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BECE practice questions

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Question 1BECE School

In the BECE Social Studies paper, which institution is responsible for conducting the examination and issuing results to candidates?

  1. The National Commission for Civic Education
  2. The West African Examinations Council Correct answer.
  3. The Ministry of Finance
  4. The Ghana Education Service

Explanation

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is the body that sets, administers and marks the BECE and releases the results. The other bodies play educational, financial or civic roles but do not conduct the examination.

Question 2BECE School

A BECE candidate in Integrated Science is asked to identify the instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. Which instrument should the candidate choose?

  1. A thermometer
  2. A hygrometer
  3. A barometer Correct answer.
  4. An anemometer

Explanation

A barometer measures atmospheric pressure, which is important in weather study. A thermometer measures temperature, a hygrometer measures humidity and an anemometer measures wind speed.

Question 3BECE School

In the BECE English Language paper, a candidate must choose the word that best completes: 'The teacher asked the pupils to ______ their exercise books before the bell rang.' Which word fits best?

  1. submitted
  2. submitting
  3. submit Correct answer.
  4. submits

Explanation

After the infinitive marker 'to', the base form of the verb is required, so 'submit' is correct. The other forms are inflected and cannot follow 'to' in this construction.

Question 4BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate is asked to simplify 3(2x + 4) − 2(x − 1). Which expression is correct?

  1. 4x + 10
  2. 8x + 10
  3. 4x + 14 Correct answer.
  4. 4x + 12

Explanation

Expanding gives 6x + 12 − 2x + 2, because subtracting 2(x − 1) changes the sign of −2. Collecting like terms gives 4x + 14.

Question 5BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, the principle that all adult citizens have an equal right to vote and be voted for is best described as:

  1. separation of powers
  2. judicial independence
  3. universal adult suffrage Correct answer.
  4. rule of law

Explanation

Universal adult suffrage means every adult citizen has the right to vote regardless of sex, wealth or status. Judicial independence, rule of law and separation of powers concern the courts and the distribution of government power.

Question 6BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science candidate observes that a green plant kept in darkness for several days turns pale. Which explanation best accounts for this observation?

  1. The roots stopped absorbing mineral salts.
  2. The plant absorbed too much carbon dioxide.
  3. Chlorophyll production requires light, so leaves lose their green colour. Correct answer.
  4. The plant lost water through transpiration.

Explanation

Chlorophyll, the green pigment, is produced only in the presence of light. When a plant is kept in darkness, chlorophyll is not maintained, so the leaves appear pale or yellow.

Question 7BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option correctly completes the sentence with a suitable relative pronoun: 'The pupil ______ won the quiz received a prize.'

  1. which
  2. whose
  3. whom
  4. who Correct answer.

Explanation

'Who' is the subject relative pronoun used for people, so it introduces the clause about the pupil. 'Which' is for things, 'whom' is for objects and 'whose' shows possession.

Question 8BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the value of x if 2x + 5 = 17. What is the value of x?

  1. 6 Correct answer.
  2. 7
  3. 5
  4. 11

Explanation

Subtract 5 from both sides to get 2x = 12, then divide by 2 to get x = 6. Substituting back gives 2(6) + 5 = 17, confirming the answer.

Question 9BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which of the following is a function of the legislature in Ghana's democratic system?

  1. Making laws for the country Correct answer.
  2. Conducting national elections
  3. Commanding the armed forces
  4. Interpreting the constitution in court cases

Explanation

The legislature, Parliament, debates and passes bills into law. Interpreting the constitution is a judicial function, elections are run by the Electoral Commission and the armed forces are commanded by the executive.

Question 10BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science question asks why a sharp knife cuts better than a blunt one. Which explanation is correct?

  1. A sharp edge has a smaller area, so it produces greater pressure for the same force. Correct answer.
  2. A sharp edge has a larger area, so it reduces pressure.
  3. A blunt knife has more friction and so cuts faster.
  4. A sharp knife is heavier and therefore cuts through any material.

Explanation

Pressure equals force divided by area, so a smaller contact area produces greater pressure. A sharp edge concentrates the same force on a tiny area, allowing it to cut easily.

Question 11BECE School

In BECE English Language, choose the option that is closest in meaning to the underlined word: 'The headmaster's remarks were brief but very meaningful.'

  1. irrelevant
  2. lengthy
  3. confusing
  4. concise Correct answer.

Explanation

'Brief' means short in length or duration, and 'concise' means expressing much in few words, so it is the closest in meaning. The other options describe length or relevance in ways that do not match 'brief'.

Question 12BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate is told that a trader bought an item for GH¢80 and sold it for GH¢100. What is the percentage profit?

  1. 80%
  2. 20%
  3. 25% Correct answer.
  4. 125%

Explanation

Profit is GH¢20, and percentage profit is profit divided by cost price multiplied by 100, giving 20/80 × 100 = 25%. Using the selling price as the base would give a different and incorrect figure.

Question 13BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which physical feature is the Volta River's main source of hydroelectric power?

  1. The Akosombo Dam Correct answer.
  2. The Keta Lagoon
  3. The Pra River
  4. The Tema Harbour

Explanation

The Akosombo Dam on the Volta River impounds water that drives turbines to generate hydroelectric power. The other features are a river, a lagoon and a harbour, none of which is a hydroelectric installation.

Question 14BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science candidate is asked why iron nails left in moist air rust faster than those kept in dry air. Which answer is correct?

  1. Rusting occurs only in the presence of salt.
  2. Carbon dioxide in the air prevents rusting.
  3. Both oxygen and water are needed for iron to rust. Correct answer.
  4. Oxygen alone causes rusting without water.

Explanation

Rusting requires both oxygen and water, which is why moist air speeds up the process. Dry air lacks sufficient water, so rusting is very slow.

Question 15BECE School

In BECE English Language, which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly to show possession?

  1. The girls uniforms were neatly ironed'.
  2. The girls' uniforms were neatly ironed. Correct answer.
  3. The girls uniforms' were neatly ironed.
  4. The girl's uniforms were neatly ironed for all the girls.

Explanation

For a plural noun ending in s, the apostrophe is placed after the s to show possession, giving 'girls''. The other options misplace the apostrophe or omit it entirely.

Question 16BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must calculate the mean of the scores 4, 7, 9, 6 and 4. What is the mean?

  1. 7
  2. 4
  3. 5
  4. 6 Correct answer.

Explanation

The sum of the scores is 4 + 7 + 9 + 6 + 4 = 30, and dividing by the five scores gives a mean of 6. The mode is 4, but the question asks for the mean.

Question 17BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which of the following best describes the role of the Ombudsman in Ghana?

  1. To investigate complaints of unfair treatment by public officials Correct answer.
  2. To register voters before elections
  3. To prosecute criminals in court
  4. To collect taxes for the government

Explanation

The Ombudsman investigates complaints from citizens who feel unfairly treated by public institutions and seeks redress. Prosecution, tax collection and voter registration belong to other bodies.

Question 18BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science candidate is told that a block of wood floats on water while an iron nail sinks. Which statement best explains this?

  1. The wood absorbs water and becomes heavier.
  2. The iron nail has no weight in water.
  3. The iron nail contains air spaces that make it sink.
  4. The wood is lighter than the water it displaces, while the iron is denser than water. Correct answer.

Explanation

An object floats when its density is less than that of the liquid, so it displaces a weight of water equal to its own weight. Wood is less dense than water while iron is denser, so the nail sinks.

Question 19BECE School

In BECE English Language, choose the option that best completes the sentence in reported speech: 'The teacher said, "I will mark the scripts tomorrow."' becomes: The teacher said that she ______ the scripts the following day.

  1. marks
  2. will mark
  3. has marked
  4. would mark Correct answer.

Explanation

When reporting speech, 'will' changes to 'would' and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the following day'. The other options do not follow the backshift rule for reported speech.

Question 20BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the area of a triangle with base 10 cm and height 6 cm. What is the area?

  1. 30 cm² Correct answer.
  2. 60 cm²
  3. 16 cm²
  4. 32 cm²

Explanation

The area of a triangle is half the base times the height, so ½ × 10 × 6 = 30 cm². Multiplying base by height alone gives the area of a rectangle, not a triangle.

Question 21BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, the term 'culture' is best defined as:

  1. the amount of money a country earns from exports
  2. the system of government in a country
  3. the physical features of a region
  4. the total way of life of a people, including their beliefs, customs and arts Correct answer.

Explanation

Culture covers the learned and shared way of life of a group, including language, beliefs, customs, food and arts. Government, earnings and physical features are separate aspects of national life.

Question 22BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science candidate is asked which change of state occurs when steam condenses on a cold surface.

  1. Solid to gas
  2. Gas to liquid Correct answer.
  3. Solid to liquid
  4. Liquid to gas

Explanation

Condensation is the change from gas or vapour to liquid as the particles lose energy on cooling. Steam is a gas, and the droplets formed on the cold surface are liquid water.

Question 23BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option best completes the sentence: 'Neither the teacher nor the pupils ______ present at the assembly.'

  1. has been
  2. was
  3. is
  4. were Correct answer.

Explanation

With 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearest to it, which is the plural 'pupils'. The plural past form 'were' is therefore correct in this sentence.

Question 24BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate is asked to express 0.75 as a fraction in its simplest form. Which answer is correct?

  1. 7/5
  2. 75/10
  3. 1/4
  4. 3/4 Correct answer.

Explanation

0.75 means 75/100, and dividing numerator and denominator by 25 gives 3/4. The other options either are not equal to 0.75 or are not in simplest form.

Question 25BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which of the following is the most direct way a citizen can participate in local decision-making?

  1. Paying taxes to the central government
  2. Travelling abroad for further studies
  3. Reading a newspaper editorial
  4. Attending a community meeting on a proposed school project Correct answer.

Explanation

Attending a community meeting allows citizens to discuss and influence decisions that affect them directly at the local level. The other activities are either indirect or unrelated to local decision-making.

Question 26BECE School

In BECE Mathematics, a trader sells a bag of maize for GH¢120 after making a profit of GH¢20. What was the cost price of the bag of maize?

  1. GH¢100 Correct answer.
  2. GH¢20
  3. GH¢120
  4. GH¢140

Explanation

Profit is the selling price minus the cost price, so cost price equals selling price minus profit. Subtracting GH¢20 from GH¢120 gives GH¢100.

Question 27BECE School

A BECE Integrated Science candidate is told that a metal spoon left in a hot cup of tea soon becomes hot at the handle. Which process best explains this?

  1. Convection currents in the metal
  2. Conduction of heat through the metal Correct answer.
  3. Evaporation of the tea
  4. Radiation from the tea to the handle

Explanation

Metals are good conductors because free electrons and closely packed particles pass heat energy along the solid. The handle heats up as energy travels through the metal by conduction, not by moving particles.

Question 28BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option correctly completes the sentence: 'The two boys hurt ______ while playing football'?

  1. themself
  2. themselves Correct answer.
  3. each other's
  4. theirselves

Explanation

A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject, and the plural subject 'the two boys' takes 'themselves'. The word 'theirselves' is not standard English.

Question 29BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which document contains the fundamental laws and principles by which Ghana is governed?

  1. The District Assembly Bye-laws
  2. The National Anthem
  3. The Budget Statement
  4. The Constitution of Ghana Correct answer.

Explanation

A constitution is the supreme body of rules setting out how a state is governed and the rights of citizens. Ghana's 1992 Constitution is the highest law, so all other laws must agree with it.

Question 30BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the value of x in the equation 4x − 3 = 2x + 9. What is x?

  1. 3
  2. 2
  3. 12
  4. 6 Correct answer.

Explanation

Collecting like terms gives 4x − 2x = 9 + 3, so 2x = 12. Dividing both sides by 2 gives x = 6.

Question 31BECE School

In BECE Integrated Science, which organelle is described as the control centre of the cell because it contains the genetic material?

  1. The nucleus Correct answer.
  2. The mitochondrion
  3. The vacuole
  4. The cell wall

Explanation

The nucleus holds the chromosomes made of DNA, which direct all cell activities including division and protein synthesis. This is why it is called the control centre.

Question 32BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option best completes the sentence: 'The rain started ______ we reached the market'?

  1. before Correct answer.
  2. although
  3. because
  4. unless

Explanation

The sentence needs a time conjunction showing the order of two past events. 'Before' correctly shows the rain came earlier than their arrival at the market.

Question 33BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, what is the main purpose of taxation in Ghana?

  1. To reward only government workers
  2. To raise revenue for public services and development Correct answer.
  3. To prevent people from trading
  4. To punish citizens who earn income

Explanation

Taxes are compulsory payments collected by government to fund roads, schools, hospitals, security and other public goods. Raising revenue for these services is the primary purpose of taxation.

Question 34BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the simple interest on GH¢500 invested at 10% per annum for 3 years. What is the interest?

  1. GH¢1,500
  2. GH¢500
  3. GH¢150 Correct answer.
  4. GH¢50

Explanation

Simple interest is principal × rate × time divided by 100, that is 500 × 10 × 3 ÷ 100. This equals GH¢150.

Question 35BECE School

In BECE Integrated Science, a student adds dilute hydrochloric acid to a piece of calcium carbonate and a gas is produced that turns limewater milky. Which gas is this?

  1. Oxygen
  2. Hydrogen
  3. Carbon dioxide Correct answer.
  4. Nitrogen

Explanation

Acids react with carbonates to release carbon dioxide, which forms a white precipitate with limewater. This milky appearance is the standard test for carbon dioxide.

Question 36BECE School

In BECE English Language, choose the option that best completes the sentence in reported speech: 'The trader said, "I sell my goods cheaply."'

  1. The trader says that he sold his goods cheaply.
  2. The trader said that he sold his goods cheaply. Correct answer.
  3. The trader said that he is selling his goods cheaply.
  4. The trader said that he sells his goods cheaply.

Explanation

When the reporting verb is in the past, the present tense of the direct speech normally shifts to the past in reported speech. 'Sell' therefore becomes 'sold', and the pronoun changes to 'he'.

Question 37BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which of the following best explains why Ghana's population is described as youthful?

  1. Most citizens are above sixty years of age
  2. A large proportion of the population is under fifteen years Correct answer.
  3. Fewer children are born each year
  4. Most people live in rural areas

Explanation

A population is called youthful when a high percentage of its people are children and young persons under about fifteen. This creates a broad base on a population pyramid and high demand for schools.

Question 38BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must convert 3 kilometres into centimetres. Which answer is correct?

  1. 300 cm
  2. 30,000 cm
  3. 300,000 cm Correct answer.
  4. 3,000 cm

Explanation

One kilometre equals 1,000 metres and one metre equals 100 centimetres, so one kilometre is 100,000 cm. Multiplying by 3 gives 300,000 cm.

Question 39BECE School

In BECE Integrated Science, why does a body weigh less on the moon than on the earth?

  1. The body becomes weightless in space
  2. The moon has a weaker gravitational pull Correct answer.
  3. The mass of the body decreases on the moon
  4. The moon has no atmosphere

Explanation

Weight is the force of gravity on a mass, so it depends on the strength of gravity at that place. The moon's gravity is about one-sixth of the earth's, so the same mass weighs less there.

Question 40BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option is closest in meaning to the word 'reluctant' as used in: 'The pupil was reluctant to answer the question'?

  1. Careless
  2. Eager
  3. Unable
  4. Unwilling Correct answer.

Explanation

'Reluctant' describes someone who hesitates or does not want to do something, so 'unwilling' is the nearest meaning. Eagerness would be the opposite quality.

Question 41BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, what is the main function of the Bank of Ghana in the national economy?

  1. To regulate the money supply and supervise banks Correct answer.
  2. To collect taxes for the government
  3. To build roads and schools
  4. To give loans directly to market traders

Explanation

The Bank of Ghana is the central bank, and its core roles include issuing currency, controlling the money supply and supervising commercial banks. It does not deal directly with individual customers.

Question 42BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the value of the angle marked in a triangle whose other two angles are 65° and 45°. What is the third angle?

  1. 80°
  2. 100°
  3. 70° Correct answer.
  4. 110°

Explanation

The angles of a triangle add up to 180°. Adding 65° and 45° gives 110°, and subtracting this from 180° leaves 70°.

Question 43BECE School

In BECE Integrated Science, which of the following is a renewable source of energy?

  1. Wind Correct answer.
  2. Natural gas
  3. Coal
  4. Crude oil

Explanation

Renewable resources are naturally replenished within a short time, and wind is continually produced by atmospheric heating. Fossil fuels such as coal, gas and oil take millions of years to form.

Question 44BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option best completes the sentence: 'The teacher, together with the pupils, ______ the assembly hall every Friday'?

  1. are cleaning
  2. have cleaned
  3. cleans Correct answer.
  4. clean

Explanation

When a singular subject is followed by 'together with', the verb agrees with the first subject only. 'The teacher' is singular, so the singular verb 'cleans' is correct.

Question 45BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, which of the following is a duty rather than a right of a Ghanaian citizen?

  1. Voting in national elections
  2. Access to basic education
  3. Freedom of speech
  4. Paying taxes honestly Correct answer.

Explanation

Duties are obligations a citizen owes the state, and paying taxes honestly is one of them because revenue funds public services. Rights, by contrast, are entitlements protected for the citizen.

Question 46BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the probability of obtaining an even number when a fair die is thrown once. What is the probability?

  1. 1/6
  2. 2/3
  3. 1/2 Correct answer.
  4. 1/3

Explanation

A fair die has six equally likely outcomes, and the even numbers are 2, 4 and 6, giving three favourable outcomes. The probability is therefore 3/6, which simplifies to 1/2.

Question 47BECE School

In BECE Integrated Science, a student notices that a plant cell placed in distilled water does not burst, while an animal cell in the same water does. Which structure explains this difference?

  1. The chloroplast
  2. The rigid cellulose cell wall Correct answer.
  3. The cell membrane
  4. The large central vacuole

Explanation

Water enters both cells by osmosis, but the plant cell wall is rigid and resists stretching, creating turgor pressure that prevents bursting. Animal cells lack this wall and can swell until the membrane breaks.

Question 48BECE School

In BECE English Language, which option best completes the sentence: 'Hardly had the bell rung ______ the pupils rushed out'?

  1. than
  2. then
  3. that
  4. when Correct answer.

Explanation

The structure 'hardly had ... when ...' is a fixed correlative pattern in English. After a clause beginning with 'hardly' in the past perfect, the second event is introduced by 'when'.

Question 49BECE School

In BECE Social Studies, a country's exports suddenly fall while its imports remain unchanged. Which effect is most likely on its balance of trade?

  1. The country's currency automatically appreciates
  2. The trade balance moves towards a surplus
  3. The balance of trade remains unchanged
  4. The trade balance moves towards a deficit Correct answer.

Explanation

The balance of trade is the value of exports minus the value of imports. If exports fall while imports stay the same, the difference becomes smaller or negative, producing a deficit.

Question 50BECE School

A BECE Mathematics candidate must find the value of 2³ × 2² ÷ 2⁴. What is the result?

  1. 2 Correct answer.
  2. 16
  3. 8
  4. 4

Explanation

When multiplying powers of the same base, add the indices to get 2⁵, and when dividing, subtract the index of the divisor to get 2¹. The value is therefore 2.