WAEC Mathematics Syllabus 2024/2025 (Ghana)

The WAEC Mathematics syllabus for 2024 is a guide to what students in Ghana need to know and be able to do in Mathematics. The exam will test your understanding of different mathematical concepts and how well you can apply them to solve problems. Here’s everything you need to know about the syllabus, explained in simple terms.

Objectives

The goals of the WAEC Mathematics exam are to:

1. Develop your ability to calculate accurately and efficiently.
2. Help you understand and apply mathematical concepts.
3. Improve your logical and critical thinking skills.
4. Encourage precision and accuracy in your work.
5. Prepare you for further studies in Mathematics and related subjects.

Exam Structure

The Mathematics exam is divided into two main parts:

Paper 1: Objective Test

• Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
• Content: 50 multiple-choice questions covering the whole syllabus.

Paper 2: Essay Test

• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Content: Consists of two sections:
  • Section A: 5 compulsory questions.
  • Section B: 5 questions, of which you need to answer any 3.

Detailed Syllabus Content

Number and Numeration

This section deals with different ways of counting and working with numbers.

1. Number Bases:

• What it is: Different systems of counting, like binary (base 2), octal (base 8), decimal (base 10), and hexadecimal (base 16).
• What to do: Convert numbers from one base to another and perform basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) in these bases.

2. Fractions, Decimals, and Percentages:

• What it is: Different ways to represent parts of a whole.
• What to do: Convert between fractions, decimals, and percentages, and use them in calculations.

3. Ratios, Proportions, and Rates:

• What it is: Ways to compare quantities.
• What to do: Understand and solve problems involving ratios, proportions, and rates.

4. Indices and Logarithms:

• What it is: Powers and roots of numbers, and their inverses (logarithms).
• What to do: Use the laws of indices and logarithms in calculations.

5. Surds:

• What it is: Numbers expressed in root form that cannot be simplified to remove the root.
• What to do: Simplify and perform operations with surds.

Algebra

This section focuses on symbols and the rules for manipulating these symbols.

Basic Operations:

• What it is: Adding, subtracting, multiplying, and dividing algebraic expressions.
• What to do: Perform these operations correctly.
• Factorization and Simplification:
• What it is: Breaking down expressions into simpler forms or products.
• What to do: Factorize quadratic and cubic expressions and simplify algebraic fractions.

Equations and Inequalities:

• • What it is: Mathematical statements that show equality or inequality between expressions.
  • What to do: Solve linear and quadratic equations, systems of equations, and inequalities.

Functions and Graphs:

• What it is: Relationships between sets of numbers or quantities.
• What to do: Understand and draw graphs of linear, quadratic, exponential, and logarithmic functions.

Sequences and Series:

• What it is: Ordered lists of numbers that follow a specific pattern.
• What to do: Work with arithmetic and geometric progressions and calculate the sum of series.

Geometry and Trigonometry

This section is about shapes, sizes, and the properties of space.

Plane Geometry:

1. What it is: The study of flat shapes like triangles, quadrilaterals, and circles.
2. What to do: Understand the properties of these shapes, including congruence and similarity.

Solid Geometry:

1. What it is: The study of three-dimensional shapes like cubes, cylinders, cones, and spheres.
2. What to do: Calculate the volume and surface area of these shapes.
3. Coordinate Geometry:
4. What it is: The study of geometry using a coordinate system.
5. What to do: Calculate the distance between points, the midpoint of a line segment, the gradient (slope) of a line, and write the equations of lines.

Trigonometry:

1. What it is: The study of the relationships between the angles and sides of triangles.
2. What to do: Use trigonometric ratios (sine, cosine, tangent), apply the sine and cosine rules, and solve problems involving triangles.

Calculus

This section introduces the basics of change and motion.

Differentiation:

1. What it is: Calculating the rate at which a quantity changes.
2. What to do: Understand the basic principles and rules of differentiation and apply them to find gradients, tangents, and normals.

Integration:

1. What it is: The reverse process of differentiation, used to find areas under curves.
2. What to do: Understand the basic principles and rules of integration and apply them to find definite and indefinite integrals.
3. Statistics and Probability

This section is about collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data.

Data Collection and Presentation:

1. What it is: Methods of gathering and displaying data.
2. What to do: Present data using tables, charts, and graphs.

Measures of Central Tendency:

1. What it is: Mean, median, and mode – ways to describe the center of a data set.
2. What to do: Calculate and interpret these measures.

Measures of Dispersion:

1. What it is: Range, variance, and standard deviation – ways to describe how spread out the data is.
2. What to do: Calculate and interpret these measures.

Probability:

1. What it is: The study of chance and how likely events are to occur.
2. What to do: Understand basic probability concepts and calculate the probability of single and combined events.
3. Vectors and Transformation

This section deals with quantities that have both magnitude and direction, and how shapes change.

Vectors:

• What it is: Quantities described by both a direction and a magnitude (length).
• What to do: Represent, add, subtract, and multiply vectors by scalars, and calculate dot products.

Transformation Geometry:

• What it is: How shapes move or change.
• What to do: Understand and perform translations, rotations, reflections, and enlargements, and know their properties.

Preparation Tips

• Understand the Syllabus: Make sure you know what topics are covered and how much each topic is worth in the exam.
• Practice Regularly: The more you practice, the better you will get. Solve different types of problems to strengthen your understanding.
• Master Key Concepts: Focus on understanding the basic concepts before moving on to more difficult topics. Build a strong foundation.
• Time Management: Learn to manage your time well during the exam. Practice completing questions within a set time.
• Seek Help: If you don’t understand something, ask your teachers, classmates, or look for resources online.
• Use Study Guides: Utilize textbooks, revision guides, and online resources to reinforce your learning and understanding.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the WAEC Mathematics exam structured?

The exam has two papers: Paper 1 (50 multiple-choice questions) and Paper 2 (essay questions, including compulsory and optional sections).

How can I effectively prepare for the WAEC Mathematics exam?

Practice regularly, understand key concepts, manage time during practice exams, and seek help when needed. Use textbooks, revision guides, and online resources.

Conclusion

The WAEC Mathematics syllabus for Ghanaian students covers a wide range of topics that are designed to build your mathematical knowledge and skills. By following this guide and preparing thoroughly, you can improve your understanding and perform well in your examinations. Make sure to practice regularly, understand key concepts, and manage your time effectively during the exam. For the most accurate and detailed syllabus, refer to the official WAEC website or consult your school. If you have any question, ExamDon is always here to help you always

Good luck with your studies!