The prescribed Core Literature books for SHS for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 are The Kaya Girl, Treasure Island, The Son of Umbele and An Enemy of the People. These are the WAEC/WASSCE 2022-2025 Core English Literature set books for the prose and drama sections.
In this post, you will find also the complete list of both African and non-African core Literature poems for WASSCE 2022 to 2025.
Remember that these prescribed Core Literature books are what every Senior High School student in Ghana and elsewhere needs to study for the 2022-2025 WASSCE Core English Language examination.
Also, the prescribed core Literature textbooks in the WAEC English Language syllabus for Senior Secondary School students are not the same as the Elective Literature-in-English books.
So you should never confuse the two separate sets of core and elective Literature books.
All 10 WAEC Core Literature Poems for SHS 2022-2025 PDF
How to Get A1 in WASSCE English Language
WAEC Elective Literature Books for 2021-2025
English Language Syllabus for SHS
Literary Devices and Figures of Speech 101
90+ Grammatical Name and Function Past Questions and Answers
Core Literature books for SHS in Ghana
Please note that these Core Literature books for SHS are for both school candidates writing the May/June WASSCE and private candidates sitting for the Nov/Dec WASSCE.
All candidates must answer the objective questions on Literature as part of the Core English Language Objective Test.
A Breakdown of the English Language Objective Paper
Below are additional facts you need to know about the structure of the SHS/WAEC English Language Objective Test paper. Take careful note of the various parts and sections of the WASSCE Core English objective test paper, especially the part devoted to Core Literature.
Part A
The Part A of the WAEC Core English exam paper contains 50 objective test questions on Lexis and Structure.
Part B
Don’t forget. Part B is our main focus in this post. It is in Part B of the WASSCE English paper for senior high school students and private candidates alike that you will come face to face with questions on all the core Literature books.
In all, there are 30 objective or multiple-choice questions. That is from question 51 to question 80. This is how it looks. The instructions are a bit tricky so you will need to pay close attention to avoid any costly mistakes during the exam.
Drama
You must answer any set of 10 questions on EITHER Non-African Drama (Section I) OR African Drama (Section II).
In other words, do NOT answer the questions on BOTH non-African and African Drama. Choose one section only, please.
Prose
Here, too, you must answer any set of 10 questions on EITHER Non-African Prose (Section I) OR African Prose (Section II).
Again, NEVER must you answer the questions in BOTH sections. Choose one section only.
Poetry
The instruction remains the same. Answer any set of 10 questions on EITHER Non-African Poetry (Section I) OR African Poetry (Section II).
Let me repeat. Do NOT answer the questions under BOTH Non-African Poetry and African Poetry. Select just one set of questions.
Thus, in all, you will end up answering a total of 30 objective test questions in Part B which is the Literature segment of the WASSCE Core English Language test.
WAEC Core English Literature Books for SHS
The time has finally come for you to know all the titles of all the Core Literature books and poems you need to study. That is if you intend to sit for the WAEC/WASSCE Core English Language paper any time from 2022 to 2025.
Prose
- Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson (Non-African Prose)
- The Kaya Girl by Mamle Wolo (African Prose)
Drama
- An Enemy of the People by Henrik Ibsen (Non-African Drama)
- The Son of Umbele by Bill Marshal (African Drama)
Next is the list of WAEC Non-African poems and African poems for SHS students of Core Literature.
Poetry: Non-African Poetry
- Batter My Heart by John Donne
- Anthem for Doomed Youth by Wilfred Owen
- I Sit and Look Out by Walt Whitman
- Piano by D.H. Lawrence
- If We Must Die by Claude Mckay
Poetry: African Poetry
- An African Thunderstorm by David Rubadiri
- Nightfall in Soweto by Oswald Mbuyiseni Mtshali
- The Weaver Bird by Kofi Awoonor
- Once Upon a Time by Gabriel Okara
- I Will Pronounce Your Name, Naet by Leopold Sedar Senghor
Final Thoughts
So finally, you have in your possession the complete list of WAEC/WASSCE Core Literature books for SHS. You’ve also got a fair idea of how the folks at WAEC set your Core Literature questions. Clearly, the rest is up to you from now onwards. Make sure to do all you can with your English Language studies. And trust me, that should be enough to carry you through.
Did you find this information helpful? Then share it on your favourite social media platform for the benefit of others you care about. Thank you!
