WAEC 2026 AGRIC PRACTICAL SPECIMEN: Are you looking for the official WASSCE 2026 Agricultural Science Practical Instructions to Schools? The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the confidential specimen list for the Agricultural Science 3 (Practical) paper.

To score an 'A' in this year’s examination, you need more than just a list of names. You need to know the classification, uses, botanical names, and likely questions examiners will ask.

Below is the complete, verified guide to Specimens A to P for the 2026 WASSCE School Candidates exam, fully analyzed by agricultural science experts.

 

WAEC 2026 AGRIC SCIENCE PRACTICAL SPECIMEN

 

Specimen A: Poultry droppings

Specimen B: Cow dung

 

 

Specimen C: Water

(This will simply be presented as clear, clean water in a labeled lab container or beaker).

Specimen D: Limestone

 

 

Specimen E: Dibber

 

Specimen F: Hoe

 

Specimen G: Weighing scale

 

 

Specimen H: Watering can

 

 

Specimen J: Pineapple (whole fruit)

 

 

Specimen K: Cassava tuber

 

Specimen L: Cotton lint with seeds

 

 

Specimen M: Groundnut cake

 

 

Specimen N: Fish meal

 

 

Specimen O: Elephant grass

 

 

Specimen P: Guinea grass

 

Detailed Analysis of WASSCE 2026 Specimens (A - P)

 

Section 1: Soil Fertility & Amendments (Specimens A - D)

Specimen A: Poultry Droppings

• Characteristics: Dry, greenish-brown or greyish crumbly pellets with white patches of uric acid.

• Why WAEC Includes It: To test your knowledge on organic vs. inorganic fertilizers. It releases nutrients faster than cow dung.

• Precautions: Must be properly decomposed before application to avoid "burning" crops due to high ammonia content.

Specimen B: Cow Dung

• Characteristics: Dried, fibrous mass derived from cattle waste.

• Key Difference from Specimen A: It has lower nutrient concentration but higher organic matter content, making it excellent for improving soil structure.

Specimen C: Water

• Characteristics: Clean, odorless, colorless liquid.

• Likely Question: State three agricultural uses of water (irrigation, livestock processing, cooling engine parts, chemical spray carrier).

Specimen D: Limestone

• Chemical Name: Calcium Carbonate ($CaCO_3$).

• Agricultural Function: Applied to acidic soils to raise the pH. It also supplies calcium for cell wall development in plants.

 

Section 2: Farm Tools & Equipment (Specimens E - H)

Specimen E: Dibber

• Description: A simple, pointed wooden or metal rod with a T-handle.

• Primary Use: Making small, precise holes in seedbeds for transplanting or sowing seeds.

• Maintenance: Wash and dry after use; store in a dry tool rack.

Specimen F: Hoe

• Description: A wide metal blade fixed at an angle to a wooden handle.

• Primary Use: Loosening soil, cutting weeds below the surface, and molding ridges.

Specimen G: Weighing Scale

• Types used in lab: Spring balance or platform scale.

• Primary Use: Measuring feed rations to avoid wastage; checking livestock weight gain.

Specimen H: Watering Can

• Key Feature: The Rose Spout (the perforated nozzle).

• Why the Rose is important: It breaks down heavy water force into a gentle shower, preventing the wash-away of tiny seeds and delicate topsoil in a nursery.

 

Section 3: Agricultural Crops & Propagation (Specimens J - L)

Specimen J: Pineapple (Ananas comosus)

• Classification: Fruit crop.

• Propagation Materials: 1. Suckers (grow from the base)

  2. Slips (grow on the stalk below the fruit)

  3. Crowns (the leafy top of the fruit)

Specimen K: Cassava Tuber (Manihot esculenta)

• Classification: Root tuber crop.

• Method of Propagation: Stem cuttings (planted at an angle of 45° to 60°).

• Pests/Diseases: Whiteflies, Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD).

Specimen L: Cotton lint with seeds (Gossypium spp.)

• Classification: Fiber / Cash crop.

• Processing Stage: Requires ginning to separate the fluffy white lint from the dark seeds.

 

Section 4: Animal Nutrition & Feed Formulation (Specimens M - N)

Specimen M: Groundnut Cake

• Local Name: Kulikuli.

• Classification: Agro-industrial by-product.

• Nutritional Value: Rich in plant protein. Used to formulate broiler starter or layer mash.

Specimen N: Fish Meal

• Description: Dried and crushed whole fish or fish scraps.

• Nutritional Value: High source of animal protein, rich in essential amino acids (lysine and methionine) for fast livestock growth.

 

Section 5: Pastage & Forage Grasses (Specimens O - P)

WAEC frequently asks candidates to differentiate between these two specific grasses. Pay close attention to their botanical names and features.

Specimen O: Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)

• Growth Habit: Very tall (up to 4 meters), robust perennial bunchgrass with thick, cane-like stems.

• Utilization: Mostly used in the cut-and-carry system (zero grazing) because the stems become too woody for cattle to trample or graze directly.

Specimen P: Guinea Grass (Megathyrsus maximus / Panicum maximum)

• Growth Habit: Shorter, tufted perennial bunchgrass with slender leaves and highly branched flower panicles.

• Utilization: Highly palatable for direct paddock grazing, and excellent for producing hay.