WAEC English Language Marking Scheme 2025/2026 Explained
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Overview: What is the WAEC English Language Marking Scheme?
- Format of the WAEC English Exam: Papers 1, 2, and 3
- Paper 1: Objective Questions — Structure and Scoring
- Paper 2: Essay, Comprehension & Summary — Breakdown of Marks
- 5.1 Essay (COEM: Content, Organisation, Expression, Mechanical Accuracy)
- 5.2 Comprehension
- 5.3 Summary Writing
- Paper 3: Oral English (Listening & Phonetics) — What You Must Know
- How to Calculate Your Total Score and Grade (Percentage to A1–F9)
- Why Understanding the Marking Scheme Matters for Students
- Pros and Cons of Each Section — What to Focus On
- Comparison Table: Papers, Marks, and Grade Impact
- Real Student Examples: How Different Scores Add Up
- Summary Table Before Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) — 10+
- Conclusion
1. Introduction
If you’re preparing for WAEC 2025 or 2026 English, you might ask: How is the exam scored? or What do examiners look for in essays?
This article breaks down each part of the English exam—Objective, Essay/Comprehension/Summary, and Oral—in simple, easy-to-understand language fit for even a 10-year-old. Let’s learn how your marks are calculated and how to improve!
2. Overview: What is the WAEC English Language Marking Scheme?
WAEC’s marking scheme tells you exactly how the exam is graded. It shows:
- How many marks each paper section is worth
- What examiners look for in essays
- How to convert your raw score into your final grade (A1–F9)
Let’s go through each paper and explore how they’re scored.
3. Format of the WAEC English Exam: Papers 1, 2, and 3
The English exam has three papers:
- Paper 1: Objective — Multiple-choice (grammar, vocabulary, structure)
- Paper 2: Essay + Comprehension + Summary — The written part
- Paper 3: Oral English — Listening and phonetics skills
This structure ensures that all skills—writing, reading, listening—are tested.(turn0search0, turn0search1, turn0search10)
4. Paper 1: Objective Questions — Structure and Scoring
This paper tests grammar, vocabulary, and language use:
- Marks: 60 multiple-choice questions, 1 mark each = 60 marks
- Topics: vocabulary (idioms, synonyms/antonyms), grammar, structure, objective comprehension
- Strategy tip: Practice past questions to master patterns (no negative marking means answer all questions!)
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5. Paper 2: Essay, Comprehension & Summary — Breakdown of Marks
5.1 Essay — Using COEM (45–50 marks)
WAEC examiners use the COEM method to score essays:
- Content (C) — 10 marks
- Organisation (O) — 10 marks
- Expression (E) — 20 marks
- Mechanical Accuracy (MA) — 10 marks
Total: ~50 marks
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Tips:
- Essay should be ~450 words. Shorter essays lose MA marks.
- Be original and relevant—off-topic writing can score zero in content or organisation.
- Use good paragraphs—one idea per paragraph and logical flow helps your score.
- Expression depends on clear grammar, varied vocabulary, and strong sentence structure.
- Mechanical Accuracy deducts ½ mark per error, up to 10. So, check your spelling and punctuation carefully.
5.2 Comprehension (20 marks)
- You answer ~5 questions. Each correct answer is typically 4 marks = 20 marks
- Use your own words; avoid copying whole lines directly.(turn0search1)
5.3 Summary Writing (30 marks)
- You read a passage and write a short summary.
- Marks are split between:
- Identifying key ideas (often 10 marks)
- Expression and paraphrasing (often 10)
- Original phrasing—not copying (often 10)
- Total: 30 marks
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6. Paper 3: Oral English (Listening & Phonetics) — What You Must Know
Paper 3 tests your listening and oral skills:
- Marks: Around 30 (some sources say 30, others 60 depending on region—confirmation needed)
- Tests: Sounds, stress pattern, word odd-one-out, intonation
- Example: Listen to a recording and answer questions about stress or rising/falling tone
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7. How to Calculate Your Total Score and Grade
- Add up your scores from:
- Paper 1 (Objective out of 60)
- Paper 2 (Essay + Comprehension + Summary out of 150)
- Paper 3 (Oral out of 30 or similar)
- Divide by total marks (usually ~240) and multiply by 100 for percentage.
- Convert % to grade:
- A1 = 75–100%
- B2 = 70–74%
- B3 = 65–69%
- C4 = 60–64%
- C5 = 55–59%
- C6 = 50–54%
- D7 = 45–49%
- E8 = 40–44%
- F9 = 0–39%
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8. Why Understanding the Marking Scheme Matters for Students
- Helps you focus study on high-scoring areas like essay expression and summary paraphrasing.
- Helps manage test time effectively for each section.
- Knowing weight allows you to track your performance and calculate expected grade.
9. Pros and Cons of Each Section — What to Focus On
| Section | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | Quick scoring; full credit easy | Tricky grammar; needs wide vocabulary |
| Essay | Highest marks; creative scoring | Time-consuming; easy to go off topic |
| Comprehension | Structured answers; high marks possible | Needs strong reading and paraphrase memory |
| Summary | High marks for brevity | Copier risk; must paraphrase |
| Oral | Listening skill tested | Requires focus; audio may be tricky |
10. Comparison Table: Papers, Marks, and Grade Impact
| Paper | Marks | Key to Score High |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (Obj) | 60 | Strong grammar + vocabulary practice |
| Paper 2 Essay | ~50 | COEM: good content, organization, expression, accuracy |
| Paper 2 Comp + Summ. | ~50+20+30 | خوان comprehension + clear summary |
| Paper 3 Oral | ~30 | Listening practice, phonetics skills |
| Total | ~240 | Aim for 180+ marks for A1–B2 |
11. Real Student Examples: How Different Scores Add Up
Example 1: Balanced Performance
- Paper 1: 40/60
- Essay: 30/50
- Comp + Summary: 40/50
- Oral: 20/30
Total = 130/190 → ~68% → B3 (Good)
Example 2: Strong in Essays
- Paper 1: 30/60
- Essay: 45/50
- Comp + Summary: 35/50
- Oral: 25/30
Total = 135/190 → ~71% → B2 (Very Good)
12. Summary Table Before Conclusion
| Task | Details |
|---|---|
| Study Objectives | Focus grammar, vocabulary, essay COEM, listening |
| Practice Tips | Use past questions, time yourself, paraphrase |
| Understand Marks | Objective (60), Essay (50), Comp/Summary (50), Oral (30) |
| Total Score Goal | Aim for 180/240+ → ~75% for A1 |
13. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- How many MCQs in Paper 1?
- 60 questions worth 60 marks total.(turn0search1)
- How is Essay scored?
- COEM: Content (10), Organisation (10), Expression (20), Mechanical Accuracy (10).(turn0search5, turn0search6)
- What is the word count for essay?
- At least 450 words; short essays lose MA marks.
- How many marks for Comprehension?
- Typically 5 answers × 4 marks = 20 marks.
- How is Summary marked?
- Typically 30 marks: content, paraphrase, expression.
- Is Oral English mandatory?
- Yes—for most school candidates. It’s worth ~30 marks.
- How do you convert total to final grade?
- Add scores, divide by total marks (~240), multiply by 100, then use A1–F9 scale.(turn0search3)
- Can you still pass if essay is weak?
- Yes—strong performance in other parts can bring up your percentage.
- Should you paraphrase in summary?
- Yes—copying can cost marks. Paraphrase in your own words.(turn0search1)
- Is grammar more important or content?
- Both matter—but Expression is 20 marks, so grammar and vocab are vital.
- Are there negative marks for incorrect answers?
- No—WAEC does not deduct marks for wrong multiple-choice answers.
14. Conclusion
Understanding the WAEC English Language marking scheme for 2025/2026 gives you an advantage. You now know:
- Paper structure and mark allocation
- How examiners score each part (objective, essay, comprehension, summary, oral)
- What to focus on while preparing for a solid grade
