How Many Subjects Are in WAEC, NECO and NABTEB

WAEC Exams Session

You’re on the right page if you want to know what subjects are compulsory to sit for and write in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB.

Generally, students are expected to write 9 subjects in WAEC and NECO. That’s the maximum you can register and sit for. Also, you can write a minimum of 8 for the three exams. By this, it means, you can’t register for subjects less than 8 (except for WAEC GCE which allows a minimum of 7 subjects).

Even though there are situations that may warrant you trying to register for 5 or 6 papers, such as if you just need to make up for one or two deficiencies in your O’level. Yet, these exams do not allow that.

It's only NABTEB that allows you to write fewer subjects depending on the subjects allowed for your center or the ones you need as a technical or business student.

So what are the compulsory subjects a student must write in WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB?

I will divide this post into three sections:

1. Compulsory subjects for WAEC students – Arts, Science or Commercial
2. Compulsory subjects for NECO students – Arts, Science and Commercial
3. Compulsory subjects for NABTEB students – Arts, Science and Commercial

Before then, let’s get some basics.

I discussed 5 or 6 compulsory subjects you must pass to gain admission in the post “SSCE Results: Combination, 5 Credits Needed and Where D7, E8 or F9 Accepted”. If you go through that post, you will understand what you must work hard for in other to secure admission with your O'level results.

However, you’re not allowed to sit for only that 5 or 6 subjects. Then, if you must write more, what should they be?

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Subjects Compulsory for WAEC May/June and WAEC GCE (Jan/Feb Series or Aug/Sept Series)

1. Science: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Optional include Further Mathematics, Agric Science, Geography, etc
2. Commercial or Social Science: English, Mathematics, Economics and two from Account, Commerce, Government, Geography, etc
3. Arts: English, Mathematics, Literature in English, Government and any one of Economics, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, etc

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Subjects Compulsory for NECO June/July and NECO GCE (Nov/Dec)

1. Science: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Optional include Further Mathematics, Agric Science, Geography, etc
2. Commercial or Social Science: English, Mathematics, Economics and two from Account, Commerce, Government, Geography, etc
3. Arts: English, Mathematics, Literature in English, Government and any one of Economics, Christian Religious Studies, Islamic Studies, Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, etc.

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Subjects Compulsory for NABTEB May/June and NABTEB GCE (Nov/Dec)

Technical Candidates
English Language, Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry (Optional include ICT – Information and Communications Technology, Economics, and Literature-in-English).

Business Candidates

• Candidates for the under-listed Trades can offer Biology as a trade-related subject, but other technical candidates are not allowed to offer Biology. The trades are: Catering Craft Practice, Ladies Garment Making, Men’s Garment Making, Cosmetology, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry
• Introduction to Building Construction is a compulsory subject for candidates offering the under-listed trades: Carpentry and Joinery, Painting and Decorating, Plumbing and Pipefitting, Draughtsmanship Craft Practice.

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What of Other Subjects Listed for Students?

Lately, some schools and ministries of education are making the writing of some newly introduced subjects compulsory for WAEC and NECO candidates.  Among these new subjects, a student must select 3 or 4 to add up to his or her required 8 or 9 papers in total.

NOTE: Most of these courses are still non-matriculated subjects (i.e not still acceptable for admission purposes) among various top universities in Nigeria. For example, the University of Ibadan listed those they won't accept for admission.

So what must be selected among them?

First, let’s see the list of those subjects.

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Subjects Mostly Not Recognized for Admission Purpose

• Animal Husbandry
• Automobile Electrical Works
• Basic Electricity
• Bleaching, Dyeing and Finishing
• Blocklaying/Bricklaying Concreting
• Body Repair Works
• Book Keeping
• Building/Engr Drawing
• Business Management
• Business Methods
• Carpentry & Joinery
• Catering Craft Practice
• Ceramics and Design
• Computer Craft Studies
• Cosmetology
• Domestic & Office Machines Maint
• Draughtmanship
• Elect Inst & Maint Works
• Elect/Medical App & Proj Maint
• Electronics Works
• Fabrication & Welding
• Fisheries
• Footwear Manufacture
• Foundry Craft Practice
• Furniture Making
• General Science
• Graphic Design
• Instrument Mechanics Works
• Intro to Agric Sci, Imp & Machines
• Intro to Building Construction
• Ladies Garment Const & Finishing
• Leather Goods Manufacture
• Leather Tanning
• Machine Wood Working
• Marine Engineering Craft
• Mechanical Engr Craft Practice
• Men's Garment Const & Finishing
• Motor Vehicle Mech Works
• Office Practice
• Painting and Decorating
• Photographic Practice
• Plumbing and Pipe Fitting
• Printing Craft Practice
• Refrig and Air-Conditioning
• Salesmanship
• Ship Building Craft Practice
• Shorthand
• Shorthand, 80 WPM
• Spinning
• Statistics
• Surface Design/Textile Printing
• Tourism
• Tractor System
• Typewriting
• Typewriting, 35 WPM
• Vehicle Body Building
• Weaving

NOTE

1. Some schools are now accepting some of the subjects listed above for admission but not all. Having said that, a candidate should check the JAMB brochure to know the schools accepting them and for what courses.
2. You can add any three or four of those subjects as optional to the main compulsory subjects I listed above. This may depend on what your school also prefers or have a larger population for.
3. Most schools/state governments are equally making Civic Education compulsory for their students. This is why WAEC added the subject to their list of available subjects in the private candidates series. I think you may not be able to avoid writing Civic Education and one entrepreneurial/trade in the internal WAEC or NECO.
   
4. Making Civic Education compulsory for candidates in WAEC doesn't mean you must pass it. It must just be written. And unless it's required for your proposed course, you don't necessarily need to have a credit pass in it.

Conclusion

Now that you know the compulsory subjects for you as a science, commercial or Art student, you don't have any worry if your school has registered you for those subjects. In other words, the other 3 or 4 subjects may not really matter once those you IMPORTANTLY need are registered.

Where a school fails to put you in for your compulsory subjects, there may be a need to show them what your proposed university and courses require according to the JAMB official brochure.

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