A1 Marks

WASSCE theory papers · Core Mathematics and Integrated Science first

Know where the marks are before you sit the paper.

A1 Marks shows final-year students how examiners award marks on theory questions. Every question comes with a model answer written step by step, the mark each step earns, and the mistakes that cost candidates marks in recent papers.

Register interest See a sample answer

Launching with schools during the 2026/27 academic year.

Araba invests at 9% and 12% simple interest. The amount at 12% is 150% of the amount at 9%. After 2½ years the total interest is GH¢13,500.00. How much is invested at 12%?

Amount at 9% = x, amount at 12% = 1.5x
B1
Interest at 9% = x × 9100 × 52 = 0.225x
M1 A1
Interest at 12% = 1.5x × 12100 × 52 = 0.45x
M1 A1
0.675x = 13,500
M1
x = 20,000
A1
At 12%: 1.5 × 20,000 = GH¢30,000.00
A1

How it works

Every question is an answer unit.

Most past-question apps give you the answer. A1 Marks shows you how that answer is marked, so you stop losing marks you could have kept.

the question

Written in the style of the paper

Original questions modelled on recent WASSCE papers, with the same skills, structure and difficulty.

the answer

Marked line by line

A model answer laid out the way examiners expect it, with the method and accuracy marks shown against each step.

the report

What examiners saw

What examiners reported about how candidates handled the question in the real examination.

the traps

Where marks are lost

The specific wrong moves candidates make, the marks each one costs, and how to avoid it.

Sample answer unit

The question most candidates got wrong in 2025.

In last year's Core Mathematics paper, examiners rated this kind of question the weakest on the paper. Most candidates could not draw the diagram, and without it they could not start.

Mast and pillar from a midpoint

Trigonometry · Angles of elevationSection B12 marks

Question

A communications tower and a flagpole stand on the same horizontal ground. From the point O, midway between the foot of the flagpole, S, and the foot of the tower, T, the angle of elevation of the top of the tower, G, is 65°. From the same point O, the angle of elevation of the top of the flagpole, H, is 25°. The flagpole is 8 m high.

  1. Represent the information in a diagram.
  2. Calculate, correct to the nearest whole number:
    1. the height of the tower;
    2. |HG|.
SOT HGP 25°65°8 m xx
Model diagram for part (a) · not drawn to scale

What examiners reported

On the original question, most candidates never produced a usable diagram. Without it they could not see the two right-angled triangles sharing the point O. The few who drew it correctly found both answers without trouble.

Model answer

(a) Diagram as shown, with O as the midpoint, right angles at S and T, both angles at O and 8 m on SH.
B2
(b)(i) Height of the tower
Let |OS| = |OT| = x
B1
tan 25° = 8x
M1
x = 80.4663 = 17.1561
A1
tan 65° = |TG|17.1561
M1
|TG| = 2.1445 × 17.1561 = 36.7913
A1
Height of the tower = 37 m
A1
(b)(ii) |HG|
|ST| = 2 × 17.1561 = 34.3122
B1
|PG| = 36.7913 − 8 = 28.7913
M1
|HG|² = 34.3122² + 28.7913² = 2006.27
M1
|HG| = √2006.27 = 45 m
A1
Total12

Where marks are lost

No diagram, or both structures on the same side of Oloses B2, and usually everything after

O is between S and T. Put them on opposite sides and the two triangles appear.

Taking |HG| as the difference in heights, 37 − 8loses 3 marks in (b)(ii)

H and G are also apart horizontally by the whole of ST, so |HG| is a hypotenuse.

Rounding |OS| to 17 before using itcan lose the final A1

Carry four decimal places through the working and round only at the end.

Sample unit. Mark allocations are being reviewed by experienced WASSCE examiners before launch.

Subjects

Starting with the core four.

In examiner review

Core Mathematics

Every theory question from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 papers.

In examiner review

Integrated Science

Every essay and practical question from the 2023, 2024 and 2025 papers, with the technical words candidates misspell.

Coming next

English Language

Essay, comprehension and summary, with what earns content, organisation and expression marks.

Coming next

Social Studies

How many points an answer needs, and how each point is developed for full marks.

Who it is for

Built for the final year.

Students

Practise on your phone, check your working against the model answer and see exactly which marks you would have earned. Works on a basic smartphone and is light on data.

Schools

We are looking for a small number of senior high schools to pilot A1 Marks with their final-year classes this academic year. Pilot schools use it free and help shape it before mocks.

Examiners

If you have marked WASSCE scripts, we would like to work with you. Every answer is reviewed by an examiner before it reaches a student, and review work is paid.