THE MALAWI NATIONAL EXAMINATIONS BOARD

2024 JUNIOR CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION

CHIEF EXAMINER’S REPORT

CHEMISTRY (J038)

General Comments On:

A. Quality of the paper

The 2024 Chemistry paper reflected full coverage of the syllabus. The language used was
suitable for the JCE candidates. The layout of the paper was also good. The paper had no
typographic errors and all diagrams and tables were clear. The paper had no missing
information, wrong diagrams or blank pages.

B. Candidates’ general performance

Most candidates performed below average. This could be because of lack of content
mastery, skills application and poor syllabus coverage. Language presentation was also
poor. There were very few candidates who were able to apply basic skills in Chemistry.

C. Comments on performance of candidates on individual questions

Section A

Question 1

The question demanded candidates to choose a gas that is used for burning. The question
was popular and many candidates got it right. The correct option was B (nitrogen).

Question 2

The question required candidates to select the percentage composition of noble gases in air
given the proportion of the noble gases in air. Most candidates got it. They chose A
(1.0%).

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Question 3

The candidates were required to choose the electron configuration of an element Z given its
number of electrons and neutrons. It was clear and simple as many candidates got it right. The
correct option was B (2, 8, 1)

Question 4

The candidates were required to identify the mass of an element given as in question 3. Many
candidates got the correct answer which was C (23).

Question 5

The candidates were required to identify properties of acids. Few candidates managed to get the
correct answer, A (have sour taste, turn blue litmus paper to red, react with bases).

Question 6

The question demanded candidates to select a reason for litmus paper to be called an indicator.
Many candidates got it right. The correct option was A (its colour is affected by acids and
bases).

Question 7

The candidates were tasked to choose the best description of a neutralization reaction among the
given statements. The question was popular though many candidates failed to have a complete
set of three correct statements. The correct option was B (the reactants are acids and bases, the
products are salt and water, the pH of a base decreases when an acid is added to it).

Question 8

The question required the candidates to choose applications of Chemistry amongst the given
statements. Many candidates got it right. The correct option was B (water treatment, cooking
nsima).

Question 9

The question demanded candidates to identify a final stage in a scientific investigation. Few
candidates got it right. The correct option was C (drawing conclusion).

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Question 10

The question demanded the candidates to choose a conversion of 20 megalitres into litres. Many
candidates got it wrong. The correct option was D (20,000,000).

Question 11

The question requested candidates to choose the SI unit of volume. The majority of the
candidates failed it. The correct option was A (m3).

Question 12

The question demanded candidates to identify a compound amongst the given formulae of
substances. Most candidates chose A (Cl2), thinking it is a compound. The correct option was B
(CO2).

Question 13

From the given molecular diagrams, candidates were asked to identify diagrams representing
elements. Most candidates got it right. The correct option was C.

Question 14

The question required candidates to choose a name of a substance represented by a molecular

diagram. With the help of a key, many candidates got it right. The correct option was D (carbon
dioxide).

Question 15

The question demanded candidates to choose a phrase on how non-metals attain stable electron
configuration. The correct option was C (by gaining electrons).

Question 16

The question required the candidates to choose a method that is used to separate a mixture of a
dissolved solid from its solution. The majority of the candidates got it right. They chose A
(evaporation).

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Question 17

The question demanded candidates to choose a fuel that belongs to fossil fuels. Many candidates
chose the correct option A (coal).

Question 18

The question demanded candidates to identify a gas which supports combustion. Most candidates
got it right by choosing A (hydrogen).

Question 19

The question demanded candidates to choose the correct formula of an alkane with 9 carbon
atoms. Many candidates got it right by choosing C (C9H20), but a few chose an alkene, B
(C9H18).

Question 20

The question demanded candidates to choose uses of alkenes amongst the given statements.
Most candidates managed to choose the correct uses, A (production of alkanols, production of
plastics, seed germination and flower maturation).

Section B

Question 21a

Candidates were provided with a diagram showing a bond between sodium and chlorine atoms to
form sodium chloride.

Question 21a (i)

The question demanded candidates to identify the type of bond. Most candidates got it right
although some gave responses as ‘aronic’ or ‘inioc’ bond instead of ionic bond.

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Question 21a (ii)

The question required candidates to explain how the bonding is formed. Most candidates
managed to explain correctly. The correct response was: sodium loses an electron to become
positively charged; chlorine gains an electron to become negatively charged. The positively
charged sodium and the negatively charged chlorine attract each other and form an ionic bond.

Question 21b

The question required candidates to give any two states of matter. Almost all the candidates got
it right except a few who gave answers as ‘organic matter’ and ‘inorganic matter’. The correct
responses included: solid, liquid, gas.

Question 22a

The question demanded candidates to describe how mass of a liquid could be found. The
question seemed very difficult as many candidates failed to explain properly. The correct
description was: measure mass of an empty beaker on a triple beam balance and record it; put the
liquid in the beaker; measure the mass of the beaker plus liquid and record it; subtract mass of
the empty beaker from the mass of the beaker plus liquid to find the mass of the liquid.

Question 22b

Candidates were asked to define a ‘dependent variable’. Some candidates showed lack of
knowledge on analytical skills in Chemistry. The correct response was: it is a factor which is
measured or observed in an experiment.

Question 23a: Candidates were provided with a periodic table showing some elements in it.

Question 23a (i)

Candidates were asked to give the valency of Cl. Many candidates gave the correct valency (2).

Question 23a (ii) The question demanded candidates to give any one metal in the table. Many
candidates gave the correct answer although some candidates gave names of metals which were
not shown in the table such as Aluminium. The correct responses included: Na, Ca

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Question 23b

Candidates were asked to give any two chemical properties of Ca. Many candidates gave the
correct properties (it reacts with oxygen, it reacts with water, it reacts with chlorine, etc)
although some gave physical properties (e.g. it is soft) instead of chemical properties.

Question 23c

Candidates were tasked to write a balanced equation for the reaction between the atoms of Na
and O. Most candidates managed to give the correct response (4Na(s) + O2(g) 2Na2O(s)
although some candidates used O instead of O2 in the equation.

Question 24a

The question demanded candidates to give any one natural source of organic compounds. Many
candidates got it right. The correct responses included: fossils, plants, animals.

Question 24b

The question demanded candidates to classify the given fuels as bio or fossil fuels. Many
candidates managed to classify the fuels correctly (ethanol is a bio-fuel while coal, petroleum
and natural gas are fossil fuels).

Question 25a

The question required the candidates to give any three uses of oxygen gas. Most candidates gave
the correct responses (purifying steel, helping patients with breathing problems, used in welding,
used for respiration in living things).

Question 25b

The question required candidates to briefly explain how car exhausts cause soil pollution. The
question was performed poorly since many candidates could not relate very well car exhausts
with soil pollution. They thought it could have worked better if the question asked about air
pollution. The correct answer was: cars release gases such as sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide,
nitrogen dioxide when they burn. The releases gases dissolve in rain water producing acid rain.
The acid rain affects the pH of the soil hence causing soil pollution.

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Question 26a (i)

The question was based on a diagram of a burette.

The question demanded the candidates to name the apparatus. Many candidates gave the correct
name (burette) with others naming it as a separating funnel and an injection.

Question 26a (ii)

The question demanded candidates to give the function of the apparatus. Those candidates that
identified the apparatus correctly gave the correct response (to measure exact small volumes of
liquids or solutions).

Question 26b
Candidates were given a situation in which a student wanted to find out the effect of temperature
on the solubility of sugar in water.
Question 26b (i)
Candidates were asked to list the variables that could have been measured. Many candidates got
it right. The correct response was: time for the sugar to dissolve.
Question 26b (ii)
Candidates were asked to state the independent variable. Many candidates managed to get it right
(temperature of water) although some candidates showed ignorance on the difference between a
dependent and an independent variable.

Question 26b (iii)

Candidates were tasked to identify a variable that could be kept constant in the experiment. Most
candidates got it right (volume of water, amount of sugar).

Question 27

Candidates were presented with a figure showing skeletal formulae of two organic compounds.

Question 27a

Candidates were asked to name compound X (pentane). Most candidates got it right.

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Question 27b

Candidates were asked to give a condensed formula of compound Y (pent-1-ene). Many

candidates gave the correct formula (CH3CH2CH2CHCH2 or CH3CH2CH2CH=CH2)with a few
candidates failing to identify the position of the double bond in the formula.

Question 27c

Candidates were asked what could happen if a sample of compound X were added to water in a
test tube. The question was challenging to most candidates probably because of lack of
conducting experiments at JCE level. The correct answer was: two layers will be formed
showing that compound X is insoluble in water.

Question 27d

Candidates were asked what would happen to the colour of bromine solution if a sample of
compound Y were added to it. Many candidates got it right (It will change from brown to
colourless).

Question 28a

The question demanded candidates to give any two uses of alkanes. Many candidates gave the
correct response (as solvents, as fuels, for construction of roads e.g. bitumen, used in
manufacturing of lubricants) although some gave the uses of the other organic compounds like
alkenes and alkanols.

Question 28b

The question demanded candidates to complete a given chemical equation. Few candidates gave
the correct response (CH4(g) + 2O2(g) CO2(g) + 2H2O(l)). Most of those that failed
could not manage to come up with the correct products.

Question 29

Candidates were presented with a table showing results of an investigation.

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Question 29a

The candidates were asked to plot a graph from the values in the table. Most candidates plotted a
correct graph. Some candidates plotted bar graphs and others used wrong scales on axes.

Question 29b

Using the graph in 29 (a), candidates were asked to find temperature at a given time. Those that
plotted a correct graph gave the correct response (45oC).

Question 30a

The question required candidates to calculate the percentage composition of sulphur in sulphuric
acid. Many candidates got it right (32.65%) but for those that failed did not manage to calculate
the correct masses involved.

Question 30b (i)

Candidates were provided with chemical formulae of some molecules.

The question required candidates to identify how many atoms were in molecule A (Na2SO4).
Many candidates gave the correct responses (7).

Question 26 b (ii)
Candidates were asked to name molecule B (C3H8). Many candidates managed to name it
correctly (Propane).

Section C

Question 31

The question demanded candidates to describe an experiment that could be done to separate the
mixture of salt and sand, with the aid of well labeled diagrams. Most candidates came up with
poor diagrams. Instead of using the words like ‘dissolve’ some candidates were using ‘melt’. The
majority of the candidates got half of the total marks. The correct description includes the
following procedures: add water to the mixture. Stir to dissolve the salt. Pass the mixture through
the filter paper to remove the sand. Transfer the salt solution into an evaporation basin. Heat the
filtrate until the water evaporates. The salt remains in the evaporation basin.

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Question 32

The question demanded candidates to describe an experiment that could be done to determine the
difference in strength between a strong base and a weak base. The question was clear but proved
difficult to the candidates. The correct response was: put half full of each of the two bases into
two test tubes in a rack. Add 2-3 drops of universal indicator into each test tube. Observe and
record the colour formed. Compare the colours of the solutions with the colours on the pH scale
chart and record the values. Basing on the pH values obtained, the solution whose pH value is
higher is a strong base and the one whose pH value is lower is a weak base.

Question 33a

The question required candidates to briefly explain the trends in electron affinity across a period
in the Periodic Table. Many candidates did not do well in this question. The correct response
was: across the period, the atomic radius decreases since electrons fill the same energy level and
the nuclear charge increases due to an increase in the number of protons leading to an increased
attraction of the incoming electron.

Question 33b

The question demanded candidates to explain any two effects of air pollution on the
environment. The question was attempted by many candidates. Some candidates could only give
effects without explanations or worse still could give wrong explanation to the given effect. The
correct explanations were: air pollution causes global warming which causes climate change; air
pollution causes acidic rain which destroys plants.

D. Recommendations to
(i) Schools

Teachers should

 cover the whole syllabus and stick to it not relying on books only.
 perform practical lessons even at JCE level.
 use a variety of recommended textbooks and not stick to one textbook.
 train their students on how to answer essay questions in Chemistry.

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 Head teachers should

 provide enough resources to science related subjects.

 organize frequent INSETs for their teachers.

(ii) Ministry of education

The Ministry should
 recruit more qualified teachers for Chemistry.
 supply enough recommended textbooks in all the schools.
 ensure that textbooks are thoroughly edited by experts and should be error free.

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