Mathematic Syllabus For WAEC 2025/2026 [Updated]

If you are preparing to write your WAEC then you should take a look at the Mathematics Syllabus for WAEC in 2025. With this syllabus available for you, you can proceed to prepare properly for your exams.

In this post we are going to explain to you all the things you need to focus on (Topics and sub-topics). Also don’t forget to share this content to people that might need it.

Table of Contents

Mathematic Syllabus For WAEC

Below are all the topics you need to cover in mathematics if you are preparing to write your WAEC in 2025;

Section A: Numbers

(a) Numbers and Numeration

( i ) conversion of numbers from one base to another
( ii ) Basic operations on number bases

(b) Modulo Arithmetic

(i) Concept of Modulo Arithmetic.
(ii) Addition, subtraction and multiplication operations in modulo arithmetic. (iii) Application to daily life
NOTES
Conversion from one base to base 10 and vice versa. Conversion from one base to another base .
Addition, subtraction and multiplication of number bases.
Interpretation of modulo arithmetic e.g.6 + 4 = k(mod7),
3 x 5 = b(mod6), m = 2(mod 3), etc.
Relate to market days, clock,shift duty, etc.

( c ) Fractions, Decimals

(i) Basic operations on fractions Approximations and decimals. (ii) Approximations and significant figures.

( d ) Indices

( i ) Laws of indices
( ii ) Numbers in standard form ( scientific notation)
Approximations should be realistic e.g. a road is not measured correct to the nearest cm.e.g. ax x ay = ax + y , axay = ax – y, (ax)y = axy, etc where x, y are real numbers and a ≠0. Include simple examples of negative and fractional indices.
Expression of large and small numbers in standard form e.g. 375300000 = 3.753 x 108 0.00000035 = 3.5 x 10-7
Use of tables of squares, square roots and reciprocals is accepted.

Read More: NECO GCE Result Checker 2024/2025

( e) Logarithms

( i ) Relationship between indices
and logarithms e.g. y =
k10 implies log10y = k.Calculations involving
( ii ) Basic rules of logarithms e.g. multiplication, division,
log10(pq) = log10p + log10 powers and roots.
log10(p/q) = log10p – log10q
log10pn = nlog 10p.
(iii) Use of tables of logarithms
and antilogarithms.

( f ) Sequence and Series

(i) Patterns of sequences. Determine any term of a
given sequence. The notationUn = the nth termof asequence may be used.
(ii) Arithmetic progression (A.P.) Simple cases only, includingGeometric Progression (G.P.) word problems. (Include sum
for A.P. and exclude sum forG.P).

( g ) Sets

(i) Idea of sets, universal sets, Notations: { }, , P’( the
finite and infinite sets, complement of P).

( h ) Logical Reasoning

Positive and negative integers, rational numbers

( j ) Surds (Radicals)

( k ) Matrices and Determinants

( l ) Ratio, Proportions and Rates subsets, empty sets and disjoint sets.
Idea of and notation for union, intersection and complement of sets.
(ii) Solution of practical problems involving classification using Venn diagrams.
Simple statements. True and false statements. Negation of statements, implications.
The four basic operations on rational numbers.
Simplification and rationalization of simple surds.
( i ) Identification of order, notation and types of matrices.
( ii ) Addition, subtraction, scalar multiplication and multiplication of matrices.
( iii ) Determinant of a matrix

Read More: WAEC Time Table 2025

(m) Percentages

(i) Simple interest, commission,
discount, depreciation, profit and loss, compound interest, hire purchase and percentage error.

(n) Financial Arithmetic

( i ) Depreciation/ Amortization.
( ii ) Annuities
(iii ) Capital Market Instruments
( o ) Variation Direct, inverse, partial and joint variations.

Section B: ALGEBRAIC PROCESSES

a)Creating Algebraic Expressions

(i) Making algebraic expressions from given situations.

b) Evaluating Algebraic Expressions

(i) Finding the value of algebraic expressions.

c) Simple Operations on Algebraic Expressions

(i) Expansion

(ii) Expanding algebraic expressions.

(d) Financial Calculations

(i) Compound Interest

(ii) Calculate compound interest for up to 3 years.

(e) Depreciation

(i) Understanding and calculating the decrease in value of fixed assets over time.

(ii) Amortization

(iii) Annuities

(iv) Shares, Stocks, Debentures, and Bonds

(f) Types of Variation

(i) Direct Variation: Expressed as $\propto n$ .

(ii) Inverse Variation: Expressed as $\propto \frac{1}{n}$ .

(iii) Applications: Solve simple practical problems using these variations.

- Example: Finding the cost $C$ in Naira for buying 4 pens at $x$ Naira each and 3 oranges at $y$ Naira each:
  - $C = 4 x + 3 y$
- Given: $x = 60$ and $y = 20$
  - $C = 4 (60) + 3 (20) = 300$ Naira

(g) Algebraic Expressions

(i) Expansion

Examples:
- $(a + b) (c + d)$
- $(a + 3) (c - 4)$

(ii) Factorization

(iii) Binary Operations: Performing operations like $a * b = 2 a + b - ab$

(h) Solving Equations

(i) Linear Equations:

- One variable
- Simultaneous equations in two variables using elimination, substitution, and graphical methods
- Word problems with one or two variables

(ii) Changing the Subject:

- Rearrange formulas to make a different variable the subject
- Substitution to find values

(i) Quadratic Equations

(i) Solving Quadratic Equations:

- Using factorization, completing the square, and quadratic formula

(ii) Forming Quadratic Equations:

- Creating quadratic equations from given root

(iii) Practical Applications:

- - Solving real-life problems using quadratic equations

(j) Graphs

(i) Linear and Quadratic Graphs:

- Interpreting and drawing graphs
- Finding coordinates, table values, and roots from graphs

(ii) Graphical Solutions:

- Solving pairs of equations graphically
- Drawing tangents to curves to find gradients

(k) Linear Inequalities

(i) Solving Linear Inequalities:

- In one variable, represented on the number line
- Graphical solutions for inequalities in two variables
- Solving simultaneous linear inequalities graphically

(l) Algebraic Fractions

(i) Operations on Algebraic Fractions

- With monomial and binomial denominators

(m) Functions and Relations

(i) Types of Functions

- One-to-one, one-to-many, many-to-one, many-to-many
- Functions as mappings and determining rules

(ii) Graphical Analysis

- Finding maximum and minimum points, intercepts, axis of symmetry
- Using graphs to solve equations and find gradients

(n) Practical Applications

(i) Mensuration:

- Simple practical problems involving maximum and minimum values
- Applications in real-life scenarios such as cost minimization and profit maximization

Section C: Mensuration

(a) Lengths and Perimeters

(i) Use of Pythagoras’ theorem, sine, and cosine rules to determine lengths and distances.

(ii) Lengths of arcs of circles, perimeters of sectors and segments.

(iii) Longitudes and latitudes.

(b). Areas

(i) Triangles and special quadrilaterals: rectangles, parallelograms, and trapeziums.

(ii) Circles, sectors, and segments of circles.

(iii) Surface areas of cubes, cuboids, cylinders, pyramids, right triangular prisms, cones, and spheres.

C. Volumes

(i) Volumes of cubes, cuboids, cylinders, cones, right pyramids, and spheres.

(ii) Volumes of similar solids.

Read More: WAEC Registration Form 2025/2026 Update

Section D: Plane Geometry

(a) Angles

(i) Angles at a point add up to 360°.

(ii) Adjacent angles on a straight line are supplementary.

(iii) Vertically opposite angles are equal.

(b) Angles and intercepts on parallel lines

(i) Alternate angles are equal.

(ii) Corresponding angles are equal.

(iii) Interior opposite angles are supplementary.

(iv) Intercept theorem.

(c) Triangles and Polygons

(i) The sum of the angles of a triangle is 180°.

(ii) The exterior angle of a triangle equals the sum of the two interior opposite angles.

(iii) Congruent triangles.

(iv) Properties of special triangles: isosceles, equilateral, right-angled, etc.

(v) Properties of special quadrilaterals: parallelogram, rhombus, square, rectangle, trapezium.

(vi) Properties of similar triangles.

(vii) The sum of the angles of a polygon.

(viii) Property of exterior angles of a polygon.

(ix) Parallelograms on the same base and between the same parallels are equal in area.

(d) Circles

(i) Chords: perpendicular bisectors, angles subtended by chords in a circle and at the centre.

(ii) The angle which an arc of a circle subtends at the centre of the circle is twice that which it subtends at any point on the remaining part of the circumference.

(iii) Any angle subtended at the circumference by a diameter is a right angle.

(iv) Angles in the same segment are equal.

(v) Angles in opposite segments are supplementary.

(vi) Perpendicularity of tangent and radius.

If a tangent is drawn to a circle and from the point of contact a chord is drawn, each angle which this chord makes with the tangent is equal to the angle in the alternate segment.

Read More: NECO GCE TimeTable 2024

(e) Construction

(i) Bisectors of angles and line segments.

(i) Line parallel or perpendicular to a given line.

(ii) Angles: 90°, 60°, 45°, 30°, and an angle equal to a given angle.

(iii) Triangles and quadrilaterals from sufficient data.

(f) Loci

Knowledge of the loci listed below and their intersections in 2 dimensions.

(i) Points at a given distance from a given point.

(ii) Points equidistant from two given points.

(iii) Points equidistant from two given straight lines.

(iv) Points at a given distance from a given straight line.

Section E. Coordinate Geometry of Straight Lines

(i) Concept of the x-y plane.

(ii) Coordinates of points on the x-y plane.

(iii) Midpoint of two points, distance between two points i.e., $\sqrt{(x_2 – x_1)^2 + (y_2 – y_1)^2}$ , where $P(x_1, y_1)$ and $Q(x_2, y_2)$ .

(iv) Gradient (slope) of a line $\frac{y_2 – y_1}{x_2 – x_1}$ .

(v) Equation of a line in the form $y = m x + c$ and $y – y_1 = m(x – x_1)$ , where $m$ is the gradient (slope) and $c$ is a constant.

Section F. Trigonometry

(i) Sine, cosine, and tangent of an angle.

(ii) Angles of elevation and depression.

(iii) Bearings.

(a) Sine, Cosine, and Tangent of acute angles

(i) Use of tables of trigonometric ratios.

(ii) Trigonometric ratios of 30°, 45°, and 60°.

(iii) Sine, cosine, and tangent of angles from 0° to 360°.

(iv) Graphs of sine and cosine.

(v) Graphs of trigonometric ratios.

(b) Angles of elevation and depression

(i) Calculating angles of elevation and depression.

(ii) Application to heights and distances.

(c) Bearings

(i) Bearing of one point from another.

Section G. Introductory Calculus

(i) Differentiation of algebraic functions.

(ii) Calculation of distances and angles.

(a) Differentiation of algebraic functions

(i) Concept/meaning of differentiation/derived function.

(ii) Relationship between the gradient of a curve at a point and the differential coefficient of the equation of the curve at that point.

(iii) Standard derivatives of some basic functions, e.g., if $y = x^2$ , then $dydx=2x\frac{dy}{dx} = 2x$ . If $s = 2t^3 + 4$ , then $dsdt=v=6t2\frac{ds}{dt} = v = 6t^2$ , where $s$ is distance, $t$ is time, and $v$ is velocity.

(iv) Application to real life situations such as maximum and minimum values, rates of change, etc.

Read More: How To Verify WAEC RESULT FOR WES

(b) Integration of simple algebraic functions

(i) Meaning/concept of integration.

(ii) Evaluation of simple definite algebraic equations.

Section H. Statistics and Probability

(a) Statistics

(i) Frequency distribution.

(ii) Pie charts, bar charts, histograms, and frequency polygons.

(iii) Mean, median, and mode for both discrete and grouped data.

(iv) Cumulative frequency curve (Ogive).

(v) Measures of dispersion: range, semi-interquartile range, interquartile range, variance, mean deviation, and standard deviation.

(b) Probability

(i) Experimental and theoretical probability.

(ii) Addition of probabilities for mutually exclusive and independent events.

(iii) Multiplication of probabilities for independent events.

Section I: Vectors and Transformation

(a) Vectors in a plane

(i) Vectors as directed line segments.

(ii) Cartesian components of a vector.

(iii) Magnitude of a vector, equal vectors, addition and subtraction of vectors, zero vector, parallel vectors, multiplication of a vector by a scalar.

(b) Transformation in the Cartesian plane

(i) Reflection of points and shapes.

(ii) Rotation of points and shapes.

(iii) Translation of points and shapes.

(iv) Enlargement.

Units

(i) Length: 1000 millimetres (mm) = 100 centimetres (cm) = 1 metre (m), 1000 metres = 1 kilometre (km).

(ii) Area: 10,000 square metres (m²) = 1 hectare (ha).

(iii) Capacity: 1000 cubic centimetres (cm³) = 1 litre (l).

(iv) Mass: 1000 milligrams (mg) = 1 gram (g), 1000 grams (g) = 1 kilogram (kg), 1000 kilograms (kg) = 1 tonne.

(v) Currencies:

- The Gambia: 100 bututs (b) = 1 Dalasi (D).
- Ghana: 100 Ghana pesewas (Gp) = 1 Ghana Cedi (GH¢).
- Liberia: 100 cents (c) = 1 Liberian Dollar (LD).
- Nigeria: 100 kobo (k) = 1 Naira (N).
- Sierra Leone: 100 cents (c) = 1 Leone (Le).
- UK: 100 pence (p) = 1 pound (£).
- USA: 100 cents (c) = 1 dollar ($).
- French-speaking territories: 100 centimes (c) = 1 Franc (fr).

Other Important Information

Use of Mathematical and Statistical Tables

Mathematics and statistical tables, published or approved by WAEC, may be used in the examination room.
Where the degree of accuracy is not specified in a question, the degree of accuracy expected will be that obtainable from the mathematical tables.

Use of Calculators

The use of non-programmable, silent, and cordless calculators is allowed.
The calculators must not have the capability to print out nor to receive or send any information.
Phones with or without calculators are not allowed.

Other Materials Required for the Examination

Candidates should bring rulers, pairs of compasses, protractors, set squares, etc., required for papers of the subject.
Candidates will not be allowed to borrow such instruments and any other material from other candidates in the examination hall.
Graph papers ruled in 2mm squares will be provided for any paper in which it is required

Frequently Asked Question

Can I write 10 subjects in WAEC?

WAEC expect you to register the total of 9 subject and that includes English and Mathematics

Are WAEC and GCE syllabus the same?

WAEC internal has the same syllabus with GCE.

Conclusion

Here you have it, if you are preparing to write your WAEC then you should make sure to look at what we have here and make sure to follow it till the end. WAEC Mathematics syllabus we have provided for you here is well detailed. Good Luck with your exam.