Biology Waec
Biology Waec
Biology Waec
BIOLOGY
PREAMBLE
This is an international Senior School Certificate Examination Syllabus drawn up from
the Teaching Curricula of the member countries of the West African Examinations
Council.
The international syllabus should be used in conjunction with the respective teaching
syllabuses where the candidates are domiciled.
The Syllabus is divided into three sections, A, B, and C. Section A is for all candidates.
Section B is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. Section C is for
candidates in Nigeria.
2. acquisition of adequate laboratory and field skills in order to carry out and
evaluate experiments and projects in Biology;
EXAMINATION SCHEME
There will be two papers, Paper 1/3 and Paper 2, both of which must be taken with a total
score of 200 marks.
Paper 1: This paper will be a practical test (for school candidates only) lasting 2
hours and consisting of three parts I, II and III. The paper will carry a
total score of 80 marks. Candidates will be expected to answer all the
questions in part I and in addition one question from either part II or III.
Part I : This part will consist of two compulsory questions drawn from Section A
of the Syllabus each carrying 25 marks.
Part II : This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia. It will
consist of one question drawn from section B of the Syllabus, carrying 30
marks.
Part III: This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of one question drawn
from Section C of the Syllabus, carrying 30 marks.
Paper 2: This paper will consist of two sections A and B, lasting 2½ hours.
SECTION B: This section will consist of eight (8) essay questions drawn from all the
sections of the syllabus. The section will consist of three parts : I, II and
III candidates will be expected to answer three questions in 1½ hours.
Taking two questions from part I and one question from either part II or
III. Each question will carry 20 marks. The total score will be 60 marks.
Part I : This part will consist of four questions drawn from Section A of the
Syllabus.
Candidates are expected to answer two questions from this part.
Part II : This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra-Leone and The Gambia. It will
consist of two questions drawn from Section B of the Syllabus. Each
question carries 20 marks. Candidates will be expected to answer one
question from this part.
Part III : This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of two questions
drawn from Section C of the Syllabus, each question carries 20 marks.
Candidates will be expected to answer one question from this part.
Paper 3: This paper which is for private candidates only, will be a Test of Practical
Work lasting 2 hours and carrying 80 marks.
The paper will consist of three parts, I, II and III.
Candidates will be expected to answer all the questions in part I and in
addition, all the questions in either part II or part III.
Part I : This part will consist of questions drawn from section A of the Syllabus
carrying a total of 50 marks.
Part II : This part is for candidates in Ghana, Sierra-Leone and The Gambia. It will
consist of questions drawn from section B of the Syllabus carrying a total
of 30 marks.
Part III : This part is for candidates in Nigeria. It will consist of questions drawn
from section C of the Syllabus carrying a total of 30 marks.
DETAILED SYLLABUS
SECTION A
(FOR ALL CANDIDATES)
CONTENTS NOTES
A. Concept of Living
2. Organization of life
(a) Levels of organization
(iv) System: In
mammals,
flowering plants –
reproductive
system, excretory
system etc.
CONTENTS NOTES
4. (a) Cell structure and functions of Cell structure should include: Cell wall,
cell components. cell membrane, cytoplasm, cytoplasmic
organelles: nucleus, mitochondria,
lysosomes, chloroplast, endoplasmic
reticulum, ribosomes, centrosomes, Golgi
body, chromosome.
CONTENTS NOTES
Definition and
processes of:
(c) Excretion
(i) Excretion in single
celled aquatic
organism. Diffusion
by body surface; by
contractile vacuole.
CONTENTS NOTES
(d) Growth
(i) Basis of growth – cell
division (mitosis),
enlargement and
differentiation.
(iii) Regions of fastest Observation of root tip and shoot tip are
growth in plants. required.
CONTENTS NOTES
7. (a) Tissues and supporting systems: The location and arrangement of skeletal
Skeleton and supporting systems in and supporting tissues in animals should
animals: be mentioned. Candidates should be
familiar with the general plan of
(i) Biological significance. mammalian skeleton and the different
types of joints. They should be able to
(ii) Skeletal materials, e.g. identify, draw, label and state the
bone functions of the individual bones listed in
the content column. Detailed structure of
(iii) Types of skeleton: the skull will not be required. Histological
exoskeleton, endoskeleton. structure of bones and cartilages will also
not be required.
(iv) Bones of the vertebral
column, girdles and long Candidates should be able to explain how
bones of the appendicular these functions are performed.
skeleton. The relationship of skeleton and muscles
during movement should be used to
(v) Mechanism of support in illustrate the different functions of the
animals. skeleton.
(b) Different types of supporting tissues The different types of supporting tissues:
in plants. turgid parenchyma; collenchyma, xylem
(wood) sclerenchyma should be studied.
CONTENTS NOTES
8. Transport System:
(i) surface
area/volume ratio.
Source of materials and forms in which
(ii) substances have to they are transported and where they are
move greater transported to should be studied.
distances.
CONTENTS NOTES
CONTENTS NOTES
13. Nervous Coordination
(iv) Fertilization,
development of the
embryo and birth.
(b) (i) Stages in the The different stages of the tadpole should
development of toad. be drawn and labelled.
(i) Arrangements of
floral parts of a
named insect
pollinated flower and
a named wind
pollinated flower.
(g) (i) Structure of fruits Fruits should be classified into dry and
fleshy fruits. The internal structure of a
(ii) Types of fruits leguminous fruit, orange, maize and
(classification). tomato should be examined and drawn.
CONTENTS NOTES
(h) Dispersal of fruits and seeds The following fruits should be studied as
examples to show the features that aid
Agents of dispersal their respective methods of dispersal.
Sunflower (achene) Combretum, cotton,
Crotolaria/bean, Desmodium, Bidens
Spp. And coconut.
Plant Nutrition
(ii) Light and dark reactions The translocating and storage of excess
food as a result of photosynthesis should
(iii) Materials and conditions be mentioned. Test for starch in green
necessary for leaves should be carried out.
photosynthesis
2. Animal Nutrition
(b) Balanced diet and its importance Importance of each class of food in
balanced diet should be stressed.
Candidates should relate the idea of
balanced diet to their own diet.
(i) Autotrophic:
Photosynthesis,
CONTENTS NOTES
1. Ecosystem:
CONTENTS NOTES
CONTENTS NOTES
(i) Decomposers:
(micro and
macro-
decomposers)
CONTENTS NOTES
7. Ecology of Population
(a) Ecological succession
CONTENTS NOTES
CONTENTS NOTES
E. Variation in Population
(b) colour (skin, eye, hair coat Observe and record various skin colour,
of animals) colour pattern of some animals (cow, goat,
(c) finger prints rabbits), colour pattern of plants (maize
cob and leaves). Make finger prints and
classify them into arches, loops, whorls
and compounds.
2. Physiological Variations
(b) Mendel’s work in genetics Mendel’s experiment with red and white
flowered pea should be reviewed and
discussed.
CONTENTS NOTES
CONTENTS NOTES
SECTION B
FOR CANDIDATES IN GHANA, SIERRA LEONE AND THE GAMBIA
CONTENTS NOTES
1. INTRODUCING BIOLOGY
(a) Biology as a Science The importance of Biology and the scientific method
should be stressed.
(b) Specialized eukaryotic cells The structure and function of red blood cells, sperm
cells, leaf epidermal cells, nerve cells, palisade cells.
(c) DNA and protein synthesis Treatment should include the role of RNA, TRNA
and ribosome only. Detailed structure of these not
required.
3. THE DIVERSITY OF LIVING THINGS
(a) Classification of living things Classification of organisms according to kingdom.
Phylum/division, class, order, family, genus, species.
(b) Identifying living things using key Only dichotomous key is required
(c) The main characteristics of major phyla Viruses should be treated as a group that share the
and divisions of the kingdom same characteristic with living and non living things.
CONTENTS NOTES
Bryophyta
class Hepaticae
class Musci
Lycopophyta (clubmoses)
Filicinophyta (ferns)
Angiospermophyta
class monocotyledoneae
class Dicotyledoneae
Platyhelmintes:
class Tubellaria
class Trematoda
class Cestoda
Nematoda
Annelida:
class Polychaeta
class Oligochaeta
Mollusca:
class Gastopoda
class Pelycopoda (Bivalvia)
class Cephalopoda
CONTENTS NOTES
Arthropoda:
class Crustacea, class Chilopoda (Centipedes)
class Diplopoda (Millipedes), class Insecta,
class Arachnida. Distinguishing features of
the following orders of the class insecta are
required: Odonata, Orthoptera, Lepidoptera,
Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Hemiptera,
Diptera, Isoptera
Chordata:
class Chondrichthyes (cartilagenous fishes)
class Osteichthyes (bonyfish) class Amphibia,
class Reptilia, class Aves and class Mammalia
(e) Tilapia (or any other bony fish) Nutrition, respiration, excretion, movement and
reproduction
Toad (Bufo) or Frog (Rana) Differences between toad and frog. In this section
adaptations to their various environments are
required.
(f) Flowering Plants Root, stem and leaf and their modifications.
(i) External structure of Internal structure of root, stem and leaf should be
monocotyledonous and treated with respect to their functions.
dicotyledonous plants Examination of these structures under the microscope
is required.
CONTENTS NOTES
(ii) Internal structure of roots, stem Structural adaptations of the leaf for photosynthesis.
and leaf Factors affecting the rate of photosynthesis; light,
temperature and carbon dioxide concentration.
(g) Excretion and Excretory products. Treatment should include water, carbon dioxide,
oxygen, alkaloids, tannin, acid, resin, gum.
(l) Movement
Action of muscles on bones to effect Locomotion should be treated in a named mammal.
Movement
CONTENTS NOTES
5. ECONOMIC IMPORTANT OF SOME The structure, mode of life, and economic importance
INSECTS of weevil, termites, cotton stainers, grasshoppers,
honey bee are required.
6. SOIL
(a) Soil Formation Sizes of soil particles should be noted. The following
mineral salts,
(b) Soil Components
(c) Mineral Salts Ca²+, Fe²+, Mg²+, and some anions
e.g. SO4²-, NO3- are required
(d) Organic matter
(i) Water Content
(ii) Air Content
(iii) Living organisms in the soil Determination of organic matter, water, air, and
living organisms, in the soil should be discussed.
(e) Physical nature and Properties of soil Activities to compare properties of sandy, loamy
types clayey soil regarding permeability, capillarity, pH,
water holding capacity are required.
(f) Conservation, maintenance and Renewal The various methods used for conserving,
of Soil fertility maintaining and renewing soil fertility should be
known: bush fallowing, surface terracing, contour
ploughing, strip cultivation, crop rotation, manuring,
irrigation, cover crops and mulching should be
known.
(i) Criteria for good housing School buildings, siting, design, building materials
orientation, surroundings, ventilation, and sanitation
should be discussed.
(ii) Personal hygiene Study should include care of all parts of the body.
(iii) Water supply, source and Mention should be made of ways through which
purification drinking water may be contaminated and purified.
Filtration should include the use of clean cloth and
sand.
(iv) First Aid
First aid in cases of drowning, bleeding, snake bite,
burns and scalds, fracture, fits, epilepsy, dislocation.
fainting, the importance of methods employed in first
and should be stressed.
(b) DNA and gene replication. Candidates should study the structure and gene
replication using models.
SECTION C
(FOR CANDIDATES IN NIGERIA)
CONTENTS NOTES
A. CONCEPT OF LIVING
1. The Cell The cell theory including the work of Hooke, Dujardin,
2. Cell’s reaction to its environment Schleiden and Schwann should be outlined.
(a) Irritability as a basic
characteristic of Protoplasm
3. Movement
(a) Cyclosis,
(b) Organelles for movement: Reference should be made to pseudopodia. The
cilia, flagella organelles should be observed from prepared slides.
SECTION E
(FOR CANDIDATES IN NIGERIA)
CONTENTS NOTES
7. Respiratory System:
Stomata and lenticel in plants, tracheal Candidates should observe, draw and label the
system in insects. excretory organs of flatworm, earthworm and insect
(e.g. cockroach).
Mechanism of gaseous exchange in
insects.
8. (a) Excretory System and Excretory mechanism of earthworm and insects should
Mechanisms: be mentioned.
(d) The skin: Reference should be made to the need for regular
Care of the mammalian skin washing of the body.
CONTENTS NOTES
(b) Organ of smell The process of perception of smell including the roles
(c) Organ of taste of sensory cells in nose and olfactory lobes should be
studied. Mention should be made of taste buds.
(i) Yolk in egg of fish, toad and The content (yolk and albumen) of birds’ egg should be
birds for nourishment examined.
(ii) Placenta in animals Candidates should observe the connection of the foetus
to the mother and the adaptive features of the placenta,
umbilical cord and amnion in a dissected pregnant rat.
(d) Fruits
Development of fruits and seed
and ovary wall
1. (a) Nitrogen cycle The names and roles of bacteria involved in nitrogen
cycle should be known. Candidates to observe root
nodules in leguminous plants.
CONTENTS NOTES
2. (b) Modes of nutrition:
autotrophic, chemosynthetic, Example of carnivorous plants should be studied.
carnivorous plants
2. Local biotic communities or biomes Identify these local biotic communities and associate
(a) Tropical rain forest each state in Nigeria with a particular biotic
(b) Southern Guinea savanna community.
(c) Northern Guinea savanna
(d) Sahel
(e) Desert
(f) Swamp/estuarine
CONTENTS NOTES
3. Major Biomes of the World
(a) Tropical forest Difference in structure should be mentioned and
(b) Savanna contrast between the temperate regions and the tropics
(c) Desert should be stressed.
(d) Shrub
(e) Afro Alphine
(f) Swamp
CONTENTS NOTES
8. Habitats
(a) Aquatic habitat: marine, estuarine One of the mentioned habitats should be chosen for
fresh water under the following study. Measurement of physical factors: temperature,
headings: salinity, light intensity, turbidity, current, pH, should be
(i) characteristics of habitat carried out.
(ii) distribution of plants and
animals in the habitat.
(iii) adaptive features of plants The pattern of distribution including dominant types and
and animals in the habitat. seasonal changes of population, size of organisms in the
habitat should be noted.
(b) Terrestrial habitat: marsh forest, One of the mentioned habitats should be studied. The
grass land, arid land should be measurement of the physical factors, temperature,
studied under the following headings: relative humidity, light, wind, and pH should be carried
out.
(ii) distribution of plants and The effect of physical factors on distribution of plants
animals in habitat. and animals should be mentioned.
(ii) Factors affecting a population Reference should be made to pest, abiotic factors;
temperature, space, water and light.
(e) Population growth and Food Supply Candidates should carry out experiments to show the
effects of limited food on mice population.
(i) Relationship between Reference should be made to the effect of food shortage
availability of food and human on human population during famine
population.
(ii) Family Planning Human population and family planning should be
discussed.
(iii) Factors that affect availability
of food.
CONTENTS NOTES
9. Food production and storage Reference should be made to factors affecting food
(a) Factors affecting food production and production, distribution, (transport and roads), and
storage government’s efforts to increase food production.
(b) Causes of wastage The effect of harvesting method, storage, and pest
should be known.
(c) Food shortage
(i) Causes of food shortage Reference should be made to effects of drought, and
diseases e.g. rinderpest on food production.
(ii) Effect of food shortage on the size Candidates should perform experiments using rats or
of population. Competition, Zonocerus with adequate/inadequate supply of food to
emigration, decline in rate of observe their behavior over a period of time.
reproduction and mortality.
(d) Methods of preserving and storing The principles involved in using these methods of food
food, salting, drying, smoking, preservation should be discussed.
refrigeration, canning and use of Reference should be made to their effects on flavour and
chemicals. quality of food.
(e) Ways of improving crop yield Reference should be made to cross breeding, pest
control, improved farming technique and use of
fertilizer.
10. Relevance of Biology to Agriculture
(a) Classification of plants Candidates should classify plants using the following
criteria:
(i) botanical classification
(ii) agricultural classification
(iii) classification based on life cycle.
CONTENTS NOTES
(i) Pests The effect of pest on crop and livestock with respect to
their cycle and control should be studied using specific
examples.
(a) Micro-organisms around us Micro-organisms in air, water and expired air should be
(i) Micro-organisms in air and observed and identified by their colour, pattern of
water growth and appearance of their colony.
(ii) Groups of micro-organisms
bacteria, viruses, some algae,
protozoa and some fungi.
(b) Micro-organisms in our bodies and Micro-organisms under the finger nails, mouth cavity,
food expired air, and decomposing food substance should be
observed and identified by their colour, pattern of
growth, and appearance of colony.
(c) Public Health: Candidates should be familiar with the proper methods
of carrying out these public health activities in their
The importance of the following to the community. Reference should be made to the roles of
maintenance of good health: refuse national and international health organisations in
disposal, sewage disposal, protection of maintenance of good public health. Various forms of
water, food hygiene, control of disease, immunisation should be mentioned.
health organisations.
CONTENTS NOTES
E. Application of Variations
3. Determination of paternity
F. Evolution
1. Adaptation for survival Reference should be made to the factors such as
food, space, water, light and mates which
(a) Factors that bring about organism share and form the basis of
competition competition.