Areas of Concentration for WAEC Physics 2026: Topics You Must Read to Pass

Areas of Concentration for WAEC Physics 2026: Topics You Must Read to Pass

Physics. Just the word makes some science students sweat. You see those calculations, the crazy diagrams, and the formulas that look like Greek magic, and you just want to faint. But here is the good news: passing Physics isn’t about being a genius like Einstein. It is about strategy. If you know the Areas of Concentration for WAEC Physics 2026, you have already won half the battle.

I’ve seen students who are brilliant in class fail WAEC. Why? Because they tried to read the entire textbook from page 1 to page 500 without a plan.

That is a suicide mission.

In this guide, I’m going to show you the high-frequency topics that WAEC examiners love setting questions from. If you master these, getting a C6 is impossible—you will be aiming for a B2 or an A1.

Table of Contents

The Truth About “Areas of Concentration”

Let’s get something straight before we dive in. “Areas of concentration” does not mean you should ignore the rest of the syllabus. WAEC can set questions from anywhere.

However, if you look at past questions from the last 10 years, you will see a pattern. Some topics appear every single year.

Think of this list as your priority list. These are the topics you must sleep with, eat with, and dream about.

1. Mechanics: The Backbone of Physics

You cannot escape Mechanics. It usually carries the highest marks in both the Objective and Theory sections. If you hate calculations, you need to change your mindset right now because Mechanics is 80% calculation.

Focus on these sub-topics:

Scalar and Vector Quantities: Know how to resolve vectors. WAEC loves asking for the resultant force.
Motion: Projectiles are a favorite. Make sure you can calculate the time of flight and maximum height without shaking. Also, master the equations of linear motion ( $v = u + at$ , etc.).
Equilibrium of Forces: Understand the Lami’s theorem and the principle of moments.
Work, Energy, and Power: The conservation of energy principle is key here.

It requires grit. But remember, hard work is more important than talent when tackling these heavy calculation topics. You don’t need to be naturally gifted; you just need to solve enough past questions until the formulas stick.

2. Waves and Light: Where the Easy Marks Are

If Mechanics is the “hard guy,” Waves and Light are the “cool guys.” The questions here are usually straightforward if you understand the basic concepts.

Light Waves: You must understand Reflection (plane and curved mirrors) and Refraction (glass prisms and lenses).
Sound Waves: Echoes and the characteristics of sound (pitch, loudness, quality).
The Wave Equation: $v = f\lambda$ . Memorize this. It comes out in the objectives almost every year.

3. Electricity and Magnetism

This is where many students start crying. But don’t panic. The questions on electricity are often repetitive.

Electric Circuits: Series and Parallel arrangements. You must know how to calculate total resistance and current.
Ohm’s Law: This is the Bible of electricity.
Electrolysis: Faraday’s laws.
Magnetism: Electromagnetic induction and transformers.

A quick tip: Learn to draw circuit diagrams neatly. A messy diagram can cost you marks even if your calculation is correct.

4. Modern Physics: Small Topics, Big Points

Do not skip the back of the textbook. Topics like Radioactivity, Atomic Models, and Dual Nature of Matter are usually short, but they carry significant marks in the theory section.

The questions here are usually “define this” or simple calculations involving half-life. It’s free marks waiting for you.

Just like you need strict syllabus coverage for Biology to score high, you need to ensure you don’t leave these “small” Physics topics untouched. They often make the difference between a B and an A.

How to Actually Study Physics (Stop Reading Like It’s English)

A lot of students fail because they read Physics like they are reading a novel. You can’t just look at the page and nod your head. Patterns don’t stick that way.

Here is how to study effectively:

Solve, Don’t Just Read: Physics is a doing subject. If you aren’t holding a pen and a calculator, you aren’t studying.
Units are Everything: If you calculate the velocity as 20 but forget to add “m/s”, you lose marks. WAEC markers are strict about SI units.
Use Official Resources: Don’t just rely on your school notes. Check the official WAEC syllabus to ensure you aren’t reading outdated topics.

Common Mistakes That Fail Students

I have marked mock scripts, and the mistakes are always the same.

Ignoring Significant Figures: If the answer is 2.456, and you write 2, you are wrong.
Poor Diagrams: Use a sharp pencil and a ruler. A rough sketch looks unserious.
Cramming Definitions: Don’t just cram. Understand the principle. If you cram “Archimedes Principle” but don’t know how to apply it to a floatation problem, you are in soup.

Also, start planning your finances early. You don’t want to be stressing about the price of the JAMB form while you are trying to focus on your WAEC physics revision. Sort those logistics out so your brain is free for studying.

Final Words

Physics isn’t designed to kill you. It tests your ability to understand how the world works.

Focus on these Areas of Concentration for WAEC Physics 2026, practice with past questions (the West African Examinations Council past questions series is your best friend here), and stop being afraid of the calculations.

You have got this. Now, go pick up your calculator and solve some motion problems. Good luck!