WAEC Syllabus for Machine Woodworking & Textbooks 2024/2025

The WAEC syllabus for Machine Woodworking is the topic you must study to sit for the examination. It contains the aims and objectives, notes and format for the Machine Woodworking exam.

Studying Machine Woodworking subject is necessary for your exam preparation. It will serve as a guide for you to know the topics to read. There are also notes on concepts you should pay attention to learning.

Exam preparations without using the Machine Woodworking are like going to the farm without your agricultural tools. You will end up not being productive.

Ensure you begin your exam preparations using the syllabus.

This post contains the Machine Woodworking and recommended textbooks of the West African Examination Council (WAEC).

WAEC Machine Woodworking

Examination Scheme

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3 all of which must be taken.

Papers 1 and 2 shall be a  composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

Paper 1:   will consist of forty multiple-choice objective questions all of which are to be answered in 1 hour for 40 marks.

Paper 2:   will consist of four short-structured questions.  Candidates will  be required to answer any three in 1 hour for 60 marks.

Paper 3:   will consist of one practical question of 2 hours duration for 100 marks.

A list of materials for the test shall be made available to schools not less than two weeks before the paper is taken for material procurement and relevant preparations.

Paper 3: ALTERNATIVE TO PRACTICAL TEST

The Council may consider testing candidates’ ability in practical work as prescribed in the syllabus in the event that materials for the actual practical test cannot be acquired.  

For this alternative test there will be one question to be answered in 2 hours for 100 marks.

WAEC Machine Woodworking Syllabus

Theory Component

S/NO.TOPICSNOTES
1.Tree growth, structure and types(a)    Common West African trees; characteristics and countries of origin.
(b)     Tree growth, growth process, tree parts and functions.
(c)      Wood structure: cross-section of a tree.
2Properties of timber(a)      Characteristics of soft and hardwoods.
(b)       Physical properties of common West African timbers.
3Timber Processing:
(a)   conversion
(b)   seasoning
(c)   preservation 
(a)       Concept of timber conversion.
(b)       Methods of timber conversion.
(c)       Common market sizes of timber. 
(d)        Concept of timber seasoning.
(e)        Reasons for seasoning timber.
(f)         Methods of seasoning timber, including advantages and disadvantages.
(g)         Types and characteristics of timber preservatives.
(h)         Application of timber preservatives.
4Timber defectsTypes – natural and artificial defects e.g. knots, shakes, splits, etc.
5General wood machine shop safety(a)       General machine shop safety habits.
(b)       Electrical and mechanical safety rules.
6Safety equipment and devices in the wood machine shopIdentification and uses of common machine shop safety equipment and devices (e.g. fire extinguisher, first aid box, sand bucket, etc).
7.Safety in the operations of woodworking machines.Specific safety rules guide the use of each woodworking machine.
8.Wood machine layout(a)      Principles of machine shop layout.
(b)      Flow diagram of a machine shop layout.
9.Woodwork machinesParts, accessories, uses and maintenance of machines: crosscut saw, circular saw bench, surface planer, thicknesser, jigsaw, sander, band saw, tenoner, mortiser, router, spindle moulder, lathe.
10.Wood machiningMachine operations involving crosscutting, ripping, grooving surface planing, shooting, chamfering, bevelling, tapering, sanding, curve cutting, mitre cutting, tenonning, turning, rebating, mortising, shaping, moulding.
11.Business opportunities in machine woodworking(a)    Identification of business opportunities in Machine         Woodworking.
(b)    Feasibility study of business opportunities in Machine          Woodworking.
12.Funds sourcingSources of funds – Personal, savings, bank loans, co-operatve associations, thrifts, etc.
13.Operating and managing a wood machine ShopSetting up and managing a machine shop.

Practical Component

Practical activities will include

  • Bevelling and tapering;
  • Crosscutting;
  • Grooving;
  • Ripping;
  • Mitring;
  • Shooting, surface planning;
  • thicknessing;  
  • curve cutting; Moulding;
  • Sanding;
  • Turning;
  • Mortising;
  • tenonning;
  • Cleaning and lubricating
  •  machine parts Chamfering; and accessories

List of Facilities and Major Equipment

Machines

S/NO.DESCRIPTIONMINIMUM QUANTITY REQUIRED
1.Radial Arm CROSS CUTTING Mc2
2.Circular Saw2
3.Surface Planer2
4.Thicknesser2
5.Band Saw2
6.Moticer (Hollow Square Chisel and Chain2
7.Tenoner2
8.Router2
9.Spindle Moulder2
10.Wood Turning Lathe2
11.Orbital Sander2
12.Veneering Press2
13.Dimension Saw2
14.Powered Saw2
15.Jig Saw2
16.Spraying Machine2
17.Drill Press – Table Type2
18.Drill Press – Standing Type2
19.Cutter Grinding Machine2
20.Saw Sharpening Machine2

Accessories

S/NO.DESCRIPTIONMINIMUM QUANTITY REQUIRED
1.Circular Saw Blade (rip saw, cross ant saw, combination saw)5 each
2.Mitre Gauge2
3.Spray Gun2
4.Morticing AttachmentsVarious
5.Turning ChiselsVarious
6.Calipers (Outside and Inside)5
7.Cutter Blocks and Cutters5 each
8.Oil Can5
9.Spanners5 sets
10.Drill BitsVarious
11.Grinding Block5
12.Grease Gun2
13.Band Saw Blades (6, 12, 18 and 25mm)5
14.Mortising Chisels (6, 9, 12, 15, 18 and 25 mm)5 each
15.Setting Pliers5
16.Files (round, flat, triangular half round)5 each
17.Gate saw set5
S/NO.AUTHORTITLEPUBLISHER
1.John R. ClaytonMachine WoodworkingNorthwood Publication Ltd
2.J. A. WaltonWoodwork in theory and practice (Metric Edition)Australasian Publishing Company (London)
3.D. M. ShawWoodwork Design and PracticeHodder and Stoughton, London
4.H. E. KingGeneral Certificate Woodwork (3rd Edition)Harrap, London
5.D. N. WillacyWoodwork Book 1 and 2Nelson, Lagos
6.Nurudeen et allFundamentals of WoodworkingEvans, Lagos
7.G. W. Brazier and N. A. HarrisWoodworkBungay, Richard City
8.J. Fierre and G. HutchingsAdvanced Woodworking and Furniture Making 
9.CESACWoodwork for Senior Secondary Schools 
10.J. N. K. SackeyWoodwork for Senior Secondary SchoolsMacmillan
11.Rom PettitWoodwork Made SimpleW. H. Allen and Co. Ltd. London.
12.John Strefford Guy McMurdoWoodwork TechnologySchofield and Sims Ltd.
13.E. J. WynterWoodworkLongman
14.Frank HiltonCraft Technology for Carpenters and Joiners 
15.John L. Feirer and Gilbert R. HutchingsCarpentry and Building ConstructionGlencoe Publishing Company.
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