WAEC Biology Syllabus 2024 Practical & Theory PDF

The WAEC syllabus for biology 2024 practical & theory is now available. Candidates who are preparing for the WAEC May/June examination should read this article(WAEC syllabus for biology 2024) as a guide to know their area of concentration.  

Read down to find out more relevant guides for the WAEC examination.

WAEC Syllabus for Biology Practical/Theory 2024/2025 PDF Download.

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Note the key points that will help you prepare ahead of the exams.

Here is the official Waec syllabus for Biology 2024/2025. make sure you go through the waec syllabus for biology carefully below.

This is an examination syllabus drawn up from the curricula of the member countries of the West African Examinations Council.

It should be used alongside the appropriate teaching syllabus(es) of the country where the candidates are domiciled.

This examination syllabus is divided into three sections: Sections A, B, and C.

Section A is for all candidates, Section B is for candidates in Ghana only and Section C is for candidates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, and Liberia.

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Aims and Objectives

1. This syllabus is intended to evaluate candidates on the following criteria:
Appreciation of nature and knowledge of the structure and activities of living organisms;

2. Acquiring adequate laboratory and field skills to conduct and evaluate biological experiments and projects;

3. Acquiring necessary scientific skills, such as observing, classifying, and interpreting biological data;

4. Acquiring the fundamental relevant knowledge in Biology required for future advanced studies in biological sciences

5. Development of scientific problem-solving attitudes;

6. Ability to use biological concepts in everyday life in topics affecting personal, social, environmental, community health, and economic problems;

7. Understanding of interrelationships between biology and other scientific disciplines.

Scheme of Examination

There will be three papers: Papers 1, 2, and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1: Will consist of fifty multiple-choice objective questions drawn from Section A of the syllabus (the section of the syllabus which is common to all countries).

It will carry 50 marks and last for 50
minutes.

PAPER 2: Will consist of six essay questions drawn from the entire syllabus.
The paper will be put into three sections, Sections A, B, and C.

Section A: This will consist of four examinations drawn from Section A of
the syllabus.

Section B: This Will be for candidates in Ghana only and will be drawn from Section B of the syllabus (ie the section of the syllabus peculiar to Ghana). It will consist of short-structured questions.

Section C: Will be for candidates in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, The
Gambia and Liberia will be drawn from Section C of the
syllabus (i.e. the section of the syllabus containing material for those countries only).

SECTION A 

This section is for all candidates and is the area of concentration for the WAEC Syllabus for Biology 2023

CONTENTS NOTES

Topic 1

(a) Major phyla of Kingdom Protoctista include Rhizopoda, Zoomastigina, Apicomplexa, Ciliophora, Euglenophyta, Oomycota, Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, and Phaeophyta.
Kingdom Fungi (Eukaryotes), are mainly non-motile organisms composed of hyphae containing nuclei e.g. molds, mushrooms, and Rhizopus.

(b) Major phyla of Kingdom Fungi include: Lycopodophyta, Filicinophyta, Coniferophyta, Cycadophyta, and Angiospermophyta (Monocotyledoneae)

(c) Differences between plants and animals.

Topic 2

Organization of life
(a) Levels of organization
(i) cell (single-celled organisms): Amoeba, Euglena, Paramecium
(ii) Tissue: Hydra
(iii) Organ (storage organ) bulb, rhizome, and heart.
(iv) System/Organ System: In mammals, flowering plants –
reproductive system, excretory system, etc.
(b) Complexity of organization in higher organisms: advantages and
disadvantages.

Topic 3

Forms in which living cells exist:
(a) Single and free-living: Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena, and Chlamydomonas Dicotyledoneae).
Kingdom Animalia (Eukaryotes), are multicellular motile organisms that feed on other organisms e.g. corals, worms, insects, snails, fishes, frogs, snakes, monkeys cows.

(b) Characteristics of the major phyla and classes of Kingdom Animalia.
The external features of the following organisms should be mentioned: cockroach, butterfly, Tilapia, toad/frog, lizard, fowl/pigeon.

(c) The examples should be used to illustrate differentiation and specialization in organisms.
The significance of different levels of the organization including volume/surface area ratio should be mentioned.

(d) The structure of these organisms about the forms of existence should be studied to illustrate dependence and interdependence.

1. Colony: Volvox
2. Filament: Spirogyra
3. Part of a living organism: Cheek cells, onion root tip cells, and epidermis of fleshy leaves.

Topic 4

(a) Cell structure and functions of cell components.
(b) Similarities and differences between plant and animal cells.

Topic 5

The Cell and its Environment: Physical and Biophysical processes.
(a) diffusion
(b) osmosis
(c) active transport

Topic 6

Properties and functions of the living cell
(a) Nutrition
(i) Autotrophic
(photosynthesis)
(ii) Heterotrophic (holozoic)
(b) Cellular respiration
Definition and processes of:
(i) Aerobic respiration
(ii) anaerobic respiration
(iii) energy release

Topic 7

Distinguish groups of cells that form tissues from those that form colonies or filaments. Cell structure should include Cell wall, cell membrane, nucleus, cytoplasm, and cytoplasmic organelles: mitochondria, lysosomes, chloroplasts, endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, centrosomes, Golgi bodies, and chromosomes.

The function performed by organelles should be known.

The significance of these processes should be mentioned as factors that affect cell activities in its environment.
Hemolysis, plasmolysis, turgidity, and crenation should be mentioned.
These should be mentioned as processes occurring within living cells.

Nutrition in Euglena, Chlamydomonas, and Spirogyra should be mentioned. Nutrition in Amoeba and Paramecium should be mentioned.

A simplified outline of the chemical processes involved in glycolysis and Kreb’s cycle; Reference should be made to the role of ATP.

The importance of anaerobic respiration in food processing should be mentioned.
(c) Excretion
(i) Excretion in single-celled aquatic
organisms. Diffusion by body surface and by the contractile vacuole.
(ii) Waste products of metabolism.
(d) Growth
(i) Basis of growth – cell division (mitosis), enlargement and
differentiation.
(ii) Aspects of growth:

Increase in dry weight, irreversible increase in size and length, and increase in several cells.
(iii) Regions of the fastest growth in plants.
(iv) Influence of growth hormones and auxins.
(v) Growth curvatures (Tropisms)
(e) Development: Enlargement and differentiation.
(f) Movement
(i) Organelles for movement: cilia and flagella,
(ii) Cyclosis.

Topic 8

Types of reproduction.
Reference should be made to carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia as examples of waste products.
Observation of the root tip and shoot tip is required. Regulation of growth by hormones should be mentioned.
Types of tropisms should be demonstrated.
Microscopic examination of the different regions of growth and development: region of cell division, elongation, differentiation, and maturation. Processes that result in primary and secondary growth.(i) Asexual: fission, budding, and vegetative propagation.
(ii) Sexual: Conjugation, formation of male and female gametes
(gametogenesis), fusion of gametes fertilization)

Topic 9

(a) Tissues and supporting systems: Skeleton and supporting systems in animals:
(i) Biological significance.
(ii) Skeletal materials, e.g. bone,
cartilage and chitin.
(iii) Types of the skeleton: exoskeleton, endoskeleton, and hydrostatic skeleton.
(iv) Bones of the vertebral column, girdles, and long bones of the appendicular skeleton.
(v) Mechanism of support in animals.
(vi) Functions of the skeleton in animals: Protection, support, locomotion, and respiratory movement.
(b) Different types of supporting tissues in plants.
(i) Main features of supporting tissues in plants.
(ii) Functions of supporting tissues in plants: strength, rigidity (resistance against the forces of the wind and water), flexibility, and resilience.
Prepared slides of:
(a) fission in Paramecium
(b) budding in yeast and Chlamydomonas; should be observed and drawn.
Prepared slides of conjugation in Paramecium and Spirogyra should be studied. The process of meiosis should be mentioned.
The location and arrangement of skeletal and supporting tissues in animals should be mentioned.

Moreso, Candidates should be familiar with the general plan of the mammalian skeleton and different types of joints.

They should be able to identify, draw, label, and state the functions of the individual bones listed in the content column.

A detailed structure of the skull will not be required. Histological structure of bones and cartilage will also not be required.

Candidates should be able to explain how these functions are performed.

The relationship between the skeleton and muscles during movement should be used to illustrate the different functions of the skeleton.

The different types of supporting tissues: turgid parenchyma, collenchyma, and xylem (wood) sclerenchyma should be studied.
Candidates should be able to cut and draw the low power of the T.S. of the stem and root of a herbaceous plant and label the different tissues;
epidermis, cortex and stele.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let us help you with the frequently asked questions about the Waec syllabus for Biology 2023

1. Is the WAEC Syllabus for Biology 2024/2025 Out?

Yes, the waec syllabus for Biology 2024/2025 is out and ready for download.

2. How do I Know the Topics I Should Concentrate on?

The topics you should concentrate on while preparing for your WAEC biology examination 2024 is in the middle of this article.

3. How do I Prepare for My WAEC Biology Exams?

To prepare for your WAEC biology exams, you have to read the WAEC syllabus for Biology 2024 to guide you on the major key points and areas of concentration.

Should you have concerns regarding the WAEC syllabus for Biology 2024 for students in SS3, Feel free to contact us using the comment box provided below and we’ll respond promptly.

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