The West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Commerce serves as a vital assessment of students' grasp of the principles driving trade, industry, and the modern economy. 

This syllabus offers a structured roadmap for candidates, detailing the specific knowledge areas, learning objectives, and examination requirements essential for success. 

Spanning topics from the fundamentals of production to the intricacies of international trade and financial institutions, this guide equips students with both the theoretical foundation and practical insights needed to excel in the examination and advance their studies in business.

Aims and Objectives

  • Candidates’ appreciation of the role of Commerce and its relationship with the other aspects of production.
  • Candidates’ understanding and appreciation of the basic concepts and principles of Commerce.
  • Candidates’ ability to relate the concepts and principles of Commerce to practical situations.

Examination Scheme

The examination will consist of two papers: Paper 1 and Paper 2, both of which must be taken.

PAPER 1:

This will consist of 50 compulsory multiple choice questions, which will cover the entire syllabus and will carry 25% of the total marks for the subject. It will last for 1 hour.

PAPER 2:

This will be a 2½ hour paper consisting of 10 essay type questions, out of which candidates will be expected to answer any five. All questions carry equal marks, and the paper will carry 75% of the total marks.

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WAEC Syllabus 2026/2027 for All Subjects: SSCE & GCE

WAEC Syllabus for Commerce 2026/2027

SECTIONTOPICS
INTRODUCTIONMeaning, scope and functions of Commerce.
History of Commerce.
OCCUPATIONSTypes: Industry, Commerce
Direct and Indirect Services
PRODUCTIONDefinition and factors of production
Primary, secondary and tertiary production.
Inter relationship between production and exchange.
BUSINESS UNITS

Meaning and objectives of a business.

Forms of Business Units – Sole proprietorship, Partnership, Public and Private

Limited Liability Companies, Public Enterprises and Cooperative Societies;

Formation, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages;

Dissolution/liquidation

BUSINESS CAPITAL AND PROFITS

Meaning and types: authorised/registered/nominal/issued capital, called up, paid up, capital owned, capital borrowed, liquid/circulating capital;

Calculation of working capital, the importance of working capital;

Profit: meaning, types and calculation of profits;

Turnover: meaning and calculation.

TRADE ASSOCIATIONS

Aims and functions of trade associations;

Chamber of Commerce, Employers’ Association, Consumer Association, and Manufacturers’ Association: Aims and Functions.

TRADE

Purpose and branches of trade

Home Trade and Foreign Trade.

NATIONALISATION AND INDIGENISATION/DIVESTITUREMeaning and Aims
Advantages and Disadvantages
ECONOMIC GROUPINGS

ECOWAS

Niger Basin Commission (NBC)

Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)

Mano River Union

European Economic Community (EEC)

African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)

International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)

International Monetary Fund (IMF)

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)

Objectives and Obstacles of Each.

DOWNLOAD WAEC SYLLABUS FOR COMMERCE 2026

Examination Guide for Candidates

  1. Study the syllabus systematically, covering all nine themes without skipping any.
  2. Use past WAEC questions (at least 5 to 10 years old) to understand question patterns and recurring topics.
  3. Create summary notes and flashcards for definitions, principles, and types.
  4. Pay special attention to aids to trade, commercial documents, and business organisations, as these are frequently tested.
  5. Form or join a study group to discuss complex topics such as foreign trade and banking.