Description

From the BECE Mathematics (August 1990) paper, the exam was in two parts: Section A (Objective/Multiple Choice, 1 hour) and Section B (Essay, 1 hour, 60 marks).

What types of questions came in 1990 (Mathematics)

The main question types/topics that appeared in 1991

1) Number & numeration

• Number bases (e.g., converting between base 2 and base 10, and missing-number arithmetic).

• Standard form / scientific notation and place-value reasoning.

• Factors, HCF/LCM style skills (e.g., HCF from prime-power form) and “make a perfect square” type items.

2) Sets & logic

• Set equality / missing element, subset ideas, and Venn-diagram interpretation (including word-problem Venn).

• Essay also tested listing sets and union/intersection explicitly.

3) Fractions, ratio, percentages & everyday arithmetic

• Fractions of quantities, combining fractions, and word problems.

• Ratio sharing (including remainder sharing in a given ratio) appeared in the essay.

• Percent applications like discounts/marked price and “given % is this length, find whole.”

4) Algebra & relations

• Simplifying expressions and basic algebraic manipulation.

• Simple equations (word-problem equation; solving for an unknown) appeared.

• Mapping / function rule type question (identify a rule from input-output).

5) Statistics & probability

• Objective questions tested mode, median, mean, and a simple probability from a data list.

• Essay included pie chart, frequency table, and then mode + median from grouped/tallied data.

6) Geometry, mensuration & trigonometry

• Angles in diagrams (using straight-line/around-a-point totals).

• Circle mensuration (circumference/diameter).

• Bearings (direction measured clockwise from North).

• Scale drawing & enlargement (scale factor, lengths under enlargement).

• A trigonometry item using tan (SOHCAHTOA) appeared.

7) Geometric construction (instruments)

• Objective included identifying a construction purpose (e.g., perpendicular/bisector style).

• Essay required actual constructions: construct a triangle with given lengths, construct a mediator/perpendicular bisector, draw a circle with specified center/radius, and measure an intersection length.