BECE/Junior WAEC Syllabus For Mathematics 2025/2026

BECE/Junior WAEC Syllabus For Mathematics 2025/2026: Download the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Syllabus for Mathematics to serve as a guide for educators and help candidates prepare better.

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About BECE Mathematics Syllabus.

The BECE Mathematics syllabus provides an overview of the exam format, guiding both candidates and educators in planning effective learning and teaching schedules to ensure success. Candidates are required to bring a non-programmable calculator and their NECO Mathematical/Statistical Table, as sharing of materials is prohibited in the exam hall.

Aim & Objectives

This syllabus guides candidates of the Basic Education Certificate Examination, aiming to help them recall mathematical formulas and concepts as a foundation for future learning while applying these concepts to real-life situations.

Sections & Marking Guide

The BECE Mathematics exam comprises three compulsory papers: Papers 1, 2, and 3. Below is the breakdown of the papers the number of questions they contain and their marks.

PAPER 1&2

Papers 1 and 2 consist of sixty multiple-choice questions each. The questions from Paper 1 will be Number and Numeration, Basic Operations, and Geometry and Measurement. The questions from Paper 2 will come from Algebraic processes and Everyday Statistics.

PAPER 3

Paper 3 comprises two compulsory questions and it will be set from any of the topics covered in the syllabus. 

N.B The total mark for the three papers will cover 70% of the exam score, the remaining 30% will be derived from the candidate’s continuous assessment submitted by the school management.

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BECE/Junior WAEC Syllabus For Mathematics 2025/2026

S/N	THEME	TOPIC	OBJECTIVES
1	NUMBER AND NUMERATION	I. Whole Numbers	a. Counting in millions, billions, and trillions
			b. Quantitative reasoning
			c. Whole numbers in standard form
			d. Decimal numbers in standard form
			e. Prime factors
			f. Prime factorization
			g. Squares and square roots
			h. Binary number system
			i. Using a computer to do simple mathematical calculations
			j. Translation of word problem into numerical expressions
			k. Expressions involving brackets and fractions, Direct and inverse proportion
			l. Application of direct and inverse proportions
			m. Simple interest
			n. Compound interest
		II. Lowest Common Multiple (LCM)	LCM of whole numbers
		III. Highest Common Factor (HCF)	a. HCF of whole numbers
			b. Quantitative reasoning
		IV. Counting in Base Two	Counting in groups of twos
		V. Conversion of Base 10 Numerals to Binary Numbers	Converting numbers 1-10 to base 2
		VI. Fractions	a. Identifying equivalent fractions
			b. Quantitative aptitude reasoning
			c. Equivalent fractions
			d. Ordering of fractions
			e. Conversion of fractions to decimals and vice-versa
			f. Conversion of fractions to percentage and vice-versa
			g. Expressing fractions as ratios, decimals, and percentages
			h. Quantitative reasoning on fractions, ratios, and percentages
		VII. Rational and Non-Rational Numbers	Rational and non-rational numbers
2	BASIC OPERATION	I. Addition and Subtraction	a. Addition and subtraction of numbers and place values
			b. Use of number line
			c. Addition and subtraction of positive and negative integers
			d. Everyday application of positive and negative integers
		II. Addition and Subtraction of Fractions	a. Addition and subtraction of fractions
			b. Word problems on addition and subtraction of fractions
		III. Multiplication and Division of Fractions	a. Multiplication of fractions
			b. Division of fractions
			c. Word problems involving multiplication and division of fractions
		IV. Estimation	a. Estimation of dimensions and distances
			b. Estimation of capacity and mass of objects
			c. Estimation of age, time, etc.
			d. Quantitative reasoning involving estimation
		V. Approximation	a. Approximating values of addition and subtraction
			b. Approximating results of multiplication and division
			c. Rounding off numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1000
			d. Application of approximation in everyday life
			e. Approximation of numbers:
			i. Decimal places
			ii. Significant figures
			f. Quantitative reasoning
		VI. Addition of Numbers in Base 2 Numerals	Addition of two or three 3-digit binary numbers
		VII. Subtraction of Numbers in Base 2 Numerals	Subtraction of two or three 3-digit binary numbers
		VIII. Multiplication of Numbers in Base 2 Numerals	Multiplication of two 2-digit binary numbers
		IX. Transactions in the Homes and Offices	a. Household arithmetic
			b. Commercial arithmetic
		X. Multiplication and Division of Directed Numbers	a. Square and square root tables
			b. Charts, records, and schedules
			c. Multiplication and Division of directed numbers
		XI. Division of Numbers in Base 2 Numerals	Division of two to 3-digit binary numbers
3	GEOMETRY AND MEASUREMENT	I. Plane Shapes	a. Similarities and differences between square, rectangle, triangle, trapezium, parallelogram, and circle
			b. Perimeter of regular polygons, square, rectangle, triangle, trapezium, parallelogram, and circle
			c. Area of regular plane shapes such as squares, rectangles, parallelograms, etc.
		II. Similar Shapes	a. Similar shapes
			b. Enlargements and scale factor
			c. Lengths, areas, and volumes of similar figures
			d. Basic properties of cubes and cuboids
		III. Three Dimensional Figures	a. Basic properties of cubes and cuboids
			b. Basic properties of pyramids and cones
			c. Basic properties of cylinders and spheres
			d. Volume of cubes and cuboids
		IV. Construction	a. Construction of parallel and perpendicular lines
			b. Bisection of a given line segment
			c. Construction of angles 90, 60, 45, and 30 degrees
			d. Constructing triangles
			e. Bisecting angles
			f. Copying given angles
			g. Construction of simple plane shapes
		V. Angles	a. Measurement of angles
			b. Identification and properties of vertically opposite, adjacent, alternate, and corresponding angles
			c. Identification and properties of angles at a point and angles on a straight line
			d. Sum of angles of a polygon
			e. Angles of elevation and depression
		VI. Bearing	Bearing
		VII. Trigonometry	a. The sine, cosine, and tangent of an acute angle
			b. Application of Trigonometric ratios
		VIII. Area of Plane Figures	a. Area of triangles
			b. Area of parallelogram
			c. Area of trapezium
			d. Area of circles
			e. Word problems involving area
4	ALGEBRAIC PROCESSES	I. Use of Symbols	a. Open sentences
			b. Use of letters to represent symbols or shapes in open sentences
			c. Solving open sentences with two arithmetic operations
			d. Word problems involving use of symbols
			e. Quantitative aptitude
		II. Signification of Algebraic Expressions	a. Like and unlike terms in algebraic expressions
			b. Identification of coefficient of terms in algebraic expressions
			c. Basic arithmetic applied to algebraic expressions or similar terms
			d. Collection and signification of like and unlike terms in algebraic expressions
			e. Quantitative reasoning
		III. Simple Equations	a. Translation of word problems into equations and vice versa
			b. Solutions of simple equations
			c. Problems of simple equations
		IV. Algebraic Expressions	a. Expansion of algebraic expressions
			b. Factorization of simple algebraic expressions
			c. Expansion and factorization of quadratic expressions
			d. Quantitative reasoning
			e. Algebraic expressions of fractions with monomial denominators
			f. Word problems leading to simple algebraic fractions
		V. Linear Inequalities	a. Linear inequalities in one variable
			b. Graphical representation of solutions of linear inequalities in one variable
			c. Word problems involving linear inequalities
		VI. Graphs	a. Plotting points on the Cartesian plane
			b. Graph of linear equation in two variables
			c. Linear Graphs from real-life situations
			d. Quantitative reasoning
		VII. Factorization	a. Factorization of expressions of the form:
			i. ax + ay
			ii. 3m + pq + 3p + mp
			iii. a² – b²
			iv. a² – 2ab + b²
			b. Word problems involving factorization
		VIII. Simple Equations Involving Fractions	a. Simple equations involving fractions
			b. Word problems leading to simple equations involving fractions
		IX. Simultaneous Linear Equations	a. Compilation of table of values
			b. Graphical solution of simultaneous linear equations in two variables
			c. Solution of simultaneous linear equations using elimination methods
			d. Solution of simultaneous linear equations using substitution methods
5	EVERYDAY STATISTICS	I. Need for Statistics	a. Purpose of statistics
			b. Need for collecting data for planning purposes
			c. Collection of data
		II. Data Collection	a. Collect data in the class
			b. Median
			c. Mean
			d. Mode
		III. Data Presentation	a. Ordered presentation of data
			b. Frequency table
			c. Pie chart
			d. Chart, records, and schedule
		IV. Probability	a. Occurrence of chance events in everyday life
			b. Probability of chance events
		V. Measure of Central Tendency	a. Revision of previous work on mean, median, and mode
			b. Median
			c. Mode
			d. Mean
			e. Application of measures of central tendency to analyze any given information
		VI. Measure of Dispersion	a. Range