guide, we look at:

• 7 WAEC Topics Students Always Fail
• Why students fail them
• Practical steps to master each topic
• Common mistakes students make
• Exam strategies specifically for WAEC questions

Let’s begin.

1. Quadratic Equations (Mathematics)

Quadratic equations appear every year in WAEC Mathematics. They also appear in Further Mathematics, Physics, and even Economics. A typical quadratic equation looks like:ax² + bx + c = 0Examples:

• x² + 5x + 6 = 0
• 2x² – 3x – 2 = 0
• 3x² + 7x = 0

Why Students Fail Quadratic Equations

Quadratic equations challenge many students because:

• They are not comfortable with factorization.
• They forget the quadratic formula.
• They panic when the numbers look complicated.
• They make mistakes with negative signs.
• They can't differentiate between perfect square and non-perfect square equations.

How WAEC Sets Quadratic Equation Questions

WAEC may test quadratic equations through:

1. Factorization
2. Completing the square
3. Quadratic formula
4. Word problems involving quadratic expressions
5. Graphs of quadratic functions

How to Master Quadratic Equations

Step 1: Understand the 3 Main Methods

(A) Factorization

This works when the quadratic is simple and has factors you can easily split.Example:

x² + 5x + 6 = 0

Find two numbers that multiply to +6 and add up to +5 → 2 and 3So,

(x + 2)(x + 3) = 0

x = –2 or –3

(B) Completing the Square

Used when the quadratic cannot be easily factored.Example:

x² + 4x + 1 = 0

Move 1 to the right:

x² + 4x = –1

Take half of 4 → 2

Square it → 4

Add it to both sides:

x² + 4x + 4 = 3

(x + 2)² = 3

x = –2 ± √3

(C) Quadratic Formula

x = \frac{-b \pm \sqrt{b^2 - 4ac}}{2a}

This formula works for ALL quadratic equations.

Step 2: Know When to Use Each Method

• If the quadratic is simple → factorize.
• If the numbers look messy → formula.
• If the coefficient of x² is 1 → completing the square is often easier.

Step 3: Avoid Common WAEC Mistakes

• Sign errors
• Forgetting ± in the formula
• Leaving answers unsimplified
• Not checking for common factor before solving

Step 4: Practice WAEC Past Questions

The more you solve, the easier it becomes.

2. Summary Writing (English Language)

Summary writing is one of the most challenging parts of WAEC English. Students must read a long passage and then write short, accurate points.

Why Students Fail Summary Writing

• They lift sentences directly from the passage.
• They write too long.
• They don’t understand the topic of the passage.
• They write grammatical errors.
• They write more or fewer points than required.

What WAEC Expects

• Short, correct sentences
• No copying
• No examples
• No illustrations
• No stories
• Just the direct point

A summary sentence must be:

• Clear
• Straightforward
• Less than 20 words

How to Master Summary Writing

Step 1: Understand the Passage

Read the passage once first to know:

• What it’s about
• The tone
• The main ideas

This helps you answer correctly.

Step 2: Underline the Key Points

For every paragraph, WAEC usually hides one key point. Identify:

• Definitions
• Causes
• Effects
• Solutions
• Advantages
• Disadvantages

Step 3: Use Your Own Words

Instead of copying, rewrite the point.Example:

Passage: “Pollution is caused by careless disposal of waste.”

Summary: “Improper waste disposal causes pollution.”

Step 4: Avoid These Mistakes

• Long sentences
• Repeating the same point
• Using words outside your vocabulary
• Writing in the wrong tense

Step 5: Practice with Past Questions

Good summary writing becomes easier with practice.

3. Electrolysis (Chemistry)

Electrolysis is another WAEC topic many students fear. It involves electricity, ions, electrodes, and chemical reactions.

Why Students Fail Electrolysis

• They don’t cram the electrolytes WAEC expects.
• They confuse anode and cathode.
• They don’t understand ion movement.
• They cannot predict products of electrolysis.
• They forget basic definitions.

Key Concepts You Must Know

(A) Electrolyte

A substance that conducts electricity when molten or in solution.

(B) Electrode

Poles connected to the battery.

(C) Anode

Positive electrode where oxidation occurs.

(D) Cathode

Negative electrode where reduction occurs.

(E) Anion

Negatively charged ion → moves to anode.

(F) Cation

Positively charged ion → moves to cathode.

Common WAEC Electrolysis Questions

• Electrolysis of acidified water
• Electrolysis of NaCl solution
• Electrolysis of molten lead(II) bromide
• Faraday’s laws of electrolysis
• Identification of ions

How to Master Electrolysis

Step 1: Memorize Common Electrolytes

WAEC loves:

• NaCl (aq)
• NaCl (l)
• H₂O
• PbBr₂
• CuSO₄
• H₂SO₄

Step 2: Know Which Ions Are Present

CuSO₄ contains:

• Cu²⁺
• SO₄²⁻
• H⁺
• OH⁻

Step 3: Know What Happens at the Electrodes

At cathode: Positive ions (cations) gain electrons → reduction

At anode: Negative ions lose electrons → oxidation

Step 4: Predict WAEC Products

Example: Electrolysis of acidified water

Cathode → Hydrogen gas

Anode → Oxygen gas

Step 5: Practice Diagrams

WAEC loves diagrams in this topic.

4. Indices (Mathematics)

Indices appear in WAEC every year and also appear in Physics and Chemistry.Examples:

• 2⁵ × 2²
• 9^(1/2)
• (a³b²)/(ab⁴)

Why Students Fail Indices

• They confuse the laws.
• They don’t understand fractional indices.
• They fear negative indices.
• They make careless algebra mistakes.

The 6 Laws of Indices You MUST Know

1. aᵐ × aⁿ = aᵐ⁺ⁿ

Example: 2³ × 2² = 2⁵

2. aᵐ / aⁿ = aᵐ⁻ⁿ

Example: x⁵/x³ = x²

3. (aᵐ)ⁿ = aᵐⁿ

Example: (2²)³ = 2⁶

4. a⁰ = 1

5. a⁻ⁿ = 1/aⁿ

6. a¹⁄ⁿ = n√a

How to Master Indices

Step 1: Memorize the Laws

Knowing the laws makes every question easier.

Step 2: Simplify Step by Step

Never jump steps.

Step 3: Practice Roots and Powers

WAEC often gives:

• Cube roots
• Square roots
• Power of fractions

Step 4: Combine Indices with Algebra

Most questions mix letters and numbers.

5. Organic Chemistry (Chemistry)

This is one of the most difficult Chemistry topics.

Why Students Fail Organic Chemistry

• Too many structures to memorize.
• Long chains confuse students.
• They mix up functional groups.
• They can’t name or draw compounds.
• They don’t understand homologous series.

Key Areas WAEC Tests

• Naming organic compounds
• Drawing structures
• Isomerism
• Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes)
• Alcohols, acids, esters
• Polymerization

How to Master Organic Chemistry

Step 1: Learn the Functional Groups

• Alkane → C–C
• Alkene → C=C
• Alkyne → C≡C
• Alcohol → –OH
• Acid → –COOH
• Ester → –COO–

Step 2: Learn Prefixes

• 1 carbon → meth
• 2 → eth
• 3 → prop
• 4 → but
• 5 → pent
• 6 → hex

Step 3: Memorize Naming Rules

Example:

CH₃–CH₂–CH₃ → propane

CH₃–CH₂–OH → ethanol

CH₃–COOH → ethanoic acid

Step 4: Practice Isomers

Structural isomers appear every year.

Step 5: Practice Past Questions

Organic chemistry becomes easier with repetition.

6. African Poetry (Literature in English)

Students fail African Poetry because it requires:

• Interpretation
• Literary devices
• Understanding cultural elements
• Deep reading

Why Students Fail the Topic

• They memorize poems instead of understanding them.
• They don’t know literary devices.
• They confuse themes and messages.
• They write shallow answers in exams.

How to Master African Poetry

Step 1: Understand the Poet’s Background

African poetry reflects:

• Tradition
• Colonialism
• Conflict
• Culture

Step 2: Identify Key Themes

Examples:

• Oppression
• Freedom
• Poverty
• Rural/urban conflict
• Love
• Culture

Step 3: Learn the Common Literary Devices

• Metaphor
• Simile
• Personification
• Allusion
• Repetition
• Symbolism

WAEC loves questions on these.

Step 4: Learn How to Answer WAEC Poetry Questions

Your answer must include:

• Theme
• Message
• Style
• Devices
• Evidence (quotations)

Step 5: Study Past Questions

Poetry questions repeat often.

7. Probability (Mathematics)

Probability is another WAEC topic students don't like.

Why Students Fail Probability

• They confuse outcomes and events.
• They don't understand sample space.
• They can’t interpret word problems.
• They forget how fractions work.
• They panic when the question involves cards or balls.

Key Concepts You Must Know

• Probability =

\frac{\text{Number of desired outcomes}}{\text{Total possible outcomes}}

• Sample space
• Mutually exclusive events
• Complementary events
• Addition rule
• Multiplication rule

How to Master Probability

Step 1: Know the Basic Formulas

A. Simple Probability

P(A) = Number of favourable outcomes / Total outcomes

B. Complementary Probability

P(A') = 1 – P(A)

C. Addition Rule

P(A or B) = P(A) + P(B) – P(A and B)

D. Multiplication Rule

P(A and B) = P(A) × P(B)

(If events are independent)

Step 2: Master Probability of Balls, Cards, Dice

WAEC loves these.

Examples

• A box has 3 red balls, 2 blue balls. What’s the probability of picking red?
  P = 3/5
• A die has numbers 1 to 6. What’s the probability of getting an even number?
  Even numbers = 2,4,6 → 3 outcomes
  P = 3/6 = 1/2

Step 3: Draw the Sample Space

If confused, write out all possible outcomes.

Step 4: Practice Combined Events

Example:

Pick a red ball and pick a blue ball.

CONCLUSION

These seven topics — Quadratic Equations, Summary Writing, Electrolysis, Indices, Organic Chemistry, African Poetry, and Probability — are commonly failed in WAEC, not because they are too difficult, but because students do not study them the right way.By understanding:

• Key principles
• Common mistakes
• What WAEC expects
• Step-by-step solutions
• Past question patterns

…you can score high in each of these “difficult topics.”With proper preparation, consistency, and the right strategy, no WAEC topic is too difficult to master.