WAEC/NECO SSCE/ WASSCE/ GCE

ENGLISH LANGUAGE COMPOSITION PAST

QUESTIONS
NOVEMBER 1997
1.   Your close friend missed an interesting event that took place in your school when he was on
admission at the hospital. Write a letter to him describing what happened.

2.   Armed robbery has become rampant in your locality. Write a letter to your Member of
Parliament giving at least three reasons for this state of affairs and suggesting ways of solving
the problem.

3.   As the out-going sports prefect write a report for publication in your school magazine on
sporting activities during your term of office.

4.   As the principal speaker at an inter-school debate, write your contribution for or against the
motion. ”The youth of today have more opportunities than their predecessors.”

5.   Describe a political rally you recently attended.

6.   Write a story, which ends with, “One gets such an opportunity once in a lifetime.”

NOVEMBER 1998
1. Your friend has written to tell you that he has decided to learn a trade after his senior
secondary school course. Write a reply to him giving at least three reasons why you support or
disagree with his decision.

2.  Examination malpractice has become rampant in schools in your country. Write a letter to the
Minister of Education discussing at least three causes of this problem and suggesting ways of
solving it.

3.  As part of the activities of the 40th Independence Anniversary Celebration of Ghana, the
Ministry of Education is organizing an essay competition on the topic Ghana’s Independence: a
blessing or a curse? Write your entry.
4.  Describe a schoolmate you would nominate as “The Best Student of the Year.”

5.  As the principal speaker at an inter-school debate, write your contribution for or against the
motion: ”Money and possessions do not necessarily bring happiness.’
6.  Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic “The problems of street
children and how to solve them.

    NOVEMBER 1999
 1.  Your pen pal has written to inform you that he will like to pay you a one-week visit in your
country. Write a reply stating the programme you have drawn up to cover the visit.

 2.  Your school is celebrating its speech and Prize Giving Day. As the school prefect, you have
been asked to give a speech on the topic: The achievements of my school in the last academic
year. Write your speech.
 3.  You were standing at a bus stop when two taxis collided. The drivers got out of their cars and
after a heated argument, a fight ensued. Write a description of the incident.

 4.  As the principal speaker in a debate, write your contribution for or against the topic: The
disabled can make a meaningful contribution to national development.

  5.  You have been asked to give a talk to a group of foreign tourists on the role of traditional
healers in your area. Write out your speech.

NOVEMBER 2000
1. Write a letter to a friend in another school giving at least three reasons why you support the
establishment of private Universities in the Country

2. You are totally opposed to corporal punishment in your school though your teachers
administer it. Write a letter to the District Director of Education, suggesting at least three better
ways of punishing students.

3. As the principal speaker at an inter-school debate, write your contribution for or against the

motion: we do not need the extended family in a changing Ghanaian society.
4. Write a story entitled “The Haunted House”.

5. The national Commission on Culture (NCC) is organizing an essay competition on the topic,
the installation of a chief in Ghanaian society. Write your entry, using your traditional area as a
reference.

JULY 2001
1. You are a speaker in a debate on the topic: Official visits abroad by a Head of state are
beneficial to a country. Write out your speech for or against the motion.
2. Write a story ending…… It was not a pleasant experience.
 3. The rate at which teenage girls are becoming pregnant is alarming. Write a letter to the
editor of a national newspaper discussing at least three factors responsible for this
problem and suggesting solutions.
4. Your school is celebrating its silver jubilee. As the current school prefect, write the
speech you will deliver, outlining the achievements of your school, the problems you
encounter as students and your hopes for the future.
5. You have returned to your hometown after a long absence. Describe at least three
changes you have noticed and their effects on the lives of your people.
NOVEMBER 2001
1. Your elder brother living abroad has alleged that the youth in your area are unemployed
because they are lazy. Write a letter to him giving at least three reasons why you
disagree.
2. Write a speech to be delivered during the Minister of communication’s visit to your
school, giving reasons why you need an FM radio station in your area.
3. As the out- going Dining Hall Prefect, write a report on your tenure of office.
4. The Ministry of Education is organizing an essay competition on the topic: “Music
should be made a core subject in the senior secondary school”. Write your entry.
5. Describe in detail a memorable occasion during which an eminent personality in your
town was honoured
JULY 2002
1. There has been an upsurge in AIDS cases in your country recently. Write a letter to the
Minister of Health discussing the issue and suggesting at least three ways by which the
disease can be prevented.
2. You have accompanied your father on his transfer to a new town. Describe this new
environment, stating what you like or dislike about it
3. Write a story that illustrates the saying “ Birds of the same feather flock together”
4. Some people argue that rapists should be executed. In an article suitable for publication
in a national newspaper, express your opinion on this controversy.
5. Your school is organizing a debate on the motion: “The media have done the society
more harm than good”. As a principal speaker, write your contribution for or against the
motion.
NOVEMBER 2002
1. Write an article, suitable for publication in a national newspaper, on the topic: The
changes I would like to see in my country.
2. Your sister is separated from her husband leaving you and her children with their father.
Write a letter to her pleading that she should return, giving at least three reasons why she
should.
3. Write a story to illustrate the saying, Experience is the best teacher
4. The Chief Executive of your district has failed to fulfill his/her promises to develop your
town. As a delegate of your youth club, write out the speech you would deliver at a
meeting of the District Assembly complaining about at least two of such unfulfilled
promises, and stating the effects of the failure to do so.
 5. You are speaker in a school debate on the topic: Our elders may no longer be active but
they are still very useful to our society. Write your contribution for or against the
motion.
JULY 2003
1. Write a story beginning: It is great to be young”.
2. To commemorate your school’s 20th Anniversary, you have been invited to contribute to a
debate on the motion: Ghana should continue to borrow money for development. Write
your speech for or against the motion.
3. The head of your school is going on retirement. Write out the speech you would deliver
as the school prefect at the farewell party organized for him
4. The Ministry of Transport in your county is organizing an essay competition on the topic:
the bicycle a very useful means of transport. Write your entry.
5. Write a letter to the chairman of the Board of Governors of your school describing an
alarming situation in the school. Give at least three reasons why immediate action should
be taken to put things right.
NOVEMBER 2003
1. Write a letter to a friend who lives in a neighboring country, explaining why you like or
dislike certain advertisements on you local radio.
2. You spent your last holidays with a friend in another part of the country. Describe what
you saw and experienced, stating the effects they have had on you.
3. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper, on the topic: Some of our
customs and traditions must be maintained.
4. Write a story to illustrate the saying: “Once bitten, twice shy”
5. You are a speaker in a debate on the topic: Drivers should be blamed for the accidents on
our roads. Write your speech for or against the motion.
JULY 2004
1. As the school prefect, write a letter to the newly-appointed Headmaster congratulating
him and stating at least three urgent needs of the school.
2. A foreign magazine is organizing an essay competition among secondary school students
on the topic: The virtues of traditional foods. Write your entry.
3. As part of a campaign to increase the number of students in your school, your
Headmaster has asked you as School prefect to convince a gathering of junior secondary
school pupils in your district to choose your school. Write the speech you would deliver
4. You are a speaker in a school debate on the topic; in a developing country, it is more
useful to study science than business.
5. Narrate a story, which illustrates the saying, “Look before you leap”
NOVEMBER 2004
1. In an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper, discuss why capital
punishment should not be abolished in the country.
2. You are a speaker in a debate on the topic: Abstaining from sex is the best way to avoid
HIV/AIDS. Write your speech for or against the motion
3. In a letter to a pen-friend abroad narrate an event that has had a far-reaching effect on
your country.
 4. Write a story to illustrate the proverb: Make hay while the sun shines.
5. You want to be elected School Prefect. Write the speech that will persuade the students to
vote for you.
JULY 2005
1. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper advocating the use of a
Ghanaian Language as the lingua franca of your country.

2. You have been invited by the police as an eyewitness to a brawl between two factions in a
dispute. Write a report stating exactly what you saw.

3. As Senior Prefect of your school, write a speech to be delivered at a youth forum on the
prevention of drug abuse among students.

4. You are the main speaker in an inter-school debate on the topic: Science is the greatest threat
to life in the world. Write out your contribution for or against the motion.

5. The parent-teacher association of your school has decided to introduce a new school uniform.
Write a letter to the Chairman giving at least three reasons why you disagree.

NOVEMBER 2005
1. You are a speaker in a debate on the topic: Discipline is the key to good academic
performance. Write your speech for or against the motion.
2. The Ghana Tourist Board is organizing an essay competition on: The need to improve tourism
in the country. Write your entry.
3. Write a story that illustrates the saying: All that glitters is not gold.
4. There has been an increase in motor accidents recently. Write to the Chairman of the National
Road Safety Committee stating the causes and suggesting measures to prevent these accidents.

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5. You are unhappy about the unsanitary conditions in your area. Write an article suitable for
publication in a national newspaper, in which you explain the causes and suggest ways of
improving sanitation.

NOVEMBER 2007
1. Insufficient student accommodation in tertiary institutions affects admissions each year.  .
Write an article for publication in a national newspaper discussing this problem and suggesting at
least three ways of solving it.

2. You are a speaker in a debate on the topic: traditional rulers have no place in a modern
democratic nation. Write your speech for or against the motion.
3. Your year group has been on an educational tour of one of the regions of the country. Describe
to your friends your impressions of the tour.

4. There was a disagreement between your class and one of the teachers. As the class prefect,
write a report to the head of your school on the incident.
5. Two of your brothers had a bitter quarrel just before you left home for the boarding school.
Write a letter to your father pointing out where both were at fault and requesting him to
intervene.

JUNE 2009
1. Write an article suitable for publication in an international magazine on the topic: The
problems associated with environmental pollution and suggested solutions.
2. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: the national health insurance policy
can solve all the health problems of the country. Write your arguments for or against the motion.

3. In recent times there have been protests over poor conditions of service for workers. Write a
letter to the minister of employment identifying three areas where you think the government
should make efforts to bring more prosperity to workers.

4. Write a story ending with the statement: As you can see circumstances beyond my control
compelled me to do such a thing.
5. You recently participated in a local festival. Write a letter to your pen pal describing three
exciting experiences which you had during the festival.

1. Write a letter to the headmaster of your school suggesting what can be done to reduce the
spate of indiscipline among the students of your school in response to a request by the
school authorities.
2. Write a letter to your elder brother in Europe or America telling him about what you want
to do after leaving school and why. You may also ask for his advice.
3. Write an account of an exciting trip you made to one of the principal towns in your
country where you spent a week with your best friend and his or her family. Your piece
should be suitable for publication in your school magazine.
4. The Students’ Union of your district is organizing a symposium on the need to plant
trees. Write the speech you would give.
5. Describe what happened during and after a natural disaster that you have experienced or
heard about, for publication in one of your local newspapers.
NOVEMBER 2009(A)
1. Write an article for publication in a cultural magazine on what traditional rulers should do to
promote peaceful co-existence in their communities.

2. The members of the old students association of your school have expressed the desire to offer
assistance to the school. As senior prefect, write a letter to its president identifying three areas
where the school needs immediate help.

3. Write a story ending with the statement: We forgot the past and became friends once more.
4. The ministry of agriculture is organizing an essay competition on the topic: every senior high
school must have a school farm. Write your entry.

5. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: inter-school sports and games
promote friendship and unity among students. Write your speech for or against the motion.
NOVEMBER 2009(B)
1. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: living overseas has more advantages
than living in your own country. Write your arguments for or against the motion.

2. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper discussing at least three measures
which your community has taken to bring development to your area.

3. Write a letter to your friend who is coming to live in your area informing him about the
advantages of living there and the risks he is likely to encounter.

4. The national commission for civic education hopes to make people aware of their
responsibilities as good citizens of the country. Write a letter to the chairman expressing your
views on what should be done to achieve this noble objective.

5. Write a story that ends with the expression: caught red-handed.

NOVEMBER 2010
1.     As the sports prefect of your school, write a letter to the Chairman of your school’s board of
Governors, giving at least three reasons why you think games and sports should be given more
encouragement in schools.
2.    Your friend intends to transfer to your school. Write a letter to him/her telling him/her about
the facilities in your school which help students to achieve their goals.

3.    You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: Advertisements are no longer

useful. Write your arguments for or against the motion.
4.    Various concerns have been raised about the security situation in your area. As a concerned
citizen, write an article for publication in one of your national newspapers expressing your views
on the matter
5.   Write a story ending with the expression:
       We regretted venturing into it.
NOVEMBER 2011
1. You took part in an excursion organized by the wildlife club of your school. Give a vivid
account of your experience.
2. Your school will soon celebrate its speech and prize-giving day. As the senior prefect of
the school, write the speech you will deliver on that occasion
3. There has been an outpouring of criticism against the Head of your school. You think that
some of these criticisms are rather insulting. Write an article for publication in your
school magazine expressing your views on the matter.
4. Write a story that ends with the following words: The man stood there for a long time,
holding his jaw in his left hand.
5. Your friend is attending school in a different part of your country. Write a letter to him
telling him about three things which have made your school famous
MAY/JUNE 2012
1. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic:
    Tourism can be of great benefit to the country and should be encourage by the government.

2. Writ e a letter to the minister of education, suggesting three waysofmakingpublic secondary  

schools in deprive communities more attractive to students.
3. Write a letter to your friend in another school recounting the experiences you went through
when you visited the city for the first time.
4. Write a story that ends with the words:
     That experience was one of the best things that ever happened to me.

5. The social Life Club of your school is organizing a symposium on the topic:
     The role of the youth in a rapidly changing society. As a speaker, Write your speech.

NOVEMBER 2012
1 . Your uncle who has been living abroad for the past twenty years suddenly arrived home for
Christmas. Write a letter to your friend, telling him/her how much your uncle’s visit made your
Christmas enjoyable.

2. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The indiscipline

of drivers on the road.
3. Write a story that illustrates the saying: One good turn deserves another.
4. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion: Tribal associations should not
be allowed in public secondary schools. Write your speech for or against the motion.
5. As a youth leader in your community, write a letter to the Minister of Youth Affairs
identifying, with reasons, three areas where you think the government should concentrate efforts
to bring about rapid development to the country.
May/June 2013
1. Write an article for publication in a national newspaper on the topic: The menace of hawking
on the street and how to deal with it.
2. As a senior prefect of your school, write the speech you would deliver to first-year students on
how to manage their time.

3. Your sick grandmother has been admitted to hospital. Write a letter to your brother describing
the state of her health when you visited her.

4. Write a story to illustrate the saying: The lazy man goes to bed hungry.

5. The Society for the Improvement of Living Conditions is organizing a debate on the
motion: The rapid development of a country depends solely on politicians. Write your argument
for or against the motion.
S.C./G.C.E. JUNE 1993
1. Write a letter to your headmaster or headmistress describing three unwholesome practices
going on in the school, which the authorities are unaware of and show the dangers they
may lead to.
2. You have just seen the name and address of somebody abroad who wants a pen pal from
your country. Write your first letter to him or her, introducing yourself and family and
discussing anything else you consider significant.
3. Describe to your friends a day in your life when everything went wrong.
4. As the outgoing senior prefect in your school, write a speech for delivery at your Speech
and Prize-Giving Day Celebrations showing the successes and failures recorded during
your term of office.
5. Write an article for publication in your school magazine discussing the view that extra or
private classes should be abolished in your country
S.C./G.C.E. JUNE 1994
1. A committee has been set up to investigate a riot which occurred during a recent inter-
schools sports competition. As the Sports Prefect of your school, write a letter to the
Chairman of the Committee giving an account of what happened.
2. Write a letter to your friend in another town telling him about the preparations your
school is making towards her forthcoming silver jubilee celebration.
3. The high rate of unemployment among school leavers poses a serious problem in your
country. Write an article for publication in one of your national newspaper suggesting
ways of remedying the situation.
4. As one of the main speakers in a debate, write your speech for or against the topic,
“Scientific advancement is a curse to mankind”
5. On your way home from a film show you were attacked by thugs. Write a report for the
police to help them in their investigations.
6. Write a story that illustrates the saying: “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush”
S.C./G.C.E. NOVEMBER  1995
 1. Write a letter to your friend abroad describing a recent special family event.
2. Write a letter to the chairman of your District Council complaining about the lack of
recreational facilities in your area and suggesting how the situation can be remedied.
3. Describe in detail a naming ceremony you recently attended for publication in a foreign
newspaper.
4. Write a story which ends with the proverb, ‘A stitch in time saves nine’.
5. You are the principal speaker in a debate on the motion ‘The participation of Women is
Essential for Nation – Building’. Write your contribution for or against the motion.
6. A peace-making committee has been set up to solve a conflict that has begun in a district
of your country. Write your suggestions for consideration by the committee.
S.C./G.C.E. NOVEMBER 1996
1. Your cousin has just completed his course overseas and would like to return home to get
a job. Write a letter to him or her describing the present state of employment
opportunities.
2. Write a letter to the editor of one of your national newspapers, complaining about at least
three problems caused by the recent increase in transport fares, and suggesting ways of
solving these problems.
3. As part of your English composition lesson, your teacher took you to the market last
week. Write an account of what you saw as class work.
4. There is an inter-school debate on the motion, ‘The prefect should always be on the side
of the school authorities’. As the main speaker of your school, write your
contribution for or against the motion
5. Write a story entitled, ‘Look before you leap’.
6. A fire has destroyed the Health Centre of your locality. As the Chairman of the Youth
Movement, you have called a meeting to rally members for communal labour at the site.
Write your speech.
S.C./G.C.E. JUNE 1997
1.  Your sister who has been abroad for five years is planning to come home. Write a letter
to her describing three important changes that have taken place in the country.
2. A non-governmental organization is willing to help your district carry out a project. Write
a letter to the head of the organization suggesting the project and stating at least three
benefits your people will derive from it.
3. Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the need to improve
discipline in the school
4. You are the main speaker in a debate on the topic, ‘Women can never be equal to men’.
Write your speech for or against the motion.
5. Write a story beginning with: “Ayo was supposed to by my friend but”……..
6. Give an account of an incident that occurred on your way to school in which your timely
intervention saved the situation.
S.C./G.C.E. JUNE 1998
1. Write a letter to the Editor of one of your local newspapers supporting or contradicting
the view that school examinations should be abolished.
2. Your cousin who has been studying abroad is planning to come home for Christmas.
Write a letter to him or her about the preparations the family is making towards the visit.
 3. You are one of the speakers of your school in a debate on the motion: “Girls are to blame
for teenage pregnancy in our country” Write your contribution either for or against the
motion.
4. Write a story that ends with it was indeed my lucky day.
5. Write an article for publication in a local newspaper on recent changes that have taken
place in the educational system of your country. State how these changes have affected
you personally and your school in general.
6. The Environmental Club of your school has just ended a clean-up campaign in a nearby
village. As president of the club, write the address you will give to the people on the need
to keep their surroundings clean.
Bonus: CEGAST ACADEMY WASSCE
MOCK EXAM QUESTIONS
1. Write a letter to the editor of a national newspaper explaining at least three reasons why
you agree or disagree with the view that all citizens of your country living abroad should
be allowed to vote in general elections.
2. Write a letter to your best friend in another school giving reasons why you think that it is
necessary for every student to be computer literate.
3. You are the principal speaker in an inter-school debate on the motion: Only public school
pupils should benefit from fee-free basic education”. Write your
speech for or against the motion.
4. You have been invited by a voluntary society in your school to speak about the role the
youth are expected to play in the economic and social development of your country.
Write your speech.
5. Describe how you helped to rescue a man/woman who had been mistaken for an armed
robber.
6. Write a story that illustrates the saying: “A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”