FORM FOUR (CSEE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MATHEMATICS - NECTA
NECTA - 041 BASIC MATHEMATICS - EXAMINERS’ REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF CANDIDATES CSEE, 2012
FORM FOUR (CSEE) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS CHEMISTRY - NECTA
This report analyses the performance of the candidates in the CSEE 2012 Basic Mathematics paper. The purpose of this analysis is to draw attention to some of the problems that the candidates faced when sitting for this examination.
The CSEE Basic Mathematics paper had 16 questions set in accordance with the revised 2005 syllabus. The paper consisted of section A with 10 compulsory questions and section B with 6 questions of which the candidates had to choose any of 4. Each question in section A carried 6 marks, whereas in section B each carried 10 marks.
In 2012, a total of 396,678 candidates sat for the examination out of which 44,964 (12.14%) candidates passed the examination. In 2011 however, a total of 338,973 candidates sat for the Basic Mathematics examination, out of which 48,886 (14.55%) candidates passed the examination. This is a 2.41 percent drop in the number of the candidates who passed.
For each question, samples of good responses have been included to know the answers that the candidates were expected to write and also the responses may serve as a guide on how to answer examination questions.
ANALYSIS ON INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS
Question 1: Numbers
This question was attempted by 96.2 percent of the candidates of which 291,164 (73.4%) candidates scored a 0 mark and only 10,897 (2.8%) candidates scored from 3 to 6 marks. Thus, the question was poorly performed by most candidates.1. (a) By using mathematical tables, evaluate to three significant figures.
Some of the candidates failed to read tables for logarithms of each component while others failed to identify the requirements of the question, The presence of many candidates who failed to answer this question indicates that the topic of Logarithm was not clear among candidates. In obtaining the correct answer, the candidates were supposed to use the method as shown bellow:-
1. (b) Rationalize
This part was poorly answered as the majority of the candidates lacked the knowledge and skills of simplifying radicals by rationalizing the denominator.
Only a few candidates were able to follow the correct procedures in rationalizing the denominator. Bellow is a sample response from one of the candidates who answered question 1 (b) as required.
Question 2 : Exponents & Logarithms
The question tested the knowledge of exponents and logarithms. It was attempted by 96.2 percent of the candidates of which 82.3 percent scored a 0 mark and only a few candidates (7.8%) scored from 3 to 6 marks.2. (a) Find the value of x for which
Most candidates experienced difficulties in applying the laws of exponents and as a result ended up with an incorrect value of x. The correct method they were supposed to use is as shown bellow:-
2. (b) Solve
The candidates’ responses were generally disappointing with many candidates failing to use the laws of logarithm in finding the value of x.
Only a few candidates were able to apply correctly the product and the quotient rules in finding the value of x. Bellow is the response from one of the candidates who performed well in this part.
CSEE NECTA - PAST PAPERS FOR REVISION
Question 3: Algebra & Sets
This question was attempted by 396,865 (96.2%) candidates whereby 93.2 percent of them scored a zero mark and only 6,473 (1.5%) candidates scored from 3 to 6 marks.In Part 3 (a), the candidates were required to find the age of Mr Bean when he died, given that he lived a quarter of his life as a child, a fifth as a teenager, a third as an adult and 13 years as an old man. It was observed that this part was poorly done indicating that the candidates did not have the skills in translating the given statement into the mathematical equation.
3.(a)Mr. Bean lived a quarter of his life as a child, a fifth as a teenager and a third as an adult. He then spent 13 years in his old age. How old was he when he died?
However, there were a few candidates who answered part 3 (a) correctly as indicated bellow in the sample answer from one of the candidates.
3. (b) A and B are subsets of the universal set U . Find n(A ⋂ B) given that n(A) = 39 , n(A′ ⋂ B′) = 4 , n(B′) = 24 and n(U) = 65 .
Only a few candidates were able to answer part 3 (b) correctly. These candidates were conversant in performing the basic operations on sets and used Venn diagrams correctly.An example of a good answer from one of the candidates is shown bellow:-
