10 Tricky WASSCE Maths Questions Ghanaian Students Often Struggle With
Let us look at 10 tricky WASSCE Maths questions Ghanaian students often struggle with and, more importantly, how you can outsmart them. Let us see your answers in the comments section.
Bonus: How You Can Make Money In Ghana As A Student
1. Word Problems - WASSCE Maths Questions on Profits
Question: Ama buys oranges at ₵2 each and sells them at ₵2.50. If she sells 120 oranges, find her profit percentage.
Clue: Many candidates rush to calculate ₵0.50 × 120 without comparing cost and profit properly. Always remember to use the cost price as your base when solving profit-based WASSCE Maths questions.
2. Sets and Venn Diagrams
Question: In a class of 50 students, 30 like Maths, 28 like Science, and 10 like both. How many like neither?
Clue: Students forget to subtract the overlap before applying the union formula. This type of WASSCE Maths question checks both your logic and attention to detail.
3. Probability
Question: A fair die is thrown once. Find the probability of getting at least a 4.
Clue: Many students misinterpret “at least” as “exactly.” Always remember that WASSCE Maths questions on probability are all about carefully reading the wording.
4. Trigonometry Beyond the First Quadrant
Question: Find sin 240°.
Clue: Your calculator gives -0.866, but you must know the WASSCE Maths rule of quadrants (CAST diagram) to get the sign correct.
5. Indices and Surds
Question: Simplify √50 ÷ √2.
Clue: Many leave the answer as √25, but you must simplify it. Questions like this show how WASSCE Maths questions on surds reward students who simplify fully.
6. Mensuration in Word Problems
Question: A cylindrical tank of radius 7 metres is filled with water to a height of 3 metres. Find the volume in litres.
Clue: Students often forget to convert cubic metres to litres. WASSCE Maths questions on mensuration always test unit conversion.
7. Graphs and Slopes
Question: Find the slope of the line 2x + 3y = 6.
Clue: Unless you rearrange into y = mx + c, you may not see the slope clearly. These WASSCE Maths questions test whether you know the basics behind the formula.
8. Bearings and Navigation
Question: A ship sails 80 km on a bearing of 045°. Draw a diagram and find its displacement east and north.
9. Logarithms with Hidden Bases
Question: Solve for x: log₂x = 5.
10. Word Problem
WASSCE Maths Questions On Speed, Distance, and Time
Question: A bus travels from Accra to Kumasi, a distance of 250 km, at an average speed of 80 km/h. On the return journey, it travels at an average speed of 100 km/h.
- How long did the bus take to travel from Accra to Kumasi?
- How long did it take for the return journey?
- Find the average speed of the bus for the whole journey.
Bonus: How You Can Make Money In Ghana As A Student
Conclusion
The secret to passing WASSCE Maths questions is not memorizing endless formulas, but learning exam-smart strategies. Practice past questions, pay attention to keywords like “at least,” “prove that,” or “neither”, and always write down steps clearly.
1. Ghc2.50-2.00 =0.5
120×0.5=Ghc60.00
Total cost price=120×2=Ghc240.00
Profit percentage =60/240 x 100% =25%
2. Class =50 students, Maths=30,Science =28,Both=10
Number of students who like at least one =30+28-10=48
Number of student who doesn’t like neither =50-48
=2 students
3. Probability outcomes (4,5,6) =3/6=1/2
4. Sin 240 =-sin 60° =- root3/2 =0.866
5. Root 50 ÷root 2 =root 25 =5
6. Volume=xr^2h=3.14×7^2x3m^3
But 1m^3=1000L
147 pi x1000=461,812 Litres
7. 2x+3y=6
3y=-2x+6
y=-2/3x+2 slope =(-2/3)
8. 80cos45°=40 root 2 or east =56.6 km north=56.6km
9.log2x=5 x=2^5=32
10.a.Time from Kumasi to Accra
T=Distance/Speed=250/80=3.125h
=3 hours 7.5 minutes
B. Time from Kumasi to Accra
T=Distance/Speed=250/100=2.5 hours
2hours 30 minutes
C. Average speed =total Distance/total Time
=500/5.625
=88.9km/h
1. Ghc2.50-2.00 =0.5
120×0.5=Ghc60.00
Total cost price=120×2=Ghc240.00
Profit percentage =60/240 x 100% =25%
2. Class =50 students, Maths=30,Science =28,Both=10
Number of students who like at least one =30+28-10=48
Number of student who doesn’t like neither =50-48
=2 students
3. Probability outcomes (4,5,6) =3/6=1/2
4. Sin 240 =-sin 60° =- root3/2 =0.866
5. Root 50 ÷root 2 =root 25 =5
6. Volume=xr^2h=3.14×7^2x3m^3
But 1m^3=1000L
147 pi x1000=461,812 Litres
7. 2x+3y=6
3y=-2x+6
y=-2/3x+2 slope =(-2/3)
8. 80cos45°=40 root 2 or east =56.6 km north=56.6km
9.log2x=5 x=2^5=32
10.a.Time from Kumasi to Accra
T=Distance/Speed=250/80=3.125h
=3 hours 7.5 minutes
B. Time from Kumasi to Accra
T=Distance/Speed=250/100=2.5 hours
2hours 30 minutes
C. Average speed =total Distance/total Time
=500/5.625
=88.9km/h
1.25%
2.2students
3.2/3
4.1/2
5.5
6.9234cm cube
7.-2/3
8.east= 56.6km
north= 56.6km
9.32
10.
A.3.125h
B.6.25h
C88.9km
.
Answers
1-25% profit
2- 2 students
3- 0.5 or 1/2
4- 5
5-–√3/2
6- 462,000 litres
7- -2/3
8-56.57 km East, 56.57 km North
9- x=33
10-88.89km/h
1.25
2.2
3.1/2
4.0.866
5.5
6.461,200 litres
7.-2/3
8.40/2km
9.x=32
10.88.89km/h
Q.1
Cost price=2.00
Selling price=2.50
Profit per orange=2.50-2.00
=0.50
Profit %=0.50/2.00×100
25%
Q2
Total=50
Maths=30
Science=28
Both=10
Only Maths=30-10
=20
Only Science=28-10
=18
Total doing either=20+18+19
=48
Neither=50-48
=2 students
Q3
Favourable outcomes=4,5,6
Total outcomes=6
3/6
1/2
Q4
Sin240⁰
Reference angle=240⁰-180⁰
60⁰
Sin240⁰=sin60⁰
-3/2
Q5
√50/√2=-5√2/√2
Q6
V=π×1²×2
2π
6.28m³
1m³=1000 litres
Volume=6.28×1000
6280 lites
Q7
2x+3y=6
3y=-2x+6
y=–2/3x+6/3
y=-2/3x+2
Slope=-2/3
Q8
East=80×cos45⁰
80×0.7071
56.57km
North=80×sin45⁰
80×0.7071
56.57km
Displacement=56.6km East and 56.6km North.
Q9
log2x=5
2x=5
2⁵=x
2×2×2×2×2=32
Q10
Bus travels 250km
A. Time to Kumasi= Distance/Speed
250/80
3.125 hours
B. Return time= 250/100
2.5 hours
C. Total distance= 250+250
500km
Total time=3.125+2.5
5.625 hours
Average speed=Total distance/Total time
500/5.625
88.9km
1. 25%
2. 2 students
3. 1/6
4. 27
5. 5
6. 462,000 L
7. −2/3
8.
9. 32
10. A. 3.125 h
B. 2.5h
C. 89km/hr
1. 33.3%
2. 2
3. ½
4. -sin(60)
5. 5
6. 0.472 litres
7. -⅔
8. Both are 56.57Km
9. 32
10. A=3.125 hours
B=2.5 hours
C=88.89Km/h
Q.1
Cost price=2.00
Selling price=2.50
Profit per orange=2.50-2.00
=0.50
Profit %=0.50/2.00×100
25%
Q2
Total=50
Maths=30
Science=28
Both=10
Only Maths=30-10
=20
Only Science=28-10
=18
Total doing either=20+18+19
=48
Neither=50-48
=2 students
Q3
Favourable outcomes=4,5,6
Total outcomes=6
3/6
1/2
Q4
Sin240⁰
Reference angle=240⁰-180⁰
60⁰
Sin240⁰=sin60⁰
-3/2
Q5
√50/√2=-5√2/√2
Q6
V=π×1²×2
2π
6.28m³
1m³=1000 litres
Volume=6.28×1000
6280 lites
Q7
2x+3y=6
3y=-2x+6
y=–2/3x+6/3
y=-2/3x+2
Slope=-2/3
Q8
East=80×cos45⁰
80×0.7071
56.57km
North=80×sin45⁰
80×0.7071
56.57km
Displacement=56.6km East and 56.6km North.
Q9
log2x=5
2x=5
2⁵=x
2×2×2×2×2=32
Q10
Bus travels 250km
A. Time to Kumasi= Distance/Speed
250/80
3.125 hours
B. Return time= 250/100
2.5 hours
C. Total distance= 250+250
500km
Total time=3.125+2.5
5.625 hours
Average speed=Total distance/Total time
500/5.625
88.9km
1. 25%
2. 2
3. ½
4. -sin(60)
5. 5
6. 0.472 litres
7. -⅔
8.56.57Km
9. 32
10. A.3.125 hours
b.2.5 hours
c.88.89Km/h