TECHNICAL NOTES USUALLY USED BY EXAMINERS FOR MARKING WAEC/NECO ENGLISH ESSAYS USING COEM (WAEC SCHEME)
COEM means CONTENT + ORGANIZATION + EXPRESSION + MECHANICAL ACCURACY
Please take note of the instruction usually given by WAEC/NECO at the beginning of the essay section…
YOUR ANSWER SHOULD NOT BE LESS THAN 450 WORDS
CONTENT
1. For each essay “content” has a maximum of 10 marks.
2. “Content” refers to relevance of ideas to the topic and its specific audience and purpose. It also refers to the appropriateness of the language and relevance to the central theme and its development. The adequacy of treatment of the subject matter is important and there must be some originality in approach. A reproduction of knowledge from another subject like Biology or Economics not original to the writer will lead to reduction of marks. Above all, any deliberate distortion of ideas will be penalized e.g. writing a letter to an editor instead of an article, will be punished. Engaging in an irrelevant topic to the question set will lead to being awarded zero marks. Where the composition appears to be totally irrelevant, the scripts will be referred to the Chief Examiner. Sometimes, many candidates hastily choose a topic they do not understand. Consequently, the topic is frequently misinterpreted, distorted or abandoned half way for lack of acceptable material e.g. a candidate who was asked to write on an incident but who wrote on an accident will lose marks for irrelevancy if the question has no relevance to an accident.
3.Following the rules of grammar and punctuation judiciously is not sufficient, a passage without errors of language can be considered badly phrased or difficult to follow based on form and content.
4.An unusual and unexpected approach will,however, not be rejected without careful consideration.
ORGANIZATION
5.For each essay, “organization” has a maximum of 10 marks.
6.“Organization” refers to the correct use of formal features such as good paragraphing, appropriate use of emphasis and arrangement of ideas. Paragraphs are expected to be chronologically, spatially and logically coherent.
7.What examiners look for include a suitable opening, adequate development into paragraphs, links between paragraph, balance, unity, coherence, and a suitable conclusion. For example, in a letter, all features must be present. Absence of necessary feature or wrong use will be penalized. Paragraphs are expected to be effectively linked for a good score. The usual problem here is inadequate preparation. Many answers lack paragraph development, or logical slanting. Again, single-sentence paragraphs are usually common. At the extreme, some essays have one or two paragraphs.
EXPRESSION
8.For each essay, “expression” has a maximum of 20 marks.
9.Expression refers to vocabulary chosen, which should reflect the general audience, atmosphere or format of composition, e.g. vocabulary for an informal letter. Vocabulary must also be controlled and the sentences structured.
10.An example of the distinction being made about vocabulary is the language expectations for an article in a school magazine, which should be a story telling experience, or for expressing a personal opinion. On the other hand, the language in an article for publication is expected to be formal.
11.Sentences of informal letters can be long, while those for formal ones short. But incomplete sentences will be penalized. There is also room for emotional language in an informal letter. A judicious and imaginative use of figurative language is also allowed. Descriptive words to create a vivid picture of an incident are also allowed.
12.Examiners are not expected to be unduly influenced by mechanical errors in awarding marks for expressions but this is perhaps the greatest problem to students, many candidates suffer from a severely restricted vocabulary and inadequate exposure to idiomatic English. Many sentences are translations of the mother tongue, resulting in many un- English collocations. The real cause of the problem is the neglect of extensive reading.
MECHANICAL ACCURACY
13.For each essay, “mechanical accuracy” has a maximum of 10marks
14.Mechanical accuracy refers to grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) rules to be complied with. Errors discovered will be penalized by examiners, and 1/2 mark deducted for each, up to a maximum of 10marks.
15.Candidates are expected to use skillful and sophisticated ways of punctuations and should avoid being “caught” by examiners especially on errors indicated by WAEC in its yearly Chief Examiners’ Reports.
ADDITIONAL TECHNICAL NOTES FOR MARKING ESSAY / COMPOSITIONS
16.Examiners will mark on the principle of positive marking i.e. credit will be awarded for what is done right, and penalty will be given for errors and blemishes. Penalties are not in all cases numerical deductions, but the award of a mark lesser than would have been awarded if there were no blemishes.
17.Once the examiner determines the length of about 450 words, he or she will rule the point. No errors are to count for mechanical accuracy after this point but will be underlined if found and taken into account in giving the mark for “expression”.
18.When a composition is short or below its required length the maximum mark for M.A shall be proportionately reduced. This will be done before the examiner awards the overall mark for M.A. While there is no penalty against a long composition, generally, the length may count for either a reward or a penalty under CONTENT, ORGANIZATION and EXPRESSION.
19.If a candidate attempts more than one essay question, only the first one answered will be marked. No penalty shall be given for others.
20.If a candidate writes on a topic that is irrelevant to the question set, zero shall be awarded for content and organization, and not more than 8 marks out of 20 for expression. The mechanical accuracy bit of it will be treated as stated above
Please, i need help from wassec examinal to help me on coming wassec examination!
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…what sort of help?
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WHAT ASSISTANCE DO YOU NEED……
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Wow! This is awesome. How can share this to my friends?
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your facebook wall or twitter handle…thanks
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O men waec is lyk playin who wants 2 be a millionar fail nd lose the cash
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loosing the cash after winning or not winning at all?
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English markers are heartless
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….how?
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veiw ur suzez and make it real
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What if u were asked 2 write your experience, and you wrote another person’s experience; will be penalized?
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how would they know you are narrating another person’s experience?…
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What’s the total scores for an essay writing each, expectially letter?
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add up under C O E M above…
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Thank u, i will adhere to it
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u’re welcome…
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If i did nt answer sumary question in waec wat wil b my faith
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if u look under our write up on summary u will know what marks you are losing…also note our comment about being in the good books of an examiner/marker…”Penalties are not in all cases numerical deductions, but the award of a mark lesser than would have been awarded if there were no blemishes”…
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Hi, I am a Literature- in- English and English Language teacher in a secondary school in Lagos and I need the marking guide and answers for the two subjects. The possession of these will help me teach my students better. I hope I will be obliged. Thanks.
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Seun,have you registered with us as stated here?…what u have asked for is one of our premium services.
AND YOU CAN REGISTER WITH US FOR VARIOUS ACADEMIC-RELATED SERVICES AS FOLLOWS
1.FIRST GO THROUGH OUR WEBSITES TO CONVINCE YOURSELF ABOUT OUR GENUINENESS OR GO THROUGH MASON COLLEGE FESTAC ON FACEBOOK TO KNOW IF WE ENGAGE OR ENCOURAGE MALPRACTICES,419 OR IN ANY DUBIOUS BUSINESS
2. THEN PAY N2500 INTO OUR ACCOUNTS AT ANY BRANCH OF UNITED BANK FOR AFRICA
MASON COLLEGE A/C NO-1005353681 OR
EDUPEDIA ASSOCIATES A/C NO -1005280011
BOTH ACCOUNTS ARE AT UBA,23RD/72RD BRANCH FESTAC,LAGOS
3, THEN SEND YOUR GSM NUMBER AND DETAILS ON YOUR PAY-IN SLIP/VOUCHER TO ANY OF THESE PHONE NUMBERS 08033010872, 08027853025,08136250561
..after registration we can provide you actual marking schemes of past years and other related BUT LEGAL services…WE ARE NOT ON THE NET TO ENCOURAGE CHEATERS…Thank u.
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I am loving this tips. I would be delightful, if you could be provide tips for all the other subjects.
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for now,we can cover many more students strategically by focusing on English,Maths,Study and Examination Techniques only…thanks for the comment…
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Excellent way of explaining, and good article to get data about
my presentation subject matter, which i am going to
convey in college.
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May god bless you because we are suspencing from this programme
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May god bless you because we are suspencing our errors through this programme
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It must be marked according to marking scheme and how u write your essay
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thanks for your comment
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I am very surprise at the great human endeavour that improve and judge the handwork of the student.
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Can you please help me know how to answer the entire english papper one?
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What is the overall marks 4 subjects with practicals?
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Please send me marking scheme for chemistry,Government and Agricultural science
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how do dey award grade in waec but d total marks is 240 ,hw will they do it
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i min in eng.lang.hw do dey award d grade but it is 240 marks
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gud work bt i nid dz yr qustion on english
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…good statement but go look elsewhere for what u requested…thanks…
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Great work!
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can a student score more on organization than on content?
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…can the beauty of a building be more important than its foundation?…content is the foundation…if your content is irrelevant your organization or beautiful language has no basis…
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Reblogged this on hamzatismaillivecom's Blog and commented:
Waec guide on English Language
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Can only objective give me a credit grade in waec
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Can only objective give me credit grade in waec
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do they divide obj and theory when marking neco…………….pls i just want to know
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I DID NOT WRITE SUMMARY TODAY ON MY NECO ENGLISH EXAM,WHAT IS MY STAND
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…your stand???????…
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Hi! WAEC. Im delightful of your service. Would i got special medicine in English essays? I am suffering……i need doctor.
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…we hope everything is alright?…
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please,I did not finish my biology practical in waec but I did my obj and theory well…what is my chance pls?
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I did not finish my biology practical in waec,I only did 2 questions but I did my obj and theory very well….what is my chance pls??
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…sorry,we can’t know…
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replied
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i did not write summary only..50marks in neco. Sir did i hv hope. Pls sir’ am really afriad ryt nw …help ooh..
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…will depend on how u answered the other parts…essay/comprehension and lexis/structure
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Reblogged this on MILE2HERALD (OMG! NEWS AND INFO).
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Sir pls i doubt mine score on government pls i want to seek for remarking i need a help..oh
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…if its a school exam that is May/June, only your school can write on your behalf…approach the principal as quickly as u can…
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why is waec marking scheme very hard, but neco is nt?
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Hard for whom?…u, your teachers or examiners?…there is no real difference between the two…
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sir how can I contact you for hard copies of the marking scheme…before Sunday….and what’s the cost rate per subject.
thanks so much for your services on this site.
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…all copies were handed over to u at our office in Festac on Saturday 9th January after a detailed discussion on how to use them…you collected for about 12 subjects…pls have a nice day…
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please can i get the marking scheme for mathematics?
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…yes…u’ll pay for the photocopies at our office in Festac…
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when answering my essay i wrote it alright but instead putting down question 2 i forgot so i placed 3 there . will the marker correct the mistake with.penalites
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Pls sir I did not write out the numbers of questions I answered outside my booklet where exam number is usually written at the front page pls sir is waec going to mark my script I did this mistake on Civic education day
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