I85PREP
⌘ K
WASSCE Liberia study materials
WASSCE Liberia study resources

WASSCE Liberia practice questions

One question at a time. Build your WASSCE Liberia understanding.

First 50 of 200 questions. Each one lists the choices, the correct answer, and an explanation. The checker at the top of this page saves progress in this browser when it is available.

Continue in the practice tool above to load more questions, 50 at a time.

Question 1English Language

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Neither the principal nor the teachers ______ willing to postpone the assembly held before the WASSCE registration.

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

Explanation

When two subjects are joined by 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the subject placed nearer to it. The nearer subject here is the plural noun 'teachers', so the plural past form 'were' is required to match both the number and the past time frame of the sentence.

Question 2English Language

Several candidates share one row of lockers. Choose the form that correctly completes the sentence: 'The ______ lockers were inspected before the examination.'

  1. students's
  2. students' Correct answer.
  3. students
  4. student's

Explanation

A plural noun that already ends in -s forms its possessive by adding only an apostrophe after that s. Because the lockers belong to several candidates, the plural possessive 'students'' is the correct form, and no second s is added.

Question 3English Language

Complete the sentence with the correct question tag: Candidates must not bring mobile phones into the examination hall, ______?

  1. mustn't they
  2. must they Correct answer.
  3. shouldn't they
  4. do they

Explanation

A statement that already contains the negative word 'not' takes a positive tag, and the tag repeats the auxiliary verb of the main clause. The auxiliary in the statement is 'must', so the correct positive tag is 'must they'.

Question 4English Language

Choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word: The invigilator's instruction was so ambiguous that some candidates carried out the wrong task.

  1. lengthy
  2. harsh
  3. unclear Correct answer.
  4. repetitive

Explanation

'Ambiguous' describes language that can be understood in more than one way, so 'unclear' is the closest synonym. Length, harshness and repetition do not in themselves produce the confusion described in the sentence.

Question 5English Language

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The principal insisted that every candidate ______ present at the briefing before the written papers.

  1. will be
  2. is
  3. be Correct answer.
  4. was

Explanation

Verbs such as 'insist', 'demand' and 'request' introduce a that-clause in the subjunctive mood, where the base form of the verb is used for every person. 'Be' is therefore correct even though the subject 'candidate' is singular.

Question 6English Language

Change this direct question to reported speech: The teacher asked, 'Have you completed your projects?' The teacher asked whether ______.

  1. we completed our projects
  2. we had completed our projects Correct answer.
  3. we have completed our projects
  4. had we completed our projects

Explanation

In reported questions the word order returns to subject before verb, so the auxiliary 'had' no longer comes first. The present perfect 'have completed' also shifts back to the past perfect 'had completed' because the reporting verb is in the past.

Question 7English Language

Choose the option that best completes the sentence: She is one of the candidates who ______ selected to represent the school in the national debate.

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

Explanation

In the pattern 'one of those who', the relative pronoun 'who' refers back to the plural noun 'candidates', not to 'one'. The verb inside the relative clause must therefore be plural, giving 'who were selected'.

Question 8English Language

Identify the figure of speech in this sentence: Like a hawk, the invigilator watched every candidate in the hall.

  1. a simile Correct answer.
  2. hyperbole
  3. personification
  4. a metaphor

Explanation

A simile makes a comparison using 'like' or 'as', and the sentence explicitly says the invigilator watched 'like a hawk'. A metaphor would state that he was a hawk, without the word 'like'.

Question 9English Language

A candidate is writing a formal letter to the Ministry of Education to request a change of examination centre. Which salutation is most appropriate?

  1. Hello Sir,
  2. Hi there,
  3. Dear Friend,
  4. Dear Sir, Correct answer.

Explanation

Formal letters to an official whose name is unknown open with a conventional salutation such as 'Dear Sir,' or 'Dear Madam,'. Casual greetings like 'Hello Sir' and 'Hi there' belong to informal or semi-formal writing.

Question 10English Language

Choose the correct pronoun to complete the sentence: Between you and ______, the examination timetable was poorly planned.

  1. myself
  2. I
  3. me Correct answer.
  4. mine

Explanation

A pronoun that follows a preposition such as 'between' must be in the objective case, so 'me' is required. 'I' is a subject pronoun and cannot serve as the object of a preposition.

Question 11English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence from a school notice: A number of candidates ______ already submitted their registration forms.

  1. have Correct answer.
  2. is
  3. has
  4. was

Explanation

The phrase 'a number of' functions as a plural quantifier, so it takes a plural verb; the present perfect therefore needs 'have submitted'. By contrast, 'the number of' would take a singular verb.

Question 12English Language

Choose the preposition that correctly completes this examination notice: All candidates must comply ______ the rules printed on the admission card.

  1. for
  2. to Correct answer.
  3. with
  4. on

Explanation

The verb 'comply' is followed by the fixed preposition 'with' in standard English. The correct phrase is 'comply with the rules', not 'comply to', 'comply on', or 'comply for'.

Question 13English Language

Choose the article that correctly completes this sentence: The invigilator described the incident as ______ unusual case.

  1. a
  2. no article
  3. the
  4. an Correct answer.

Explanation

The noun 'case' is singular and countable, and 'unusual' begins with a vowel sound, so the indefinite article 'an' is required. 'A' would be used before a consonant sound, while 'the' would wrongly suggest a particular case already identified.

Question 14English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: If the candidates ______ their projects earlier, they would not have missed the submission deadline.

  1. completed
  2. had completed Correct answer.
  3. would complete
  4. have completed

Explanation

This is a third conditional sentence about an unreal past situation, so the if-clause requires the past perfect 'had completed'. The main clause already has 'would not have missed', which confirms the third-conditional pattern.

Question 15English Language

Change this sentence to the passive voice: The examination officer will announce the results tomorrow.

  1. The results are announced by the examination officer tomorrow morning.
  2. The results will be announced by the examination officer tomorrow. Correct answer.
  3. The results will be announcing by the examination officer tomorrow.
  4. The results will announce by the examination officer tomorrow.

Explanation

In the passive, the object 'the results' becomes the subject, and the future form 'will announce' becomes 'will be announced'. The agent is introduced by 'by', giving 'by the examination officer'.

Question 16English Language

Choose the option that best completes the sentence with parallel structure: The candidate was praised for arriving early, answering politely, and ______.

  1. submit the script on time
  2. the script was submitted on time
  3. to submit the script on time
  4. submitting the script on time Correct answer.

Explanation

The items in the list after 'for' must have the same grammatical form; 'arriving' and 'answering' are gerunds, so 'submitting' is needed. The other options break the parallel pattern.

Question 17English Language

Choose the word that best completes this sentence: The principal decided to ______ the decision until the examination committee had met.

  1. defer Correct answer.
  2. differ
  3. deter
  4. detract

Explanation

'Defer' means to postpone or delay, which fits a decision being put off until a meeting. 'Differ' means to be unlike or disagree, and the other words do not mean postpone.

Question 18English Language

In a formal report on examination malpractice, choose the sentence that correctly uses a colon to introduce a list.

  1. The committee found three problems; late invigilation, missing scripts, and poor lighting.
  2. The committee found three problems: late invigilation, missing scripts, and poor lighting. Correct answer.
  3. The committee found: three problems late invigilation, missing scripts, and poor lighting.
  4. The committee found three problems, late invigilation: missing scripts and poor lighting.

Explanation

A colon may follow a complete independent clause to introduce a list; here 'The committee found three problems' is complete before the colon. Semicolons and commas cannot replace the colon before this list, and a colon cannot interrupt the clause after 'found'.

Question 19English Language

Which sentence avoids a dangling modifier in a report about examination security?

  1. After checking the sealed envelopes, it was locked in the safe by the supervisor.
  2. After checking the sealed envelopes, the safe was locked by the supervisor.
  3. After checking the sealed envelopes, locking them in the safe was done by the supervisor.
  4. After checking the sealed envelopes, the supervisor locked them in the safe. Correct answer.

Explanation

A modifier at the start of a sentence should describe the subject of the main clause. In the correct sentence, the supervisor is the one who checked the envelopes and locked them in the safe, so the modifier has a clear logical subject.

Question 20English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: Rarely ______ such detailed checking of scripts before results are released.

  1. do examiners carry out Correct answer.
  2. carry out examiners
  3. examiners carry out
  4. examiners do carry out

Explanation

When a negative adverb such as 'Rarely' begins a sentence, the subject and auxiliary verb invert, as in 'Rarely do examiners carry out'. The auxiliary 'do' is needed because the main verb 'carry out' is in the simple present.

Question 21English Language

In the sentence 'The invigilator walked briskly down the aisle,' the word 'briskly' is used as a(n) ______.

  1. adjective
  2. preposition
  3. adverb Correct answer.
  4. noun

Explanation

An adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. In this sentence, 'briskly' tells how the invigilator walked, so it modifies the verb 'walked' and is an adverb.

Question 22English Language

Choose the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'lenient' as used in this sentence: 'The examination committee was lenient with candidates who arrived late.'

  1. patient
  2. strict Correct answer.
  3. generous
  4. careless

Explanation

Lenient means tolerant or not strict in punishing. The opposite quality is strictness, so 'strict' is the correct antonym in this context.

Question 23English Language

Choose the option that best completes this examination regulation: 'Each of the answer booklets ______ to be signed by the candidate before the examination begins.'

  1. have
  2. is Correct answer.
  3. are
  4. were

Explanation

The subject is 'Each', a singular indefinite pronoun, so it takes a singular verb. 'Is' is the only singular present-tense option that fits the regulation.

Question 24English Language

Change this direct instruction to reported speech: The invigilator said to the candidates, 'Do not open your booklets until I tell you.'

  1. The invigilator told the candidates to not open your booklets until I tell you.
  2. The invigilator asked the candidates whether they did not open their booklets until he told them.
  3. The invigilator told the candidates not to open their booklets until he told them. Correct answer.
  4. The invigilator said the candidates do not open their booklets until he tells them.

Explanation

A negative imperative is reported with 'told' + object + 'not' + infinitive. The pronouns and present tense also shift back: 'your' becomes 'their', 'I' becomes 'he', and 'tell' becomes 'told'.

Question 25English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'The candidate ______ answer script was misplaced has appealed to the examination board.'

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

Explanation

The missing word must show possession because the answer script belongs to the candidate. 'Whose' is the possessive relative pronoun that links the candidate to the script.

Question 26English Language

Choose the preposition that correctly completes this sentence from an examination report: 'The assistant was accused ______ leaking the questions before the paper began.'

  1. about
  2. for
  3. with
  4. of Correct answer.

Explanation

The verb 'accused' is followed by the preposition 'of' when naming the wrongdoing: accused of leaking. This is a fixed collocation in standard English.

Question 27English Language

Choose the word that best completes this sentence: 'The examination committee decided to ______ the results until the malpractice case had been resolved.'

  1. withhold Correct answer.
  2. withstand
  3. uphold
  4. withdraw

Explanation

'Withhold' means to refuse to give or release something until a condition is met, which fits delaying the results. The other verbs have different meanings and do not collocate naturally with 'results' in this sense.

Question 28English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'The Chief Examiner, together with the assistant examiners, ______ the scripts before the results were released.'

  1. have reviewed
  2. were reviewing
  3. review
  4. had reviewed Correct answer.

Explanation

The grammatical subject is 'The Chief Examiner', which is singular. The phrase 'together with the assistant examiners' is parenthetical and does not change the number of the subject. 'Had reviewed' correctly places the completed review before the results were released.

Question 29English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'Scarcely had the candidates taken their seats ______ the invigilator ordered them to begin.'

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

Explanation

The fixed pattern is 'Scarcely ... when ...', just as 'Hardly ... when ...' is used. 'Than' belongs with 'no sooner', not with 'scarcely'.

Question 30English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'It is high time the Ministry of Education ______ the timetable for the national examinations.'

  1. has revised
  2. revised Correct answer.
  3. revises
  4. will revise

Explanation

The expression 'It is high time' is followed by a past-tense form to express a present or urgent recommendation. 'Revised' is the correct past form here.

Question 31English Language

Choose the option that best completes this examination notice: 'All candidates have submitted their registration forms, ______?'

  1. haven't they Correct answer.
  2. have they
  3. don't they
  4. didn't they

Explanation

A question tag repeats the auxiliary of the statement and reverses its polarity. The statement uses the present perfect auxiliary 'have' with the plural subject 'candidates', so the negative tag is 'haven't they'.

Question 32English Language

In the sentence 'The examination officer conducted a rigorous check of every answer script,' the word 'rigorous' functions as a(n) ______.

  1. adverb
  2. noun
  3. adjective Correct answer.
  4. verb

Explanation

'Rigorous' describes the noun 'check', so it is an adjective. Adjectives modify nouns, while adverbs modify verbs or other modifiers.

Question 33English Language

Choose the preposition that correctly completes this sentence from an examination report: 'The candidate was congratulated ______ her excellent performance in the WASSCE.'

  1. on Correct answer.
  2. about
  3. for
  4. with

Explanation

The verb 'congratulate' is followed by the preposition 'on' when it refers to an achievement: you congratulate someone on something. This is a fixed collocation in formal English.

Question 34English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'Neither the invigilator nor the candidates ______ aware of the sudden change in the timetable.'

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

Explanation

With the correlative conjunction 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the subject that is nearer to it. The nearer subject is 'candidates', which is plural, so the plural verb 'were' is required.

Question 35English Language

In an examination report, choose the option that correctly joins the two independent clauses with a semicolon.

  1. The invigilator confiscated the mobile phone he later reported the incident to the chief examiner.
  2. The invigilator confiscated the mobile phone, he later reported the incident to the chief examiner.
  3. The invigilator confiscated the mobile phone; and he later reported the incident to the chief examiner.
  4. The invigilator confiscated the mobile phone; he later reported the incident to the chief examiner. Correct answer.

Explanation

A semicolon can join two closely related independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction. The other options either create a comma splice, place a semicolon before 'and', or omit punctuation entirely, producing a run-on.

Question 36English Language

Change this question to reported speech: The supervisor asked the candidate, 'Where is your admission letter?'

  1. The supervisor asked the candidate where was his admission letter.
  2. The supervisor asked the candidate where his admission letter was. Correct answer.
  3. The supervisor asked the candidate where is his admission letter.
  4. The supervisor asked the candidate where his admission letter is.

Explanation

In reported questions, the word order becomes statement order (subject before verb), the present tense 'is' backshifts to 'was', and 'your' changes to 'his' to reflect the reporter's viewpoint.

Question 37English Language

Choose the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as 'candid' as used in this sentence: 'The invigilator gave a candid account of the incident to the examination board.'

  1. lengthy
  2. confused
  3. honest Correct answer.
  4. secretive

Explanation

'Candid' means truthful, direct, and straightforward, so 'honest' is the closest synonym in this context. The other options describe length, confusion, or concealment rather than frankness.

Question 38English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'Unless the candidates ______ their registration fees by Friday, they will not be allowed into the examination hall.'

  1. would pay
  2. will pay
  3. paid
  4. pay Correct answer.

Explanation

'Unless' introduces a condition meaning 'if not', and the conditional clause takes the present simple tense. The main clause uses 'will', so the correct form is 'pay'.

Question 39English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'It was not until the invigilator checked the register ______ he realised that the candidate was absent.'

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

Explanation

The structure 'It was not until ... that ...' is a cleft sentence. The word 'that' introduces the main clause, while 'when' is not used after 'not until' in this pattern.

Question 40English Language

Choose the option that best completes this sentence: 'The examination council demanded that every script ______ before the results are published.'

  1. be marked Correct answer.
  2. is marked
  3. was marked
  4. will be marked

Explanation

Verbs of demand such as 'demand', 'insist', and 'require' take the subjunctive mood in a 'that' clause. The subjunctive uses the base form 'be' regardless of the tense of the main verb.

Question 41English Language

Complete this examination notice with the correct possessive form: 'All ______ answer scripts must be submitted to the invigilator before noon.'

  1. candidates' Correct answer.
  2. candidate's
  3. candidates's
  4. candidates

Explanation

The scripts belong to more than one candidate, so the possessive of the plural noun 'candidates' is formed by adding an apostrophe after the final s. The resulting form is 'candidates''. A singular possessive would refer to only one candidate, which does not fit 'All'.

Question 42English Language

Complete this instruction from an examination timetable: 'The sorting of the scripts took ______ hour because each booklet had to be checked.'

  1. the
  2. some
  3. an Correct answer.
  4. a

Explanation

The article 'an' is used before a vowel sound, and the h in 'hour' is silent, so the word begins with a vowel sound. The phrase 'an hour' expresses an indefinite period of time, which fits the timetable instruction.

Question 43English Language

Choose the word that is most nearly the same in meaning as 'meticulous' as used in this examination report: 'The examiner kept meticulous records of every answer script.'

  1. careless
  2. hasty
  3. thorough Correct answer.
  4. vague

Explanation

'Meticulous' describes someone who shows great attention to detail, so 'thorough' is the closest synonym in this context. The report praises the examiner's careful record-keeping, not carelessness or haste.

Question 44English Language

Change this direct statement to reported speech: The supervisor said, 'The results will be released tomorrow.'

  1. The supervisor said that the results would have been released the next day.
  2. The supervisor said that the results would be released the next day. Correct answer.
  3. The supervisor said that the results will be released tomorrow.
  4. The supervisor said that the results will be released the next day.

Explanation

In reported speech after a past reporting verb, 'will' normally changes to 'would', and 'tomorrow' changes to 'the next day'. Only the option with both changes reports the original statement accurately.

Question 45English Language

Complete this sentence from an examination report: 'A number of answer scripts ______ misplaced since the examination began.'

  1. has certainly been
  2. has been
  3. was
  4. have been Correct answer.

Explanation

The phrase 'a number of' is followed by a plural noun and takes a plural verb, so 'have been' is correct. By contrast, 'the number of' would take a singular verb because it refers to the total figure.

Question 46English Language

Complete this sentence about an examination incident: 'Had the candidate arrived earlier, he ______ the instructions before the examination started.'

  1. would hear
  2. would have heard Correct answer.
  3. would have been heard
  4. will have heard

Explanation

The sentence uses a third conditional pattern: 'Had + subject + past participle' in the if-clause requires 'would have + past participle' in the main clause. 'Would have heard' correctly describes an unreal past result.

Question 47English Language

Choose the preposition that correctly completes this examination notice: 'Every candidate must comply ______ the rules printed on the admission slip.'

  1. with Correct answer.
  2. about
  3. for
  4. to

Explanation

The verb 'comply' is followed by the preposition 'with' when it means to obey a rule or request. 'Comply with the rules' is the standard collocation in formal examination notices.

Question 48English Language

Complete this sentence so that the opening phrase is used correctly: 'Having checked all the scripts, ______.'

  1. the report was signed by the chief examiner.
  2. the signing of the report was completed by the chief examiner.
  3. the chief examiner signed the report. Correct answer.
  4. it was time for the report to be signed.

Explanation

An introductory participial phrase should modify the subject of the main clause. The person who checked the scripts must be the same person who signed the report, so 'the chief examiner' must be the subject.

Question 49English Language

Complete this sentence from an examination report: 'Not only ______ late for the examination, but they also forgot their identity cards.'

  1. had the candidates been
  2. the candidates were
  3. the candidates had been
  4. were the candidates Correct answer.

Explanation

When a negative adverbial such as 'not only' begins a clause, the subject and auxiliary verb are inverted. The plural past tense requires 'were the candidates', giving 'Not only were the candidates late...'.

Question 50English Language

Choose the option that is most nearly opposite in meaning to 'ambiguous' as used in this examination notice: 'The instructions on the examination slip were ambiguous.'

  1. confusing
  2. lengthy
  3. strict
  4. clear Correct answer.

Explanation

'Ambiguous' means open to more than one interpretation, so its opposite is 'clear', meaning definite and easy to understand. The notice complains that the instructions were not clear.