2025 WASSCE: Why Students Struggled with Application-Based Questions, According to Chief Examiners

Keywords: 2025 WASSCE, Chief Examiners’ Report, WAEC, Application-based questions, Core Mathematics, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, Dr. Peter Ante, West African Senior School Certificate Examination.

Introduction

The 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results have sparked a significant conversation regarding the state of secondary education across the region. According to the Chief Examiners’ file released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), a concerning trend has emerged: a vast majority of candidates performed poorly in application-based questions. This issue appears to be the primary contributor to the lowest recorded performance in the four core subjects over the past four years. While students demonstrated the ability to recall theoretical concepts, the examination revealed a critical gap in their ability to apply these concepts to real-world scenarios and complex problem-solving tasks.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the 2025 WASSCE performance data, insights from the Education Ministry and education experts, and practical advice for future candidates. We explore why rote memorization failed this year and how the educational system must adapt to foster critical thinking and application skills.

Key Points

Background

The 2025 WASSCE Overview

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is the standard examination taken by secondary school students in Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and The Gambia. It serves as a gateway to tertiary education and employment. The 2025 edition was highly anticipated, but the release of the Chief Examiners’ file has dampened the celebratory mood in many schools.

Understanding the Chief Examiners’ File

The Chief Examiners’ Report is a vital document produced by WAEC after every examination cycle. It contains a detailed breakdown of candidate performance, highlighting common errors, areas of strength, and weaknesses in the curriculum. It is intended to help teachers adjust their instruction and help students prepare better for future exams. The 2025 report highlights a specific pedagogical weakness: the gap between knowing and doing.

Analysis of the 2025 WASSCE Results

The data released by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) paints a grim picture. The aggregate performance across the four core subjects has declined significantly compared to the 2024 and 2023 cycles. However, this decline is not necessarily due to a lack of knowledge, but rather a mismatch between how students studied and how the questions were framed.

The Memorization Trap vs. Application Skills

Speaking on the Edutalk show on Joy News, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, provided a critical analysis of the situation. He noted that many students engaged in “cramming”—memorizing definitions and formulas without understanding their practical utility.

“What is important, after evaluating the examiner’s report, is that many of the learners struggle with application,” Mr. Iddrisu stated. “They may have prepared by memorising concepts, but this year’s questions focused more on the application of what they’ve learned.”

This distinction is crucial. In previous years, questions might have asked, “Define the law of indices.” In 2025, the question likely presented a real-life scenario requiring the student to use the law of indices to solve a problem. Students who only memorized the definition failed to answer the question.

Core Mathematics: The Word Problem Hurdle

Core Mathematics consistently remains one of the most challenging subjects for WASSCE candidates. Dr. Peter Ante, the Executive Director of the Institute for Education Studies, offered a granular breakdown of why this happened in 2025.

In an interview at the JoyNews Desk, Dr. Ante explained that the format of the questions was a major stumbling block. “I have spoken to most core math teachers, and one of the things that comes across in their responses to the challenges students face with core math is the fact that the questions were in word form instead of the normal numeric form,” he said.

Dr. Ante elaborated on the cognitive load this places on students: “When questions are placed in that way, what it means is that the students have to first read and understand and then apply the very basic principles, whether it’s indices, whether it’s trigonometry, or whatever it is that they have learned, to the demands of the question before they will be able to answer.”

This suggests that many candidates lacked the literacy skills to decode the word problems or the critical thinking skills to translate words into mathematical equations.

Societal and Systemic Implications

The decline in results has broader implications for the workforce of West African nations. If students are leaving school with the ability to memorize but not to analyze, solve problems, or innovate, the region’s human capital development is at risk. The Education Minister highlighted that this is not just a failure of the students, but a signal that the “provision of secondary training” requires a strategic overhaul.

Practical Advice for Future WASSCE Candidates

To overcome the challenges highlighted in the 2025 Chief Examiners’ Report, students preparing for the next WASSCE must change their study habits. Here is a step-by-step guide to mastering application-based questions.

1. Move Beyond Rote Memorization

Stop memorizing textbooks verbatim. Instead, focus on understanding the “why” and “how” behind every concept. If you are studying a historical event, don’t just memorize the dates; understand the causes and effects. If you are studying a scientific principle, understand how it applies to daily life.

2. Practice Word Problems in Mathematics

Since the 2025 exam featured many worded questions, students must practice translating text into equations. Do not limit your practice to direct calculations (e.g., “Solve 2x + 3 = 7”). Instead, practice questions like: “If a shopkeeper buys 2 items at $x and 3 items at $y, and sells them for a total of $50…” This builds the necessary neural pathways for decoding questions.

3. Use the “Concept-Application” Method

When studying a new topic, follow this method:

1. Learn the Concept: Read the textbook and understand the definition.
2. Find the Application: Ask yourself, “Where is this used in the real world?” or “How can this be used to solve a problem?”
3. Simulate Exam Conditions: Attempt past questions that are phrased differently from your notes.

4. Improve Reading Comprehension

Dr. Ante’s comments highlight that the barrier is often reading, not math. Spend time reading newspapers, novels, and articles. Being able to read a complex question quickly and accurately is a superpower during timed exams.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is the Chief Examiners’ File?

The Chief Examiners’ File is a report produced by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) after every WASSCE. It analyzes candidate performance, identifies common mistakes, and provides feedback on the difficulty level of questions. It serves as a guide for teachers and students for future exams.

Why were the 2025 WASSCE results so low?

According to the Education Minister and WAEC data, the 2025 results were the lowest in four years primarily because candidates struggled with application-based questions. Many students relied on memorization, which was insufficient for the type of critical thinking and problem-solving questions asked.

What does “application-based questions” mean?

Application-based questions require students to use learned concepts to solve new problems or explain scenarios, rather than simply recalling definitions. For example, instead of asking for a definition of “photosynthesis,” an application question might ask how a lack of sunlight affects plant growth and why.

How can I prepare for the 2026 WASSCE?

Based on the 2025 report, students should focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than memorizing. Practice word problems in mathematics, engage in critical thinking exercises, and ensure you can apply theories to practical situations. Consult the WAEC syllabus and past questions regularly.

Did the Education Minister comment on the results?

Yes, Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu appeared on the Edutalk show on Joy News. He acknowledged the struggle students faced with application and called for a collective commitment to improving the provision of quality secondary education.

Conclusion

The 2025 WASSCE Chief Examiners’ Report serves as a wake-up call for the educational sector in West Africa. The data reveals a systemic over-reliance on rote memorization, which proved ineffective against the application-based and worded questions used in the recent exams. As noted by Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and Dr. Peter Ante, the ability to apply knowledge is the true measure of learning.

For the region to produce a generation of problem-solvers and innovators, the pedagogical approach must evolve. Teachers need to emphasize practical application, and students must actively engage in critical thinking. By shifting focus from “what to know” to “how to use what we know,” future candidates can avoid the pitfalls that led to the low scores of 2025 and achieve academic excellence.