WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs OBJ & Essay Answers and Questions

WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs OBJ & Essay Answers and Questions

The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is a major milestone for students across West Africa. As vocational skills continue to gain structural prominence in the educational sector, trade subjects like Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs have become highly sought-after. This subject does not just guarantee an academic grade; it offers immediate entrepreneurial value in a technology-driven market.

Preparing for the WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs examination requires a solid grasp of both physical computer components and mobile telecommunication architecture. The examination is structured into two main parts: Paper 1 (Objective) and Paper 2 (Essay/Theory), usually taken in a single, composite sitting. To score an A1 in this trade course, you need more than mere cramming; you must understand the core troubleshooting procedures, electronic components, and diagnostic tools used in modern technical workshops.

This comprehensive guide provides an in-depth breakdown of the WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs questions, likely objective answers, expected theory solutions, and practical syllabus topics designed to give you an edge in the examination hall.

For official information regarding the complete examination schedules, general registration guidelines, and e-learning resources, you can access the WAEC Official Portal to get started with your administrative checks.

WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs Exam Pattern

Before diving into the questions and answers, understanding how the papers are distributed helps in managing your time during the exam. The West African Examinations Council design this trade subject to test theoretical knowledge, practical analytical abilities, and workshop safety awareness.

• Paper 1 (Objective): This section contains multiple-choice questions (usually 40 to 50 questions). It tests your quick recall of technical acronyms, component identification, symbol recognition, and basic electronic laws. The duration is typically 45 minutes.
• Paper 2 (Essay/Theory): This contains structural and analytical questions where you are required to write detailed descriptions, draw circuit block diagrams, explain troubleshooting steps, and outline preventive maintenance procedures. The duration is usually 1 hour and 35 minutes.

A critical mistake many students make is spending too much time trying to memorize entire manuals instead of focusing on the specific core areas highlighted within the official WAEC syllabus. Let us look into the key areas you will meet in the examination hall.

WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs Objective (OBJ) Questions & Answers

The objective section requires precision. Below are highly likely questions modeled directly from the WAEC question bank, accompanied by their detailed answers and explanations to aid your understanding.

Question 1: Which of the following components is primarily responsible for converting Alternating Current (AC) from a wall outlet into regulated Direct Current (DC) for internal computer parts?

• A) Central Processing Unit (CPU)
• B) Power Supply Unit (PSU)
• C) Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS)
• D) Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor (CMOS)

Answer: B) Power Supply Unit (PSU)

Explanation: The PSU is the hardware component that converts the high-voltage AC electricity from the main supply into stable, lower-voltage DC currents (+3.3V, +5V, +12V) needed by the motherboard and storage drives. A UPS only acts as a battery backup during power outages.

Question 2: In mobile communication terminology, what does the acronym BSI stand for when testing a phone’s battery circuit?

• A) Base Station Interface
• B) Battery Size Indicator
• C) Battery Status Information
• D) Battery System Integration

Answer: C) Battery Status Information

Explanation: The BSI line or pin is a critical diagnostic terminal on a mobile phone battery PCB. It communicates the specific temperature and status profile of the battery to the phone’s power management integrated circuit (PMIC) to regulate safe charging operations.

Question 3: A technician notices that a desktop computer produces a series of continuous long beep codes during boot-up and displays no video output. Which component is most likely faulty or poorly seated?

• A) Hard Disk Drive (HDD)
• B) Random Access Memory (RAM)
• C) Cooling Fan
• D) Optical Drive

Answer: B) Random Access Memory (RAM)

Explanation: Power-On Self-Test (POST) beep codes are audio diagnostics generated by the BIOS/UEFI. Continuous long beeps universally point toward a critical memory error, which usually means the RAM modules are either dirty, damaged, or loosely fitted into their slots.

Question 4: Which structural unit of the GSM network architecture is directly responsible for tracking the real-time geographic location of a subscriber within their home network area?

• A) Visitor Location Register (VLR)
• B) Home Location Register (HLR)
• C) Base Transceiver Station (BTS)
• D) Equipment Identity Register (EIR)

Answer: B) Home Location Register (HLR)

Explanation: The HLR is the central database that stores administrative and operational details for every subscriber registered with that specific network provider, including their last known location packet. The VLR handles temporary data for roaming users.

Question 5: Which workshop tool is explicitly used to measure circuit continuity, voltage levels, and resistance values across a smartphone’s Printed Circuit Board (PCB)?

• A) Oscilloscope
• B) Hot Air Rework Station
• C) Digital Multimeter
• D) Logic Analyzer

Answer: C) Digital Multimeter

Explanation: A multimeter is an indispensable electronic diagnostic instrument. It combines several measurement functions—such as voltage, current, and resistance tracking—into a single unit, making it perfect for checking traces and open/short circuits on a PCB board.

WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs Essay (Theory) Questions & Answers

The theory paper tests your ability to articulate complex repair methodologies cleanly. WAEC examiners look for correct terminology, structural step-by-step presentation, and practical technical depth. Below are core essay questions you should study.

Question 1: (a) Differentiate clearly between Preventive Maintenance and Corrective Maintenance in computer systems. (b) Outline three essential tools required for hardware corrective maintenance and state one function of each.

Expected Answer:

(a) Preventive Maintenance refers to proactive, scheduled activities performed on a functional computer or mobile device to prevent hardware degradation, software slowdowns, or unexpected operational failures. Examples include blowing out dust accumulations or updating system drivers. Conversely, Corrective Maintenance involves reactive tasks performed after a specific component or system has failed completely, aimed at restoring the device to its normal operational state through repair, reconfiguration, or physical replacement.

(b) Three essential tools for hardware corrective maintenance include:

• Soldering Iron / Soldering Station: Used to melt tin-lead solder alloy to create strong electrical bonds between electronic components and the traces on a circuit board.
• Precision Screwdriver Set: Specifically sized star, Allen, or Torx drivers used to safely loosen and remove the miniature screws securing device casings, internal shields, and component brackets without stripping the screw heads.
• Anti-Static Wrist Strap: Grounding apparatus worn by the technician to safely discharge static electricity from the human body, protecting highly sensitive integrated circuits from Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) damage.

Question 2: (a) Draw a well-labeled block diagram illustrating the fundamental hardware units of a standard GSM mobile phone. (b) Briefly explain the primary function of the Power Unit and the Radio Unit blocks within your diagram.

Expected Answer:

(a) [Technician’s Note: When sketching this block diagram in your answer booklet, ensure you draw neat rectangular blocks connected with directional arrows showing signal pathways. The blocks must show the Baseband Controller, Memory Unit, Power Management Unit, Radio Frequency (RF) Unit, User Interface (Keypad/Display), and the Audio section (Microphone/Speaker).]

(b) Explanation of functional blocks:

• Power Management Unit: This system block manages the distribution of electrical power from the battery source to all other functional integrated circuits on the PCB. It regulates voltage fluctuations to protect low-power processing units and controls the charging cycles when connected to an external source.
• Radio Frequency (RF) Unit: This serves as the transceiver block responsible for managing wireless communication with the network towers. It processes incoming high-frequency signals received by the antenna (downlink), demodulates them for processing, and modulates internal data into high-frequency signals for transmission back to the Base Transceiver Station (BTS) (uplink).

Question 3: A customer brings a smartphone that turns on and shows indicator lights, but the display remains completely black after a minor liquid spill. Detail a systematic troubleshooting procedure a technician should adopt to diagnose and fix this fault.

Expected Answer:

To systematically fix a liquid-damaged smartphone screen displaying a black screen despite showing signs of internal life, the following engineering steps must be taken:

1. Immediate Isolation: Power down the device immediately to prevent internal short circuits. Remove the internal battery assembly if it is a modular model; if it is integrated, isolate the battery terminal connector directly on the PCB board as soon as the housing is opened.
2. Disassembly & Inspection: Carefully open the device housing using plastic spudgers and precision screwdrivers. Inspect the liquid indicator stickers and check the entire PCB layout under a magnifying lamp for physical signs of green or white corrosion, particularly around the Display FPC (Flexible Printed Circuit) connector.
3. Ultrasonic Cleaning / De-corrosion: Use a soft anti-static brush dipped in 99% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) to scrub away corrosive deposits from the board traces and connector pins. For severe cases, place the stripped board into an Ultrasonic Cleaner filled with an appropriate electronic cleaning solvent to dislodge microscopic corrosion under surface-mount chips.
4. Thermal Dehydration: Dry the circuit board thoroughly using a hot air station at a safe low temperature setting (around 100 degrees Celsius) or leave it in a specialized drying cabinet to ensure no moisture is trapped beneath the Ball Grid Array (BGA) packages.
5. Testing and Component Verification: Reassemble the display connection securely. Use a digital multimeter to verify correct voltage specifications at the backlight driver circuit pins. If the screen remains black but the device functions, test with a known working replacement screen assembly to isolate whether the fault lies in a blown logic board backlight filter or a destroyed display panel panel line.

Core Syllabus Areas to Focus on for WAEC 2026

To perform exceptionally well in the upcoming exam, you must align your daily reading routines with specific modules outlined in the WAEC technical trade syllabus. The questions are consistently drawn from these definitive areas:

Secret Revision Tips for Scoring an A1

Studying hard is excellent, but studying smart is what brings out the distinction grades. Use these proven methods as the examination date draws near:

• Master Electronic Circuit Symbols: WAEC frequently includes diagrams of components like Zener diodes, NPN transistors, and capacitors in Paper 1. You should be able to identify them instantly at a glance.
• Practice Soldering and Desoldering: Do not rely entirely on textbooks for the practical elements. Get a damaged circuit board and practice re-balling, lifting surface-mount components, and applying flux. It builds your technical intuition for structural essay questions.
• Review Past Questions: Review WAEC past question compilations spanning the last ten years. You will notice that questions regarding beep codes, flashing procedures, and the differences between VLR and HLR records are frequently repeated with slight wording variations.
• Watch Your Technical Vocabulary: When writing answers in the theory paper, avoid vague terms like “the small black thing on the board.” Instead, use the correct terminology, such as “the surface-mount capacitor” or “the power integrated circuit.” This shows the examiner that you have practical workshop experience.

Stay focused, protect your study hours, and approach your practical tasks with precision. With proper preparation, the WAEC 2026 Computer Hardware and GSM Repairs paper will be an excellent opportunity to boost your overall senior school certificate results.