WAEC Biology objectives: free practice with explanations
WASSCE Biology objectives test the cell, classification, nutrition, transport, respiration, excretion, reproduction, coordination, ecology, genetics and evolution, with many questions based on Nigerian and West African examples. CrackIt practises the objective paper with grades A1 to F9.
The WASSCE Biology objective paper usually has 50 questions in about 50 minutes. Confirm the time on your own timetable.
CrackIt has 121 original Biology questions across 21 syllabus topics (42 easy, 51 medium, 28 hard), each with an explanation in English and Pidgin.
5 free WAEC Biology practice questions
Original questions from our bank, written to the syllabus. Tap “Show answer” to check yourself.
Q1. Living things: characteristics and organisation of life
Arrange the following levels of biological organisation in order from the simplest to the most complex: (i) Organ (ii) Cell (iii) Tissue (iv) Organ system
- Aiii, ii, i, iv
- Bii, iii, i, iv
- Ci, ii, iii, iv
- Div, i, iii, ii
Show answer
Answer: B. ii, iii, i, iv
The correct order of organisation, from simplest to most complex, is cell, tissue, organ, then organ system. Cells group to form tissues, tissues group to form organs, and organs group to form organ systems.
Pidgin: The correct order na cell, then tissue, then organ, then organ system. Cells join together make tissue, tissue join make organ, organ join make organ system.
Q2. The cell: structure and cell processes
Ngozi placed some red blood cells into a beaker of distilled water. After some minutes, the cells swelled up and burst. Which term describes this process and why did it happen?
- ATurgidity; water entered the cells by active transport
- BHaemolysis; water entered the cells by osmosis
- CCrenation; water left the cells by osmosis
- DPlasmolysis; water left the cells by diffusion
Show answer
Answer: B. Haemolysis; water entered the cells by osmosis
Distilled water has a higher water concentration than the cell cytoplasm, so water moves into the red blood cells by osmosis, making them swell and burst; this is called haemolysis. Crenation is shrinking, and plasmolysis applies to plant cells with cell walls.
Pidgin: Distilled water get plenty water pass wetin dey inside the blood cell, so water enter the cell by osmosis make e swell burst — dem dey call am haemolysis. Crenation na when cell shrink, plasmolysis na for plant cell wey get cell wall.
Q3. Cell division
A body cell of a cassava plant contains 36 chromosomes. How many chromosomes will each gamete produced through meiosis in this plant contain?
- A9
- B72
- C36
- D18
Show answer
Answer: D. 18
Meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half to produce gametes with the haploid number. Since the body (diploid) cell has 36 chromosomes, each gamete will have 36/2 = 18 chromosomes.
Pidgin: Meiosis dey reduce chromosome number by half make gametes get haploid number. Since the body cell get 36 chromosomes, each gamete go get 36/2 = 18 chromosomes.
Q4. Classification of living things
A student wants to write the scientific name of the Nile tilapia fish correctly, given that its genus is 'Oreochromis' and its species name is 'niloticus'. Which of the options below follows the correct rule of binomial nomenclature?
- AOREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS
- Boreochromis Niloticus
- Cniloticus Oreochromis
- DOreochromis niloticus
Show answer
Answer: D. Oreochromis niloticus
In binomial nomenclature, the genus name is written first with a capital letter, followed by the species name in small letters. So 'Oreochromis niloticus' is correct, while the other options break this rule.
Pidgin: For binomial nomenclature, di genus name go come first wit capital letter, den di species name go follow wit small letter. So 'Oreochromis niloticus' na di correct way, di oda ones no follow di rule.
Q5. Nutrition in animals
Mama Ngozi chewed a piece of boiled yam for some time before swallowing it, and she noticed it began to taste slightly sweet. Which enzyme present in her saliva is responsible for this change?
- ATrypsin
- BLipase
- CPepsin
- DPtyalin (salivary amylase)
Show answer
Answer: D. Ptyalin (salivary amylase)
Ptyalin, also called salivary amylase, breaks down starch in the yam into simpler sugars like maltose, which taste sweet. Pepsin and trypsin act on proteins, while lipase acts on fats, so they are not responsible for this effect.
Pidgin: Ptyalin (salivary amylase) dey break down the starch wey dey the yam to sugar, na why e begin taste sweet small small. Pepsin and trypsin na for protein, lipase na for fat, so dem no fit cause the sweet taste.
Topics covered
- Living things: characteristics and organisation of life (6)
- The cell: structure and cell processes (6)
- Cell division (6)
- Classification of living things (4)
- Nutrition in plants (5)
- Nutrition in animals (5)
- Transport in plants and animals (6)
- Respiration (6)
- Excretion (6)
- Support and movement (6)
- Reproduction in plants (6)
- Reproduction in animals (5)
- Growth, plant and animal hormones (6)
- Coordination: nervous system and reflexes (6)
- Sense organs (6)
- Ecology: ecosystems, food chains and energy flow (6)
- Ecology: population, adaptation and habitats (6)
- Nutrient cycles (6)
- Pests, diseases and public health (6)
- Genetics and variation (6)
- Evolution (6)
How to score higher in Biology
- Use the 5-credits tracker: Biology is a core science credit for medicine, nursing, pharmacy and agriculture courses.
- Ecology questions often describe a habitat. Practise naming the ecological factor or relationship being described.
- Practise reading diagrams in words: many objective questions describe a structure and ask for its function.
Need five credits? CrackIt tracks your grade (A1 to F9) in every subject and plans each day until the exam.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in WAEC (WASSCE) Biology?
The WASSCE Biology objective paper usually has 50 questions in about 50 minutes. Confirm the time on your own timetable.
Are these real past questions?
No. CrackIt's 121 Biology questions are original, written to the official WAEC syllabus, and each has a worked explanation. CrackIt is not affiliated with JAMB, WAEC or NECO.
Is CrackIt free and does it work offline?
Yes. Practice by topic, timed tests and the Daily 10 are free, and once the app has loaded it works without data.
Can I read the explanations in Pidgin?
Yes. Every Biology explanations have a Pidgin version: tap “Pidgin” under the answer.