WAEC 2020 past questions

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

We hold 744 questions from the 2020 WAEC papers in 17 subjects, each with the answer and an explanation. Below are ten of them, from ten subjects, and then every 2020 paper we hold.

Ten WAEC 2020 questions with answers

1. From the Mathematics paper

   1.

   A fence 2.4 m tall, is 10m away from a tree of height 16m. Calculate the angle of elevation of the top of the tree from the top of the fence.

   1. A
      53.7°
      Correct
   2. B
      57.9°
   3. C
      45.0°
   4. D
      47.9°
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   The angle of elevation is measured from the top of the fence to the top of the tree.

   Vertical height difference: 16 − 2.4 = 13.6 m

   Horizontal distance: 10 m

   tan θ = 13.6 / 10 = 1.36

   θ = tan⁻¹(1.36) ≈ 53.7°

2. From the Physics paper

   2.

   A 500N box rests on a horizontal floor. A constant horizontal force is exerted on the box so that it moves through 8m. If the coefficient of kinetic friction between the floor and the box is 0.22, calculate the workdone on the box

   1. A
      880 J
      Correct
   2. B
      1760 J
   3. C
      440 J
   4. D
      3520 J
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   Normal force on horizontal surface = weight = 500 N.
   Kinetic friction force: F_f = μ_k × N = 0.22 × 500 = 110 N
   For the box to move at constant velocity, the applied force equals the friction force = 110 N.
   Work done: W = F × d = 110 × 8 = 880 J

3. From the Chemistry paper

   3.

   Which of the following statements about the solubility of a salt is correct?

   1. A
      The solubility of most salts increases as temperature increases
      Correct
   2. B
      The solubility of a salt decreases when pressure is increased
   3. C
      The solubility of a salt is independent of temperature
   4. D
      The solubility of all salts decreases as temperature increases
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   For the vast majority of ionic salts dissolved in water, increasing temperature increases solubility because the endothermic dissolution process is favoured by higher thermal energy (Le Chatelier's principle).

   Examples: KNO₃, NaCl (slightly), CuSO₄·5H₂O all dissolve more in hot water than in cold water.

   A few exceptions exist — for example, cerium(III) sulphate and lithium sulphate become less soluble on heating — but these are rare and the general rule is that solubility increases with temperature.

   Pressure has a negligible effect on the solubility of solids and liquids in water (unlike gases, where Henry's law applies).

4. From the Biology paper

   4.

   The cell as the basic unit of life consists of

   1. A
      cell wall, chloroplasts, and nucleus only
   2. B
      cell membrane, cytoplasm, and genetic material (DNA)
      Correct
   3. C
      nucleus, mitochondria, and vacuole only
   4. D
      ribosomes, lysosomes, and cilia only
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   All cells — whether prokaryotic or eukaryotic — share three fundamental components: a cell (plasma) membrane that encloses the cell and regulates what enters and exits; cytoplasm, the gel-like fluid containing organelles; and genetic material (DNA) that carries hereditary information and directs cellular activities. Prokaryotes have no membrane-bound nucleus (DNA is in a nucleoid region), while eukaryotes have a true nucleus. Not all cells have a cell wall, chloroplasts, mitochondria, or vacuoles — these are found only in specific cell types.

5. From the Government paper

   5.

   In modern democracy, a government is _________

   1. A
      Elected by the people and accountable to them
      Correct
   2. B
      Accountable only to the military high command
   3. C
      Formed at the discretion of the judiciary
   4. D
      Appointed solely by the head of state
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   In modern democratic theory, legitimacy flows from the consent of the governed. A government must be elected by the people through free and fair elections and remain accountable to them — through periodic elections, parliamentary oversight, a free press, and independent courts. Governments imposed by the military, judiciary, or executive appointment alone do not meet the standard of modern democratic governance.

6. From the Economics paper

   6.

   Mr. X and Mrs. Y pay $500.00 and $1,400.00 as taxes on their earning of S5,000.00 and $7,000.00 respectively. The system of taxation employed is

   1. A
      regressive taxation
   2. B
      progressive taxation
      Correct
   3. C
      poll taxation
   4. D
      proportional taxation
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   The tax rates here are: the first taxpayer pays 10% ($500 on $5,000) while the second pays 20% ($1,400 on $7,000). Because the rate of tax rises as income increases, this is progressive taxation. Under a regressive system the rate would fall with rising income, while under proportional (flat) taxation the rate would remain constant regardless of earnings. Progressive taxation is designed to place a heavier relative burden on higher earners in order to reduce income inequality.

7. From the Civic Education paper

   7.Bayo: Wao! Shola, how did you manage to purchase a new tricycle? Shola: I did not buy it. It was the Councillor from my town that distributed tricycles to unemployed youths. I am lucky to be one of them. Bayo: Congratulations! That's a good gesture. I wish the Councillor from my town would do same. The step taken by the Councillor in the dialogue above is best described as
   1. A
      Corporate social responsibility
   2. B
      Political patronage
   3. C
      Dividend of democracy
      Correct
   4. D
      Electoral bribery
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   The scenario: an elected Councillor distributed tricycles to unemployed youths in his area so they could earn a living, and Shola was one of the beneficiaries. Bayo calls it "a good gesture" and wishes his own Councillor would do the same.

   So the step taken by the Councillor is best described as a dividend of democracy.

8. From the Christian Religious Studies paper

   8.

   Due to Ahab's greed, Elijah made him aware that his house would be destroyed like that of______

   1. A
      Omri and Zimri
   2. B
      Jeroboam and Baasha
      Correct
   3. C
      Solomon and Rehoboam
   4. D
      Saul and Ishbosheth
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Elijah told Ahab that because of his wickedness God would destroy his dynasty just as He had destroyed the houses of Jeroboam son of Nebat and Baasha son of Ahijah (1 Kings 21:22).

9. From the Financial Accounting paper

   9.

   A non-cash expense chargeable against profit and loss account is

   1. A
      Depreciation
      Correct
   2. B
      Bad debts expense
   3. C
      Rent expense
   4. D
      Interest expense
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: A

   Depreciation is a non-cash charge that allocates the cost of a fixed asset over its useful life. It reduces profit on the profit and loss account but involves no actual cash payment in the period it is charged, unlike rent, interest or most other expenses.

10. From the Agricultural Science paper

    10.When a gene is expressed in the phenotype in a homoxygousor heterogousform, that gene is said to be?
    1. A
       Dominant
       Correct
    2. B
       Recessive
    3. C
       Epistatic
    4. D
       Codominant
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: A

    Dominant is correct. A dominant gene (allele) shows up in the phenotype whether the organism carries it in the homozygous form (two copies of the same allele, e.g. TT) or the heterozygous form (two different alleles, e.g. Tt). It only takes one copy of a dominant allele to be expressed.

    So the gene that is expressed in the phenotype in both the homozygous and heterozygous forms is the dominant gene.

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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