WAEC 2019 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

We hold 864 questions from the 2019 WAEC papers in 19 subjects, each with the answer and an explanation. Below are ten of them, from ten subjects, and then every 2019 paper we hold.

Ten WAEC 2019 questions with answers

1. From the Mathematics paper

   1.

   Evaluate: (0.064) - $\frac{1}{3}$

   1. A
      0.4
   2. B
      3.5
   3. C
      2.5
      Correct
   4. D
      1.5
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   Express 0.064 as a perfect cube:
   0.064 = 64/1000 = (4/10)³ = (0.4)³

   Find the cube root:
   (0.064)^(1/3) = 0.4

   Apply the negative exponent:
   (0.064)^(−1/3) = 1 / 0.4 = 2.5

2. From the Physics paper

   2.

   A stone of mass 20g is released from a catapult whose rubber is stretched through 5cm. If the force constant of the rubber is 200Nm$^{-1}$, calculate the speed with which the stone leaves the catapult.

   1. A
      10.0 m/s
   2. B
      5.0 m/s
      Correct
   3. C
      7.5 m/s
   4. D
      2.5 m/s
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Using conservation of energy: elastic potential energy stored in the rubber = kinetic energy of the stone.

   ½kx² = ½mv²

   Given: k = 200 N/m, x = 5 cm = 0.05 m, m = 20 g = 0.020 kg

   ½ × 200 × (0.05)² = ½ × 0.020 × v²
   100 × 0.0025 = 0.010 × v²
   0.25 = 0.010 × v²
   v² = 25
   v = 5.0 m/s

3. From the Chemistry paper

   3.

   The group to which elements belong in the periodic table is determined by the number?

   1. A
      Of valence (outermost-shell) electrons
      Correct
   2. B
      Of occupied electron shells
   3. C
      Of protons in the nucleus
   4. D
      Of neutrons in the nucleus
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   In the periodic table, an element’s group number corresponds to the number of valence electrons (electrons in the outermost shell). Elements in the same group share the same valence electron count and therefore exhibit similar chemical behaviour. For example, all Group I (alkali) metals have one valence electron, and all Group VII (halogen) elements have seven valence electrons. The number of protons (atomic number) determines which element it is and therefore its period as well as its electron configuration, but the group is directly tied to valence electrons. The number of electron shells determines the period, not the group.

4. From the Biology paper

   4.

   Excretory products in plants responsible for the discoloration of flowers are called__________

   1. A
      alkaloids
   2. B
      tannins
      Correct
   3. C
      latex
   4. D
      resins
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Tannins are polyphenolic excretory products accumulated in plant cells, including petals of flowers. As they oxidise and accumulate in ageing tissues, they cause browning and discoloration of flowers, leaves, and fruits. Tannins are also found in bark, leaves, and unripe fruits, where they serve additional functions such as deterring herbivores due to their astringent taste. Other plant excretory products include alkaloids (in seeds and bark), resins (in woody stems), and latex (in laticifers).

5. From the Government paper

   5.

   Which of the following electoral systems is ideal for a heterogeneous society?

   1. A
      First-past-the-post
   2. B
      Proportional representation
      Correct
   3. C
      Single member plurality
   4. D
      Alternative vote system
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Proportional representation (PR) is considered ideal for a heterogeneous society — one made up of diverse ethnic, religious, or linguistic groups — because it allocates seats in proportion to votes received. This ensures that minority groups are not shut out of representation, and that the legislature reflects the true diversity of the population.

6. From the Economics paper

   6.

   What happens when the central bank increases the bank rate?

   1. A
      Inflation rises immediately due to higher consumer spending
   2. B
      Commercial banks raise their lending rates to customers
      Correct
   3. C
      Government borrowing from commercial banks becomes cheaper
   4. D
      The money supply in the economy expands rapidly
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   The bank rate (also called the discount rate or minimum lending rate) is the interest rate at which the central bank lends to commercial banks. When the central bank raises the bank rate, it becomes more expensive for commercial banks to borrow from it, so they in turn raise the interest rates they charge their own customers.

7. From the Civic Education paper

   7.One fateful morning, lmaseun was going to school. A few distances away from the school gate, he saw an accident victim writhing in severe pain by the roadside. The accident victim was hit by a motorcycle rider and left half dead. Although Imaseun was already late for school, he decided to convey the victim to a nearby hospital before reporting the matter to a nearby police station. From the story above, it could be said that lmaseun have demonstrated
   1. A
      Diligence
   2. B
      Selflessness
      Correct
   3. C
      Tolerance
   4. D
      Patriotism
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Selflessness is correct. Imaseun was already running late for school, yet he chose to stop, pick up a badly injured accident victim, and rush him to hospital before even going to report the case to the police. He put someone else's urgent need above his own personal interest (getting to school on time) — this willingness to sacrifice one's own convenience for the welfare of another person is exactly what civic education calls selflessness.

   So the value Imaseun demonstrated is selflessness.

8. From the Christian Religious Studies paper

   8.

   Saul was a native of___________________

   1. A
      Jerusalem
   2. B
      Corinth in Greece
   3. C
      Tarsus in Cilicia
      Correct
   4. D
      Antioch in Syria
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   Acts 21:39 and 22:3 record that Saul identified himself as a Jew from Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no obscure city.

9. From the Commerce paper

   9.Cash in hand and at bank, plus debtors are components of
   1. A
      Current assets
   2. B
      Fixed assets
   3. C
      Liquid assets
      Correct
   4. D
      Working capital
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   Liquid assets is correct. Liquid assets are assets that are already in cash form or can be turned into cash almost immediately, without loss of value or delay. Cash in hand and cash at bank are cash itself, and debtors are amounts owed to the business that are expected to be paid in cash very soon. This is exactly the standard definition used in commerce: liquid assets = current assets − stock.

10. From the Financial Accounting paper

    10.

    In public sector accounting, salaries of employees are classified as

    1. A
       Development expenditure
    2. B
       Capital expenditure
    3. C
       Recurrent expenditure
       Correct
    4. D
       Transfer payments
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: C

    In public sector accounting, salaries and wages are classified as recurrent expenditure because they are regular, ongoing costs incurred in the day-to-day operation of government. Capital expenditure relates to the acquisition of long-term assets, while development expenditure covers capital projects such as infrastructure. Transfer payments include grants and subsidies to individuals.

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

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