Preparing for the WAEC examination in Tourism requires a clear understanding of the syllabus, objectives, and study materials.
In this blog post, we will provide you with a simplified overview of the WAEC Tourism syllabus, highlighting the aims and objectives of the exam.
We will also discuss the exam format and share some recommended textbooks to aid your preparation. Let’s dive in!
Understanding the WAEC Tourism Syllabus:
The WAEC Tourism syllabus is designed to assess candidates’ knowledge and skills in the tourism industry.
It assumes that students have had at least three teaching periods or two hours per week dedicated to this subject during their senior secondary school course.
The syllabus covers various aspects of tourism, including concepts, tourist attractions, tourism and cultural festivals, travel agencies, and entrepreneurship in tourism.
Aims and Objectives:
The primary objectives of the WAEC Tourism exam are as follows:
- Explain the concepts associated with tourism activities: Candidates should demonstrate their understanding of terms such as tourism, tourist, tourist attraction, tour operation, excursion, and travel agency.
- Acquire knowledge of tourist attraction centers and their locations: Students should be familiar with popular tourist destinations and their geographical locations.
- Understand the financial, social, and developmental benefits of tourism to a nation: Candidates need to grasp the economic, social, and developmental impacts of tourism on a nation.
- Explain the tourism and cultural festivals of a nation: Students should have knowledge of significant tourism and cultural festivals celebrated within a country.
- Acquire basic knowledge of the operations of travel agencies and tour businesses: Understanding the functioning of travel agencies and tour businesses is crucial for students.
- Understand the roles and functions of public and private agencies in tourism: Candidates should be aware of the roles played by both public and private agencies in promoting and managing tourism.
- Develop skills in tourism entrepreneurship: The syllabus aims to equip students with entrepreneurial skills relevant to the tourism industry.
Field Work:
To enhance practical understanding, students should participate in field work through excursions to various tourism industry sites, such as airports, sea ports, beaches, national parks, museums, hotels, and tour agencies.
Field work will contribute to the continuous assessment scores of students, accounting for 40 percent of the total scores.
Exam Format:
The WAEC Tourism exam consists of two papers, namely Paper 1 and Paper 2, to be completed within 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Paper 1: This section comprises 40 multiple-choice questions covering the entire syllabus. Candidates are required to answer all the questions within 40 minutes for a total of 40 marks.
Paper 2: Paper 2 consists of two sections, A and B.
- Section A: It includes ten restricted-response essay questions, all of which must be answered for a total of 40 marks. Candidates should aim to spend no more than 50 minutes on this section.
- Section B: This section comprises five essay-type questions. Candidates are expected to answer any three of these questions within one hour for a total of 60 marks.
Recommended Textbooks:
To enhance your study materials, we recommend the following textbooks:
- “The Geography of Travel and Tourism” by Brian Boniface and Christopher Cooper, 3rd Edition.
- “Tourism Principle and Practice” by Clins Cooper, John Fletcher, Alam Fyall, David Gilbert, and Stephen Wallhill, 2nd Edition.
- “Travel Vision: A Practical Guide for the Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry” by Jeanne Semer Purzycki.
- “An Introduction to Transport Studies” by John Hibbs, 3rd Edition.
Conclusion
Studying the WAEC Tourism syllabus is crucial for exam preparation.
It provides a clear roadmap of the topics you need to cover.
Additionally, participating in field work and referring to recommended textbooks will enhance your understanding of the subject.
By following the guidelines outlined in this blog post, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle the WAEC Tourism exam with confidence. Best of luck!
