The WAEC Mathematics Exam is one of the most important and challenging exams for students across West Africa. It tests a range of mathematical skills, including algebra, calculus, statistics, and geometry. To maximize your chances of success, it’s crucial to focus on the most highly repeated topics and practice past questions that frequently appear in the exam.
This guide provides a comprehensive list of the most repeated topics and past questions for the WAEC Mathematics Exam 2025/2026 to help you prepare effectively.
Overview of the WAEC Mathematics Exam
The WAEC Mathematics exam covers various branches of mathematics. The structure generally includes:
- Section A: Objective questions (multiple choice)
- Section B: Theory questions (short-answer and long-answer questions)
The topics tested cover the entire syllabus, and your ability to solve problems quickly and accurately is crucial. Below is a breakdown of the most important and highly repeated topics in WAEC Mathematics 2025/2026.
Highly Repeated Topics in WAEC Mathematics Exam 2025/2026
1. Algebra
- Simplification of Expressions: Questions often involve simplifying algebraic expressions, solving for unknown variables, and factorizing quadratic expressions.
- Example: Simplify expressions like 3
x
+
5
x
−
2
=
0
3x+5x−2=0 or factorize quadratic equations like x
2
−
5
x
+
6
x2−5x+6. - Linear and Quadratic Equations: Solving linear and quadratic equations remains a staple. Students are often asked to solve and interpret these equations graphically and algebraically.
- Example: Solve the quadratic equation x
2
+
5
x
+
6
=
0
x2+5x+6=0. - Simultaneous Equations: Solving simultaneous linear equations is frequently tested.
- Example: Solve the system of equations:
2
x
+
3
y
=
7
2x+3y=74
x
−
y
=
3
4x−y=3
2. Arithmetic and Number Theory
- Profit and Loss: Calculating profit, loss, percentage profit, and loss remains one of the most tested concepts.
- Example: If a product is bought for N500 and sold for N600, find the percentage profit.
- Percentage: Working with percentages, especially in problems involving discounts, increases, and decreases, is critical.
- Example: Find the percentage increase from N50 to N75.
- Interest: Simple and compound interest calculations are commonly tested.
- Example: Calculate the compound interest on N2000 at an interest rate of 5% per annum for 3 years.
3. Geometry
- Area and Perimeter: You’ll often encounter questions about finding the area and perimeter of various shapes like circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles.
- Example: Find the area of a circle with a radius of 7 cm.
- Angles and Triangles: Theorems relating to angles, especially the properties of triangles, are frequently tested.
- Example: In a right-angled triangle, if one angle is 30°, find the other two angles.
- Solid Geometry: Questions related to the surface area and volume of 3D shapes such as cones, spheres, and cylinders often appear.
- Example: Calculate the volume of a cylinder with a radius of 5 cm and height of 10 cm.
4. Trigonometry
- Sine, Cosine, and Tangent: The use of trigonometric ratios in solving right-angled triangles is essential.
- Example: Find the length of the hypotenuse in a right-angled triangle with sides 3 cm and 4 cm.
- Trigonometric Identities: Solving trigonometric identities and using them to simplify expressions.
- Example: Simplify sin
2
θ
+
cos
2
θ
sin2θ+cos2θ. - Height and Distance Problems: Trigonometry is often used to solve problems related to height and distance, especially in real-life contexts like measuring buildings or mountains.
- Example: Using trigonometric ratios to calculate the height of a building when the distance and angle of elevation are given.
5. Statistics and Probability
- Mean, Median, and Mode: Finding and interpreting the mean, median, and mode in data sets are common tasks.
- Example: Find the mean of the data set: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10.
- Standard Deviation: Calculating the standard deviation to determine the spread of data in a set.
- Example: Calculate the standard deviation of the data set: 4, 5, 6, 8, 10.
- Probability: Solving problems related to probability, including conditional probability and probability distributions.
- Example: A box contains 5 red balls and 3 blue balls. What is the probability of picking a red ball?
6. Sets and Venn Diagrams
- Set Operations: Questions on union, intersection, and complement of sets are frequently asked.
- Example: If A
=
{
1
,
2
,
3
}
A={1,2,3} and B
=
{
2
,
3
,
4
}
B={2,3,4}, find A
∪
B
A∪B and A
∩
B
A∩B. - Venn Diagrams: Understanding and solving problems based on Venn diagrams is essential, especially with multiple sets.
- Example: Solve for the number of students who play both basketball and football given the sets of students playing each sport.
7. Functions and Graphs
- Linear Functions: Graphing linear equations and finding the slope and intercept are commonly tested.
- Example: Graph the equation y
=
2
x
+
3
y=2x+3. - Quadratic Functions: Understanding how to graph quadratic equations and find the vertex or roots.
- Example: Graph the quadratic equation y
=
x
2
−
4
x
+
3
y=x2−4x+3. - Exponential Functions: Solving and graphing exponential growth and decay problems.
- Example: Calculate the value of y
=
2
x
y=2x for different values of x
x.
Past Questions for WAEC Mathematics Exam (2025/2026)
Here are some sample past questions to give you an idea of what to expect in the WAEC Mathematics Exam:
1. Algebra
- Solve for x
x:
3
(
x
+
4
)
=
18
3(x+4)=18 - Factorize:
x
2
−
7
x
+
10
x2−7x+10
2. Arithmetic
- A shopkeeper bought an item for N2500 and sold it for N3000. What was the percentage profit?
- Calculate the simple interest on N5000 for 2 years at an annual rate of 6%.
3. Geometry
- Find the area of a triangle with base 8 cm and height 5 cm.
- A cylinder has a radius of 3 cm and a height of 7 cm. Calculate the volume.
4. Trigonometry
- In a right-angled triangle, if one angle is 45° and the adjacent side is 6 cm, find the hypotenuse.
- Simplify the expression sin
2
θ
+
cos
2
θ
sin2θ+cos2θ.
5. Statistics and Probability
- Find the mean of the data set: 5, 7, 10, 12, 15.
- What is the probability of drawing a red card from a standard deck of cards?
Conclusion
To perform well in the WAEC Mathematics Exam 2025/2026, focusing on the most repeated topics and practicing past questions is crucial. Master the key concepts in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, statistics, and functions, and practice solving problems regularly to improve your chances of success.
Good luck with your preparation!
