As the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) ends, the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is stepping in. In the next few days, candidates will be sitting the English paper in the WAEC’s ageless exam. In both (the UTME and WASSCE), English is central. Passing them is key for anyone dreaming of entering a university or other higher institution. Therefore, the question of “What do we need English for?” or “Who English (h)elp?” is nothing but an expensive joke.
While English is often believed to be tough, the daughter of a friend of mine gloriously surprised herself in the 2026 UTME. She earned a total score of 242 — a good result, though there was still room for improvement (after all, some candidates scored as high as 300). However, apart from the fact that 242 is a commendable performance — given that a multitude scored below 200 — it has the potential to qualify her for a good number of courses.
The most important part of her story is that she scored 73 in English. Yes, 73, while scoring between 52 and 55 in her other three subjects. The lesson here is that although many perceive English to be the most difficult subject alongside Mathematics, one can still excel if adequate and strategic preparation is made. In this regard, this lesson is particularly vital for those just starting their WASSCE.
The essay topic
WASSCE candidates need to be strategic in essay writing. This is a crucial segment where examiners test their power of composition, creative/imaginative writing, knowledge, and experience on a wide range of topics. Very importantly too, essay writing measures competence in English grammar. All of these are simultaneously tested when one writes that story, article, argument or letter, depending on the type chosen.
The first tricky aspect of the essay task is choosing a topic. The examiner is benevolent enough to give the examinees five topics to pick from. However, if one doesn’t handle this generosity well, one may create a problem that affects the entire paper. So, the candidate must choose wisely to score well.
If they fail to choose the right topic, they are unlikely to produce a compelling essay. There is also the risk of starting an essay and cancelling it to pick another one upon realising that it does not work out. When this happens, the student loses time and becomes jittery, and that anxiety affects their performance in other sections.
Choosing a winning topic:
Read through all given topics: This will help you discover which one is truly best for you.
Choose the topic you understand most: Do not gamble. The best topic is the one where you fully grasp the requirements.
Check your points: Ensure the topic you pick is the one for which you have the highest number of points to discuss. You determine this by making a draft. The first step in essay writing (after choosing the topic) should always be sketching a quick outline.
Stick to your strengths: If you prefer a specific type of essay (e.g., narrative or argumentative) and you understand the prompt, go for it. This helps you produce content more easily and quickly.
Understand all parts of the question: Some questions have two or more parts. If you don’t understand every component, drop it. Marks are shared among the parts, and ignoring one will cost you dearly.
Know when to drop a question: If you realise you don’t have enough material while making your draft, quickly drop that topic and look for another. It is better to change your mind during the drafting stage than halfway through the actual essay.
Other points to note:
Title: Every essay must have a title (except for informal letters).
Paragraphing: Arrange your content in clear paragraphs. Each should have a topic sentence, developing sentences, and relevant examples.
Introduction: Every essay or letter must have an introductory paragraph. However, keep the intro brief and engaging.
Cohesion: Connect your sentences and paragraphs using appropriate transitions and coordinators like firstly, however, moreover, meanwhile, notwithstanding and finally.
Sentence Structure: Write good, clear sentences. Avoid making them excessively long to minimise errors.
Accuracy: Avoid grammatical issues like poor spelling, wrong tenses, and incorrect use of articles or word classes. These are heavily penalised in WASSCE English.
Proofread: Before moving to the next section of the exam, ensure you review your work to correct slips and major mistakes.
Good luck to all candidates!
Source: Punch
