THE MALAWI NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS BOARD

2022 JUNIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION

CHIEF EXAMINER’S REPORT

A. GENERAL COMMENTS ON QUALITY OF THE PAPER AND

The 2022 JCE Physics paper was comparable to the other previous MANEB past papers.
The paper was fair and the language used was appropriate for the level of the JCE
candidates. The diagrams (stimulus materials) used in the paper were clear and relevant
to the questions. All the test items were very clear as they were straight to the point. It
covered all the topics in the syllabus adequately which made the paper to be valid and
reliable. The overall performance by most candidates in the paper was below average.
However, some candidates were able to demonstrate very good understanding of the
scientific concepts and present them in a logical order. They were also able to interpret
the graphs, come up with good procedures of an experiment and draw good conclusions.

B. PERFORMANCE OF CANDIDATES ON INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS

Section A: Multiple choice

Question 1
The question demanded candidates to identify an SI unit symbol for temperature and most
candidates managed to encircle the right option.

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Question 2
The question required, candidates to explain what happens to the brightness of bulbs, B2 and B3
if the filament of B1 is broken. Most candidates managed to select the correct option. However,
few candidates failed due to lack of knowledge on the concept.

Question 3
The question demanded candidates to explain what would happen to the ammeter reading if the
filaments of bulbs B2 and B3 were broken. Most candidates failed the question.

Question 4
Candidates were asked to determine the amount of heat required to raise the temperature of 100g
of water by 50 Kelvins given the specific heat capacity of water (4,200J/kg0C). Most candidates
did not do well.

Question 5
The question required candidates to identify the atomic number. The question was popular and
most candidates got it right.

Question 6
Candidates were asked to select the letter that represents a point where a load is applied on a
simple bottle opener. Though the question was very familiar, some candidates failed it.

Question 7
The question demanded candidates to identify the difference in terms of magnitude of forces at
points R and S. Most candidates failed to select the correct letter corresponding to the right
answer.

Question 8
Candidates were asked to choose the SI unit for weight. The question was very popular and
many candidates chose the right option.

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Question 9
The question required candidates to choose the work done. Although the question was popular,
most candidates did not manage to choose the correct option. It could be due to poor mastery of
the content of the topic or lack of skills of calculations.

Question 10
The question required candidates to identify the statement that does not explain the property of
gases. This was a popular question and most candidates got it right.

Question 11
The question asked candidates to identify a statement which explains one way of minimising
systematic errors during experiment. Most candidates did not understand the question especially
on the meaning of systematic errors. Hence ended up selecting wrong options.

Question 12
The question demanded candidates to choose the statement that explains why copper wire is
suitable for use as a connecting wire in electric circuits. Most candidates managed to select the
right answer option.

Question 13
The question required candidates to choose the statement that best explains what happens to the
iron fillings placed near the solenoid when the current is passing through the solenoid. A few
candidates understood the question and got it right but most of them failed it.

Question 14
The question required candidates to choose the effect of current as it passes through the solenoid
wire as magnetic. Although the question was popular; most candidates got confused due to lack
of knowledge on the concept. Hence failed to choose the right option.

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Question 15
Candidates were asked to choose an option that best illustrates the energy changes that take place
in a bicycle dynamo. Most candidates did not get it right due to poor mastery of content of the
question.

Question 16
The question asked candidates to select a letter that corresponds to the name of the apparatus
used for measuring temperature. The question was popular and many candidates got it right.

Question 17
This question demanded candidates to choose a letter that corresponds to a statement which was
not explaining a consequence of laboratory accidents. Most candidates got it right.

Question 18
The question required candidates to identify the temperature where a fixed mass of water was
minimum using a graph. A few candidates got it right but most of them failed due to lack of good
observation and interpretation skills on graphs.

Question 19
Candidates were asked to select the direction of the refracted ray with respect to the direction of
a reflected ray(Y) shown in a figure (5). Most candidates failed to select the right option.

Question 20
The question asked candidates to select an option that best explains the meaning of ray labelled
“Y” in a figure (5). A few candidates got it right.

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Section B: Free Response (Short Answers)
Question 21
Part a demanded candidates to define machine. Although this question was popular, some
candidates failed it. They confused themselves with the definition of power and matter. Instead
of defining a machine, they were defining power and matter. Some even defined a “machine as a
device used in a barber shop”.

Part b (i) and (ii) required candidates to state the mechanical advantage value and calculate the
load using a pulley system diagram respectively. Most candidates demonstrated a very good
reasoning ability when relating mechanical advantage to the number of pulleys used to support
the load. Although some had good reasoning and manipulative skills, most candidates lost marks
due to the use of wrong SI units e.g. 1600J instead of 1600N, defining mechanical advantage
instead of giving the figure and misinterpreting the “load” as “road”. Hence they were writing as
“calculating the road” instead of “calculating the load”.

Question 22
Part a required candidates to state two ways of reducing the size of effort in a pulley system. A
few candidates managed to get everything correct but most of them did not perform well because
they confused themselves with the ways of reducing effort on an inclined plane i.e. using rollers,
smooth plank amongst others.

In part b candidates were asked to classify given sources of energy as renewable or non-
renewable. A lot of candidates demonstrated a very good understanding in the classification
however, answers given by some candidates proved that they did not understand the question.
For example, they were giving examples of plants such as mpini, mustard and the draining of the
sun as answers.

Question 23
The question required candidates to draw a graph of weight against mass. Most candidates
demonstrated lack of skills in plotting graphs. They failed to use a good scale, label the graphs
and start the graph line at zero point. For example, in labelling axes, they failed to identify an

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independent or dependent variable. Most of the candidates wrote the dependent variable on the x-
axis and the independent variable on the y-axis. Most candidates drew bar graph instead of linear
graphs.

Question 24
The question demanded candidates to identify the error with the wiring in a plug, explain dangers
paused by the error identified and state consequences of accidents in the laboratory. The
candidates had difficulties in identifying the errors. They could not understand and identify the
live, earth and neutral wires using colors. On the errors, most candidates could write the errors
such as personal, systematic. The candidates demonstrated a lack of observation skills on the
stimulus material given.

Question 25
The question required candidates to calculate the current. The diagram was very clear but the
question proved to be challenging to most candidates. They did not understand it. They lacked
the knowledge that voltage in parallel is the same. They confused themselves with a series
arrangement of cells of which the voltage is added. However, the candidates showed a little
understanding in calculating the current, given voltage and resistance i.e.
𝑣 𝐶 𝑣
C= 𝐼 or A=𝑉 instead of I=𝑅
They managed to get everything correct but majority had problems in calculating the resistance.

Question 26
Part a demanded candidates to indicate the magnetic field pattern on a diagram showing a
current carrying wire. The question was not popular and most candidates missed the question
since they could not draw anything on the diagram. Those who attempted it were mostly showing
the magnetic field lines around a bar magnet and not around the conductor. They lacked
knowledge on the electric field and its direction.

In part b, candidates were asked to give effects of force but most of them were giving wrong
answers like “death”, “injuries”.

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Question 27
Part a asked candidates to identify a liquid with a higher specific heat capacity accompanied by a
reason. The question was popular but challenging. Most candidates demonstrated a poor
understanding of the interpretation of graphs. A lot of candidates could get question 27 a (i)
correct but failing to give a reason in 27a (ii), a thing which indicated that they had little
knowledge on the concepts of the specific heat capacity in using a graph. Many of them were just
defining the concept of specific heat capacity as a reason to question 27 a (i). Others could write
like, “the liquid B was given a smaller amount of heat simply because it was in lower position
than A”.

The second part of the question (27 b) demanded candidates to give two factors that affect
magnitude of force between two charged objects. This was a popular question and most
candidates did well.

Question 28
Part a required candidates to convert 317K to degrees Celsius. This was a very popular question
and most candidates demonstrated good manipulative skills though some failed to use the correct
formula. Some candidates missed some marks because of using wrong SI units e.g. 44o as an
answer instead of 44oC.

In question 28b, most candidates managed to get all the marks except for few candidates who
gave some fanny answers for the question, for instance “use of condoms” which demonstrated
lack of content on the subject matter. The vocabulary used was poor since some could even write
wrong spelling leaning towards Chichewa (vernacular language). For instance, “it causes kaser
instead of cancer”.

Question 29
The first part of the question (a) demanded candidates to differentiate heat from temperature.
Most candidates did very well except a few candidates who failed it. Such candidates were
interchanging the concepts in their differences such as “heat is a form of energy while
temperature is measured in kelvins”. This made them lose some marks.

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In question 29 b, candidates were asked to identify the state of matter in which particles were
highly compressible and are held by strong intermolecular forces. In this question most
candidates did not do well because they confused the arrangement of particles with soil profile.

In question 29 c and d, most candidates could define the circuit instead of an electric current and
failed to name the type of radiation with the highest penetration power due to lack of knowledge
of the content.

Question 30
The question demanded candidates to give three effects of an electric current and then state two
ways of charging insulators respectively. This question was popular but in part a, a few
candidates were even unable to list down the effects of electric current instead they gave answers
for the dangers of electricity, a thing which indicates that they had poor mastery of the content of
the question.

In part b, the question demanded candidates to state ways in which insulators can be charged.
Most candidates failed because they confused themselves with the word “induction” as
“conduction” in heat transfer. Thus, could write conduction as of charging instead of induction.
Others could mention the solar panel, using cells etc. as methods of charging.

Section C: Essays
Question 31
Part a demanded candidates to draw a circuit diagram in which two resistors were to be arranged
in parallel. Many candidates were able to differentiate the series and parallel circuit. Some
candidates could not use symbols of the electric components instead they could draw the
electronic gadgets used in the circuits. For instance, on the cell, some candidates could draw a
cell phone. Other candidates could draw a symbol of a heat as a symbol for a bulb. Most
candidates just drew the symbols of the electric components given rather than drawing as a
circuit as the questions demanded.

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Question 31 b
In part b candidates were asked to describe how a bimetallic strip maintains a steady temperature
in an electric pressing iron. Performance by most candidates was poor. They lacked knowledge
on how a bimetallic works in an electric pressing iron. Some explained how iron of clothes is
done by using wrong vocabulary e.g. “sitting”, “shitting” instead of pressing. Some candidates
confused bimetallic strip with a fuse.

Question 32
Part a (i) required candidates to complete the diagram by drawing lines to show how a spectrum
would be produced while in a (ii) candidates were asked to explain how a spectrum can be
formed on the screen. A few candidates attempted the question and got it right but majority of
them, failed to describe the concepts of dispersion hence the question was difficult for them.
Some candidates failed to complete the diagram correctly to an extent that they drew arrows at
the end of the question instead of drawing them on the diagram. Other candidates drew a plasma
screen and a speaker in order to demonstrate how a spectrum is formed on the screen.

In part b, candidates were asked to explain what this statement “an increase in the temperature of
water can cause a floating object to sink” mean. Most candidates could confuse themselves with
a rotten egg and an anomalous expansion of water. Thus, they wrote that a rotten egg floats
because it has a low density than water instead of answering what the question was asking for.
They also wrote that behavior of water occurs from 0o C to 4o C. This showed that most
candidate did not understand the question.

Question 33
Part a demanded candidates to describe an experiment that could be done to show that pressure
affects boiling point of water. This question was popular but challenging. Most candidates
explained the concept on density and expansion instead of explaining the relationship between
pressure and boiling point. Most candidates could also write on evaporation of water and relating
it to pressure.

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Question 33 b
In part b, candidates were asked to describe how size of force required to move a metal block
can be determined. Some candidates defined the concept of force as a pull and a push instead of
describing the experiment. Most of them just wrote how the force could be measured using a
spring balance. This demonstrated a lack of understanding on the content of the question.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO:

A. Schools
- Teachers should cover the syllabus adequately and thoroughly.
- Science teachers should allow their students to conduct experiments where
necessary.
- The Head teachers should support the science activities with enough resources.
- The Head teachers should organise CPDs for the science teachers regularly.

B. Ministry of Education
- Employ more physics teachers
- Provide more teaching and learning resources to schools
- Increase the mobile laboratories so as to reach many schools or building Science
Laboratories in all schools.

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