If you’re preparing to sit for the exam or simply want to master the subject of Government, this guide on 2018 WASSCE Government Questions will walk you through everything you need: what the exam format looks like, how to use past papers, sample questions and answers from 2018, plus tips to improve your performance.
1. Understanding the Exam – What is the WASSCE?
The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a standardized test administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) across anglophone West African countries including Ghana and Nigeria.
In Ghana, for example, Government is one of the elective subjects that senior high school students may sit for.
The subject “Government” covers how a state is run, political institutions, civil society, public administration, and related topics.
Understanding this context is important because when you practise the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions, you’re working within a real structure of exam format, time constraints, and subject expectations.
2. Exam Format & What to Expect
For Government in WASSCE (for example in the context of WAEC in Nigeria/Ghana), the typical structure is:
- Paper 1 (Objective / Multiple Choice): A set number of questions (often around 50) from across the syllabus.
- Paper 2 (Theory / Essay‑type Questions): Longer written responses where students answer questions from sections A and B.
For example, in one sample from 2018, candidates were asked:
“Highlight five characteristics of a democratic government.”
Another example objective question:
“A government performs the following functions except ….”
The key takeaway: when using the past paper (2018) for practice, you will need to work on both quick objective questions and more extended essay questions.
3. Why the 2018 Past Papers Matter
Using the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions offers several concrete benefits:
- Familiarity with question styles: You can see how questions are phrased and what topics are likely to come up (e.g., constitutional development, political systems, civil service). For example, the 2018 multiple‑choice included “In a parliamentary system of government, the legislature and executive are fused to ensure …”
- Identifying key topics: By reviewing the 2018 paper, you’ll know which areas recur (e.g., democratic government, opinion polls, legislative vs executive). For example, one 2018 theory question asked about opinion polls and factors that make them unreliable.
- Timed practice under real conditions: The format and time allotments mimic what you’ll face in the real exam, so practising with the 2018 paper helps build exam stamina.
- Improving accuracy: Since you have access (or can find) solutions or answer keys for 2018 papers, you can check your responses and learn from mistakes.
Given these, incorporating the 2018 past papers into your revision plan is a strong strategy.
4. Sample Questions & Solutions from 2018
Here are a few selected extracts from the 2018 questions and rough solution outlines. These will give you insight into how to approach answers.
Sample Question 1
Question (Objective):
“A government performs the following functions except: A. safeguarding life and property; B. maintaining law and order; C. providing all the needs of its citizens; D. providing basic welfare needs.”
Answer: C (providing all the needs of its citizens) — because no government can realistically meet all needs.
Sample Question 2
Question (Objective):
“In a parliamentary system of government, the legislature and executive are fused to ensure …”
Answer: B (smoothness in the administration of the state).
Explanation: In a parliamentary system, the executive emerges from the legislature, which helps coordinate decision‑making (thereby smoother administration).
Sample Question 3
Question (Theory):
“(a) Define opinion polls. (b) State any four factors that make the conduct of opinion poll unreliable in West Africa.”
Solution outline:
- (a) Opinion poll: A survey of individuals’ views/opinions about social, economic or political issues, used to estimate public attitudes.
- (b) Four factors:
- Lack of proper sampling (non‑representative respondents).
- Inadequate expertise in survey methodology.
- Financial constraints leading to cheaper methods (thus less reliable data).
- Respondents’ unwillingness to answer honestly (fear or bias).
- Lack of proper sampling (non‑representative respondents).
Sample Question 4
Question (Theory):
“Highlight five characteristics of a democratic government.”
Solution outline:
- Based on majority rule.
- Tolerance of opposition views.
- Protection of minority interests.
- Respect for rule of law and fundamental human rights.
- Existence of an independent judiciary.
By working through these types of questions, you get a feel for standards expected in the 2018 paper, which helps you practise more effectively.
5. How to Use the 2018 Past Papers to Revise Smartly
Here’s a step‑by‑step plan to get the most value from the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions:
1. Get Everything You Need
- Download or find the full 2018 past paper for Government – you can check out websites like TestDriller, MySchool or EduPadi to get your hands on a copy.
- Get your hands on a marking scheme or solution if available – this will help you double check your answers.
- Make sure you also have the current Government syllabus so you know exactly what topics you need to be covering.
2. Set Up For Exam Success
- Set aside enough time to do the exam as if it was the real thing – for example an hour for the objective paper, or 2½ hours for theory.
- Find a quiet spot to work without any distractions and stick to a timer.
3. Test Your Knowledge
- Firstly do all the questions without looking at the answers.
- Once you’ve finished, use the marking scheme or model answers to see how well you did.
- For any questions you get wrong, make a note of why you got it wrong (was it a concept you didn’t really understand, did you struggle to recall the information, or maybe you just misread the question).
4. Focus On Your Weak Spots
- Take a look at which topics you keep getting wrong (maybe its electoral systems, political parties, local government, or external organisations like ECOWAS) and work out a plan to get on top of them.
- From there make a revision plan that targets those weak areas.
5. Keep Practising
- After you’ve worked through the 2018 paper once, try drilling some additional questions from other years (2017, 2019) to mix things up a bit.
- Keep using 2018 as a benchmark and if you can consistently do well on that style of paper, you can be pretty confident about how you’ll do in a similar exam.
6. Topic Checklist – Key Areas in 2018 Government Paper
Based on reviewing the 2018 questions and syllabus, these topics are especially relevant. Make sure you cover:
- Basic concepts of government: meaning, functions, structure. (e.g., what a state is vs government)
- Systems of government: unitary, federal, parliamentary, presidential.
- Organs of government: legislature, executive, judiciary (and their features).
- Constitutional development: especially in Ghana/West Africa (e.g., post‑independence, military rule, return to democracy).
- Local government and administration.
- Political parties, elections, franchise, electoral systems.
- Civil society, media, pressure groups.
- International organisations: UN, AU, ECOWAS (objectives, functions, challenges).
- Public administration: civil service, bureaucracy, decentralisation.
- Policy formulation and implementation.
- Campaigns, opinion polls, mass media role in governance.
By aligning your revision with this checklist, you’ll cover most of the content likely to show up in the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions and similar papers.
7. Common Mistakes to Watch Out For – And How to Avoid Them
From 2018 papers feedback and examiners’ comments, a few mistakes just keep popping up:
- Just listing stuff – without explaining it: Take this example, where some candidates just listed features of a society without telling us what they actually meant.
- → Tip: When you’re doing essays, make sure to add a bit of explanation – not just a bare statement like ‘independent judiciary’ but actually ‘an independent judiciary is when the courts are free from politics and can check up on the government’.
- Messing up your time management: Getting stuck on one question and running out of time for the rest.
→ Tip: Allocate your time, move on to something else if one question is just too tricky, and then come back to it if there’s time left. - Failing to read the question properly: Take that ‘except’ in a multiple choice question and ignore it at your peril.
→ Tip: Seriously read the question, highlight key words like ‘except’ or ‘which of the following’ – don’t get caught out by the details. - Lacking knowledge on the topic: Some candidates lose vital marks because they’re vague or plain wrong when it comes to the content, especially in the West Africa context.
→ Tip: Do some real revision on the topic: learn some specific examples like ECOWAS achievements, or types of governments we see in West Africa. - Not revising the theory part properly: Loads of students get so focused on the multiple choice questions they forget to look at the essay part and end up struggling in Paper 2.
→ Tip: Give Paper 2 the time it deserves – get some revision done on the theory and practice writing a full essay under timed conditions.
Knowing these common pitfalls will really help you direct your study time much more effectively.
8. Writing Strong Answers to Theory Questions
When you do the theory questions (Paper 2) of the 2018 Government exam, try to follow this structure:
- Get your introduction and definition sorted: Start off by explaining or defining any key terms if they’re required.
Example: “A democratic government is a system of government where the people get to have a say through free elections and the rule of law.” - List with explanation: If the question asks you to list features or characteristics, go ahead and list them, but then make sure to explain each one in a few sentences.
Example: “Independent judiciary – This means the courts are free from interference by the government or parliament and they can enforce the law as it should be.” - Use specific examples to back up your points: Where possible, use examples from West Africa or Ghana to explain your points – it really helps to have context, you see.
Example: “In Ghana, the Judiciary has become a lot stronger since the 1992 constitution introduced the rule of law.” - Tie it all up with a conclusion: Wrap everything up with a quick summary that links back to why all these features are important.
Example: “So, with these characteristics in place, democratic governments can protect citizens’ rights and keep the government in check.”
If you stick to this structure, it’ll really help your writing to be clear and make sure you’re covering all the points you need to.
9. Integrating 2018 Paper into Your Study Plan
You might be wondering: “How do I schedule revision around the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions?” Here’s a suggested weekly plan for a one‑month bootcamp:
| Week | Focus |
| Week 1 | Review syllabus, gather 2018 paper, do objective portion under timed conditions, mark yourself, identify weak topics. |
| Week 2 | Focus on weak topics identified from Week 1 (e.g., electoral systems, public administration). Do additional questions on them. |
| Week 3 | Attempt the full 2018 paper (objective + theory) under exam conditions. Mark immediately. Review mistakes. |
| Week 4 | Drill more past papers (2017, 2019) and take timed essay practices. Finish with quick revision of all topics and major points from 2018 paper. |
Using the 2018 paper as anchor gives you a concrete benchmark and helps structure your revision.
10. Final Thoughts
Working with the 2018 WASSCE Government Questions is one of the best moves you can make as you prepare. It gives you clarity about format, focus on key topics, and practice under realistic conditions.
Remember: it’s not just about doing the questions — it’s about analysing your mistakes, understanding the topics deeply, and practising writing good theory answers.
If you commit to this method, you will walk into the exam with more confidence, sharper knowledge, and stronger answer‑writing skills.
