Dear Students,

Over a decade ago, I was in two different examination halls for the sake of acquiring a certificate that will guaranty my entry into higher institution. As if that was not enough, the following year I had to sit for the same examination again. Maybe some will think that I must definitely be an “otondo” or “olodo” or a “supo” or a dullard” those days. Perhaps I was yet I made good results from all these Examinations. Are you confused? Yes, I was that any “olodoish” person you can think of but I did not fail any of these three examinations. Big thanks to the almighty God, special thanks to my parents, teachers and friends while preparing for and during the Examinations. I am deeply indebted to them for their immense support which knows no bound even until this moment as I pen down this piece.

WAEC WILL PLANT FLOWERS WITH YOUR MONEY

It never ceased to amuse me, How did I pass even though I was a “supo”? Well, I was a “supo” in reading but not an “otondo” in fully grasping how these examination councils work. Some of our teachers told us then that WAEC has been using the money of all those who failed to cultivate and nurture flowers all over their offices in West Africa. Our gullibility those years made us believed this easily. And this belief aided our successes in our examinations.

THE SURETY OF THESE EXAM TIPS AGAINST THE FALSEHOOD OF EXPO

How did we pass? What did we do that guaranteed our consecutive successes? There are three things you must not forget today even if you forget any other things. I tag it EXAM TIPS FOR LIFE unlike the popular ‘EXPO’ we are always eager to hear. This tips are not free of charge too. In fact, it’s costlier than the common ‘EXPOs’ of our society. But one thing distinguishes it from the earlier; this is its certainty to work because it has gone through the test of time. For those that had tried and used it very well or used it how it ought to be utilized, it never failed them.

N.B – Examination is the test of personal ability or capability or capacity. It is not “a group test” or “a test of how ‘smart'(by smart, I mean the distorted mentality of some students who cheat and thought can outsmart examiners. Simply, put a malpractice shrewdness). Once you accept this ground, you’re already on the right track.

EXplore all helps and EXamine all beliefs: from within and without.

Syllabus and its constant evolution
Past Questions
Ask questions from past seniors both successful and unsuccessful ones.

Prepare as if everything depended on you and Pray as if everything depended on God.

If you fail to prepare, you are surely preparing to fail. (You might have a narrow escape though, but it doesn’t pay to risk such a moment of critical transition in life).

It’s definitely “ora et laborare”, that is, “work” and “pray”.

Don’t fail to play too. It’s part of your preparation. You need it to excite your brain after much weariness from reading or study.

Own your time

Use all the time you’ve got to prepare for this examination.

The right time is now.

The most important things you’ve learnt in 3 years will be required of you in just less than 3 hours or at least 1 hour.

Don’t waste your time in an examination hall. Remember you’ll never have it again.

Suppress overconfidence

Even though you have prepared very well and prayed like never before, never be too confident. It will lead you nowhere. So, be humble and calm

Finally, we need shine our eyes so that we can really see. If our common EXPO has been in the society for ages and mass failure persists, then why should we still hold on to this falsehood that lies in the core of such mindset? If anyone still desire to settle down for such a wrong and misleading approach, then he or she has deliberately chosen all that makes for no wisdom. Today if you have been seduced by this sure EXAM TIPS or perhaps EXPOS TIPS that is EXploring and EXamining beliefs, Preparing and Praying, Owing your time and Suppressing overconfidence then allow yourself to be indeed seduced.

Disclaimers

I do not however claim that all I have written is an exhaustive approach to all examinations. Rather I intend to reaffirm and stand against the falsehood and unfounded truths that has even coronated exam malpractice as a common phenomenon and relegated academic riquor, commitment, scholarly honesty and love of wisdom to the background – and it’s manifold effects are presently obvious and congenial like never before in our present society.

Adélékè Olúwásèyí James
jamesadelek2014@gmail.com
A Student, Growing Writer and Fascinating Conversationalist.