JAMB Commerce Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks
The JAMB Commerce Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks: covers fundamental concepts in commerce, including the meaning, scope, and functions of commerce. It also includes topics on production, trade (home and foreign), aids to trade (like banking and insurance), business finance, management, marketing, legal aspects, and the business environment. Candidates should expect questions on these areas, which are designed to assess their knowledge of commercial activities and related principles.
Objective
The aim of this JAMB Economics Syllabus for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their understanding of the course objectives, which are to:
- 1) Candidate must acquire the basic knowledge of Commerce;
- (2) Candidates must Examine the relationship between Commerce and other related fields;
- (3) Candidates must Apply the principles of Commerce in the Nigerian economy and
- (4) Candidates must Appreciate dynamic and positive changes in commercial activities
Examination Marking Guide
The JAMB Commerce exam has a total of 180 questions. Use of English is 60 questions while the other 3 subjects will be 40 questions each. All subjects aside the Use of English is graded 2.5 marks.
For example:
If you got 30 questions correctly in JAMB use of English, your mark will be 30/60 × 100 = 50.
If you got 28 questions over 40 in your Commerce exam, the calculation will be 28 x 2.5 = 70% (in percentage).
If you have 30 in Accounting and Economics, it’ll be 30 × 2.5 = 75
So let’s add it all: 50 + 70 + 75 + 75 = That’s 270 over 400.
JAMB Commerce Syllabus 2026/2027
Search:
| JAMB COMMERCE SYLLABUS | ||
|---|---|---|
| SN | TOPICS | OBJECTIVES |
| 1 | COMMERCE | |
| (i) Meaning and scope (ii) Characteristics (iii) Functions |
Candidates should be able to: (i) differentiate between Commerce and other related subjects; (ii) describe the characteristics of Commerce; (iii) Identify the functions of Commerce |
|
| 2 | OCCUPATION | |
| (i) Meaning and importance (ii) Types (industrial, commercial, and services) (iii) Factors that determine choice of occupation |
Candidates should be able to: (i) State the importance of occupation; (ii) Compare the different types of occupation; (iii) Identify the factors determining the choice of occupation. |
|
| 3 | PRODUCTION | |
|
(i) Factors, characteristics, and rewards (land, labour, capital, and entrepreneur) |
Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the Factors of Production and their rewards; (ii) distinguish between Division of Labour and Specialization; (iii) classify the types of production. |
|
| 4 | TRADE | |
| a. Home Trade (i) Retail trade: – Types of retailers – Functions of retailers – Factors to be considered in setting up retail trade – Trends in retailing (branding, self -service, vending machines, the use of luncheon, fuel vouchers, etc) – Advantages and disadvantages of retailers (ii) Wholesale trade: b. Foreign trade |
Candidates should be able to: (i) compare the various types of retailers; (ii) identify the functions of retailers; (iii) highlight the factors in setting up retail trade; (iv) classify modern retailing practices; (v) identify the advantages and disadvantages of retail business; (vi) classify the types of wholesalers; (ix) analyse the basic issues in foreign trade; |
|
| 5 | PURCHASE AND SALE OF GOODS | |
| (i) Procedure and documentation (enquiry, quotation, order, invoice, proforma invoice, statement of accounts, indent, consular invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, consignment note, etc) (ii) Terms of trade (trade discount, quantity discount, cash discount, warranties, C.O.D., C.I.F., F.O.B., and E.O.E. etc) (iii) Terms of payments a. Cash – Legal tender b. Credit – Types and functions – Merits and demerits |
Candidates should be able to: (i) examine the procedures and documents used in the purchase and sale of goods; (ii) determine the terms of trade; (iii) distinguish between cash and credit forms of payment; (iv) identify the types of credit; (v) analyse the merits and demerits of credit transactions. |
|
| 6 | AIDS-TO-TRADE | |
| a. Advertising: (i) Types and media (ii) Advantages and disadvantages b. Banking: c. Communication: d. Insurance: e. Tourism: f. Transportation: g. Warehousing: |
Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the different types of advertising and its media; (ii) analyse the advantages and disadvantages of advertising; (iii) categorize the different types of bank; (vi) assess the different stages in the communication process; (xi) describe the types of insurance; (xv) examine the importance of tourism; (xviii) appraise the relevance of the various modes of transportation; (xxi) highlight the importance of warehousing; |
|
| 7 | BUSINESS UNITS | |
| (i) Forms and features (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Companies, Public Corporations, Cooperative Societies, etc.) (ii) Registration of businesses (iii) Business Mergers (iv) Determination of choice of business units (v) Dissolution and liquidation (vi) Merits and demerits |
Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the forms and features of business units; (ii) analyse the procedures for registering businesses; (iii) appraise the different forms of business mergers and the reasons for merging; (iv) examine the factors which determine the choice of business units; (v) differentiate between dissolution and liquidation of business; (vi) state the merits and demerits of business units. |
|
| 8 | FINANCING BUSINESS | |
| (i) Sources of finance (personal savings, sale of shares and bonds, loans, debentures, mortgage, bank overdraft, ploughing back of profit, credit purchase, leasing, etc.) (ii) Types of capital (share capital, capital owned, authorized (capital, issued capital, called-up capital, paid-up capital, liquid capital, working capital, and owners’ equity) (iii) Calculation of forms of capital, profits (gross and net), and turnover (iv) Problems of sourcing finance (v) The role of Bureau de change in an economy |
Candidates should be able to: (i) identify the various ways of financing a business; (ii) discuss the different types of capital (iii) compute the different forms of capital, profits, and turnover; (iv) appraise the problems associated with sourcing finances for business; (v) assess the role of bureaux de change in an economy. |
|
| 9 | TRADE ASSOCIATIONS | |
|
(i) Objectives and functions of trade and manufacturer’s associations (Cocoa Farmers’ Association, Garri Sellers’ Association, Poultry Farmers’ Association, etc.) |
Candidates should be able to: (i) discuss the objectives and functions of trade and manufacturer’s associations; (ii) list the objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce. |
|
| 10 | MONEY | |
|
(i) Evolution |
Candidates should be able to: (i) discuss the origin of money; (ii) analyse the forms and qualities of money; (iii) appraise the functions of money. |
|
| 11 | ELEMENTS OF BUSINESS MANAGEMENT | |
|
(i) Functions (planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, motivating, communicating, controlling etc) (ii) Principles (span of control, unity of command, delegation of authority, etc) (iii) Organizational structure (line, line, and staff, functional, matrix, and committee) (iv) Functional areas of business (production, marketing, finance, and personnel) (v) Business resources (man, money, materials, machines, and opportunities/goodwill) |
Candidates should be able to:
i. appraise the functions of management. |
|
| 12 | STOCK EXCHANGE | |
| (i) Importance and functions (ii) Types of securities (stocks, shares, bonds, debentures, etc) (iii) Procedure of transactions and speculations (iv) Second-Tier Securities Market, (listing requirements, types of companies for the market, advantages and operating regulations of the market.) |
Candidates should be able to: (i) state the importance and functions of the Stock Exchange; (ii) identify the different securities traded on the Stock Exchange; (iii) analyse the procedure of transactions and speculations on the Stock Exchange; (iv) appraise the advantages and operating regulations of the market. |
|
| 13 | ELEMENTS OF MARKETING | |
|
(i) Importance and Functions |
Candidates should be able to: (i) highlight the importance and functions of marketing; (ii) discuss the marketing concept; (iii) assess the elements of marketing mix; (iv) explain market segmentation; (v) examine public relations and customer service. |
|
| 14 | LEGAL ASPECT OF BUSINESS | |
|
(i) Meaning and validity of a simple contract |
Candidates should be able to:
i. analyse the elements and validity of a simple contract. |
|
| 15 | INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT) | |
| a. Computer: (i) Appreciation and application (ii) Types and functions (iii) Merits and demerits (iv) Challenges b. Terms (Internet, Intranet, browsing, password, e-mail, google, yahoo, search, Local Area Network, etc.) c. Activities: (i) e-commerce (ii) e-banking (iii) e-business |
Candidates should be able to: (i) discuss computer appreciation and application; (ii) enumerate the types and functions of computer; (iii) analyse the merits and demerits of ICT; (iv) appraise the challenges of using the computer; (v) identify the different terms used in ICT; (vi) evaluate the trends in ICT. |
|
| 16 | BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY | |
|
(i) Legal, political, economic, social, cultural, technological environments, etc |
Candidates should be able to: (i) discuss the types of business environment; (ii) assess the role of social environment in the provision of safe products; (iii) identify the different types of pollution and their implications on businesses. |
JAMB Commerce Textbooks 2026/2027
- Anderson, D. J. (1978) Commerce for West Africa, London: Macmillan.
- Ahukannah, L. I. et al (1992) Commerce for Secondary Schools Onitsha: Africana – First Publishers.
- Asaolu, A. and Igwe, P. M. (2005) New Syllabus Commerce for Secondary Schools Books 1 – 3 (Second Edition) Ibadan: Evans.
- Babatunde, A. H. (1999) Handbook on Commerce for Schools and Colleges, (First Edition), Global Publications.
- Eriki, P. O. (1998) Working with Computer, Benin: Bofic Publishers.
- French, C. S. (2000) Computer Science, (Fifth Edition), Britain: Ashford.
- Ibru, G. M. (2004) Nigeria: The Promise of Tourism, Lagos: G.S.L. Publishing Limited.
- Igwe, P. M. e tal (2004) Countdown to WASSCE/SSCE/NECO/JME Commerce, Ibadan: Evans.
- James, A. F, et al (1996) Management, (Sixth Edition), New Delhi: Prentice Hall).
- Nwachukwu, C. C. (1999) Management Theory and Practice, Onitsha: Africana – First Publishers.
- Odedokun, M. O. et al (1999) Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1 – 3, Lagos: Longman.
- Odoom, F. F. (1998) Commerce for Senior Secondary Schools, Books 1 – 3, Ibadan: Onibonoje.
- Onifade, A. (2001) Management: Office Business Education, Abeokuta: KAPPCO.
- Onifade, A. (2002) The Computer for Word Processing and Internet, Abeokuta: KAPPCO.
- Onu, A. J. C. (2000) Marketing Today, Abuja: Precious Treasures Ltd.
- Pallister, J. and Isaacs, A. (eds) (2002) A Dictionary of Business (Third Edition), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Ubaka, O. A., (2012), Commerce Simplified for SSS 1 – 3, WAEC, NECO, JAMB & NABTEB EXAMS, Garki, Abuja: Andyson Millennium Concepts Ltd.
