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100+ Free WASSCE Chemistry Practice Questions

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Key Facts: WASSCE Chemistry Exam

50 questions

WASSCE Chemistry Paper 1 has 50 compulsory multiple-choice objective questions

WAEC Chemistry syllabus

1 hour

Time allowed for the Chemistry Paper 1 objective test

WAEC Chemistry syllabus

3 papers

Chemistry is examined in Paper 1 (objective), Paper 2 (theory) and Paper 3 (practical)

WAEC Chemistry examination structure

4 options

Each Paper 1 objective question has four options (A-D) with one correct answer

WAEC Chemistry syllabus

A1-F9

WASSCE subjects are graded on the A1 (Excellent) to F9 (Fail) scale

WAEC grading system

C6 credit

C6 (about 50%) is the minimum credit pass that universities typically require

WAEC grading system

5 countries

WAEC administers WASSCE in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia

West African Examinations Council

100

Free original WASSCE Chemistry practice questions here

OpenExamPrep

WASSCE Chemistry is the WAEC senior secondary chemistry exam taken in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia. It has three compulsory papers: Paper 1 (50 multiple-choice objective questions, 1 hour, 50 marks), Paper 2 (essay/theory, 2 hours) and Paper 3 (practical or alternative to practical). The subject is graded A1 to F9, where A1-C6 are credit passes and C6 (about 50%) is the minimum credit most universities require. The syllabus spans atomic structure and bonding, the periodic table, states of matter, stoichiometry, acids, bases and salts, redox and electrochemistry, energetics, equilibrium, and organic and industrial chemistry. This 100-question bank gives original Paper 1-style objective practice across all of those areas.

Sample WASSCE Chemistry Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your WASSCE Chemistry exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which subatomic particle has a negligible mass and a negative charge?
A.Proton
B.Neutron
C.Electron
D.Nucleon
Explanation: The electron carries a negative charge and has a mass roughly 1/1840 that of a proton, so it is treated as negligible in mass-number calculations. Protons and neutrons (nucleons) make up almost all the mass of the atom.
2An atom has 17 protons, 18 neutrons and 17 electrons. What is its mass number?
A.17
B.18
C.34
D.35
Explanation: Mass number is the total number of protons plus neutrons in the nucleus: 17 + 18 = 35. Electrons are not counted because their mass is negligible. This atom is chlorine-35.
3Isotopes of an element have the same number of protons but different numbers of
A.electrons
B.neutrons
C.protons
D.energy levels
Explanation: Isotopes are atoms of the same element with identical proton (atomic) numbers but different numbers of neutrons, giving them different mass numbers. Their chemical properties are essentially the same because chemistry depends on electron arrangement.
4The electron configuration of an element is 2, 8, 7. To which group of the periodic table does it belong?
A.Group I
B.Group V
C.Group VII
D.Group VIII
Explanation: The group number for a main-group element equals the number of electrons in its outermost shell. With 7 outer-shell electrons, the element is in Group VII (the halogens). It has atomic number 17, which is chlorine.
5Across a period from left to right in the periodic table, the atomic radius generally
A.increases
B.decreases
C.remains constant
D.first increases then decreases
Explanation: Across a period the nuclear charge increases while electrons are added to the same shell, so the increased pull draws the outer electrons closer and the atomic radius decreases. Down a group the radius increases because new shells are added.
6Which type of bond is formed when electrons are transferred from a metal to a non-metal?
A.Covalent bond
B.Ionic bond
C.Metallic bond
D.Hydrogen bond
Explanation: When a metal loses electrons to form a cation and a non-metal gains them to form an anion, the resulting electrostatic attraction is an ionic (electrovalent) bond, as in sodium chloride. Covalent bonds instead involve sharing of electrons.
7How many electrons are shared between the two nitrogen atoms in a nitrogen molecule, N2?
A.2
B.4
C.6
D.8
Explanation: Nitrogen forms a triple covalent bond in N2, which consists of three shared pairs, that is six shared electrons. This strong triple bond makes nitrogen gas very unreactive.
8Which of the following compounds contains a coordinate (dative) covalent bond?
A.CH4
B.NH4+
C.NaCl
D.O2
Explanation: In the ammonium ion, NH4+, the nitrogen lone pair is donated to a hydrogen ion (H+) so that both bonding electrons come from one atom; this is a coordinate (dative) covalent bond. Once formed, all four N-H bonds are identical.
9Metals are good conductors of electricity because they contain
A.mobile ions
B.delocalised electrons
C.covalent bonds
D.fixed protons
Explanation: In metallic bonding the outer electrons are delocalised and free to move through the lattice of positive metal ions, allowing metals to conduct electricity in the solid state. Ionic compounds conduct only when molten or in solution, where ions are mobile.
10The unusually high boiling point of water compared with hydrogen sulphide (H2S) is mainly due to
A.ionic bonding
B.hydrogen bonding
C.metallic bonding
D.covalent bonding
Explanation: Water molecules form strong hydrogen bonds because hydrogen is bonded to highly electronegative oxygen; these extra intermolecular forces require more energy to break, raising the boiling point above that of H2S. Sulphur is less electronegative, so H2S has no significant hydrogen bonding.

About the WASSCE Chemistry Exam

WASSCE Chemistry is the senior secondary school chemistry examination of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), sat in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination across Anglophone West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia). The subject is examined in three compulsory papers: Paper 1, an objective test of 50 multiple-choice questions drawn from the common Section A of the syllabus; Paper 2, a structured and essay theory paper; and Paper 3, a practical chemistry paper (or the Alternative to Practical Work paper). The syllabus covers atomic structure, bonding and the periodic table, states of matter and gas laws, stoichiometry and the mole concept, acids, bases and salts, redox and electrochemistry, energetics, equilibrium and rates of reaction, and organic and industrial chemistry. Results are reported on the WASSCE A1 to F9 grade scale.

Assessment

Three compulsory papers. Paper 1: 50 multiple-choice objective questions (50 marks). Paper 2: structured/essay theory questions. Paper 3: practical chemistry or the Alternative to Practical Work paper. Papers 1 and 2 are taken in one sitting.

Time Limit

Paper 1 lasts 1 hour and Paper 2 lasts 2 hours (taken together); Paper 3 (practical or alternative to practical) is sat separately on another day.

Passing Score

No separate pass mark for the objective paper. The whole subject is graded A1 to F9; A1-C6 are credit passes (C6 about 50%) and D7-E8 are ordinary passes. Tertiary admission usually needs at least a C6 credit in Chemistry.

Exam Fee

Set by each WAEC national office and paid per full WASSCE registration, not per subject; the fee varies by country (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana) and candidate category and is revised periodically by WAEC. (West African Examinations Council (WAEC))

WASSCE Chemistry Exam Content Outline

20%

Atomic Structure, Bonding and the Periodic Table

Subatomic particles, atomic number and mass number, isotopes and relative atomic mass, electron configuration, the periodic table and periodic trends, and ionic, covalent, metallic and hydrogen bonding with molecular shapes and intermolecular forces.

12%

States of Matter, Gas Laws and Kinetic Theory

Properties of solids, liquids and gases, the kinetic theory of matter, changes of state, diffusion and the gas laws (Boyle's law, Charles's law, the general gas equation and the ideal gas equation).

15%

Stoichiometry and the Mole Concept

Relative atomic and molecular mass, the mole and the Avogadro constant, molar volume of gases, empirical and molecular formulae, mole-ratio calculations from balanced equations and concentration of solutions.

13%

Acids, Bases, Salts and Solubility

Properties and strengths of acids and bases, the pH scale and indicators, neutralisation and acid-base titration, types and preparation of salts, water of crystallisation, deliquescence and efflorescence, and solubility.

20%

Redox, Electrochemistry, Energetics and Equilibrium

Oxidation numbers, oxidising and reducing agents, electrolysis and Faraday's laws, electrochemical cells and the electrochemical series, rates of reaction and collision theory, chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle, and enthalpy changes.

20%

Organic and Industrial Chemistry

Hydrocarbons (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes), alkanols, alkanoic acids and esters, addition and condensation polymers, and industrial processes including the Haber and Contact processes, extraction of metals, hardness of water and environmental chemistry.

How to Pass the WASSCE Chemistry Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No separate pass mark for the objective paper. The whole subject is graded A1 to F9; A1-C6 are credit passes (C6 about 50%) and D7-E8 are ordinary passes. Tertiary admission usually needs at least a C6 credit in Chemistry.
  • Assessment: Three compulsory papers. Paper 1: 50 multiple-choice objective questions (50 marks). Paper 2: structured/essay theory questions. Paper 3: practical chemistry or the Alternative to Practical Work paper. Papers 1 and 2 are taken in one sitting.
  • Time limit: Paper 1 lasts 1 hour and Paper 2 lasts 2 hours (taken together); Paper 3 (practical or alternative to practical) is sat separately on another day.
  • Exam fee: Set by each WAEC national office and paid per full WASSCE registration, not per subject; the fee varies by country (e.g. Nigeria, Ghana) and candidate category and is revised periodically by WAEC.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

WASSCE Chemistry Study Tips from Top Performers

1Work through the official WAEC Chemistry syllabus topic by topic and tick off each objective; Paper 1 can test any part of the common Section A.
2Practise the 50-question objective paper under the one-hour limit so you average just over a minute per question and learn to skip and return to hard items.
3Memorise the first 20 elements, common ion charges and the activity/electrochemical series, since many objective questions depend on quick recall of these.
4Drill mole-concept and stoichiometry calculations until they are fast and accurate; they recur across atomic mass, gas volumes, titration and electrolysis questions.
5Learn oxidation-number rules and how to identify oxidising and reducing agents, because redox is one of the most heavily tested objective areas.
6Revise organic families (alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alkanols, alkanoic acids and esters) and key industrial processes such as the Haber and Contact processes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on WASSCE Chemistry Paper 1?

Paper 1 (the Objective Test) has 50 compulsory multiple-choice questions, each with four options (A to D) and one correct answer. It lasts one hour and carries 50 marks.

What are the three papers in WASSCE Chemistry?

Paper 1 is the 50-question objective test, Paper 2 is the structured/essay theory paper, and Paper 3 is the practical chemistry paper (or the Alternative to Practical Work paper). All three are compulsory.

What grade do I need to pass WASSCE Chemistry?

The subject is graded A1 to F9. A1-C6 are credit passes and D7-E8 are ordinary passes. C6 (about 50%) is the minimum credit, and most universities require at least a C6 credit in Chemistry.

Which countries take WASSCE Chemistry?

WASSCE is administered by WAEC in its member countries: Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and The Gambia, both for school candidates and private (GCE) candidates.

Does Paper 1 cover the whole syllabus?

Paper 1 is drawn from Section A of the syllabus, which is common to all candidates. The objective questions can test any topic in that common section, from atomic structure to organic and industrial chemistry.

Are these official WAEC past questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep questions modelled on the WASSCE Chemistry syllabus and Paper 1 objective format. WAEC publishes its own past papers and syllabus separately.