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JAMB Commerce syllabus.

24 topics, with subtopics and objectives.

About this syllabus official

Summarised from the examining body's own published syllabus. 24 topics, verified 2026-10-24.

Current UTME syllabus as served by IBASS on 2026-10-24; JAMB does not print the applicable years in this document.

Structure (sections, topics, contents and objectives) summarised from JAMB's publicly published UTME syllabus, with citation and link. The document itself is not reproduced or redistributed.

Source: https://ibass.jamb.gov.ng/static/media/Commerce.819d9c6929bc849d1cd9.pdf

Source: https://ibass.jamb.gov.ng/e-syllabus

General objectives

  • acquire the basic knowledge of Commerce
  • examine the relationship between Commerce and other related fields
  • apply the principles of Commerce in the Nigerian economy
  • appreciate dynamic and positive changes in commercial activities

Topics

1. Commerce (SS 1-3)

  • meaning of e-commerce/e-business
  • meaning and scope
  • characteristics
  • functions

You should be able to:

  • identify the functions of e-commerce/e-business
  • differentiate between Commerce and other related subjects
  • describe the characteristics of Commerce
  • identify the functions of Commerce

2. Occupation (SS 1-3)

  • meaning and importance
  • types (industrial, commercial and services)
  • factors that determine choice of occupation

You should be able to:

  • state the importance of occupation
  • compare the different types of occupation
  • identify the factors determining the choice of occupation

3. Production (SS 1-3)

  • factors, characteristics and rewards (land, labour, capital and entrepreneur)
  • division of labour and specialization
  • types (primary, secondary and tertiary)
  • relationship between production, specialization and exchange

You should be able to:

  • identify the factors of production and their rewards
  • distinguish between division of labour and specialization
  • classify the types of production
  • state the relationship between production, specialization and exchange

4. Home trade: retail trade (SS 1-3)

  • types of retail trade
  • 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
  • reasons for success/failure of retail trade

You should be able to:

  • compare the various types of retail trade
  • identify the functions of retailers
  • highlight the factors in setting up retail trade
  • classify modern retailing practices
  • identify the advantages and disadvantages of retail business
  • explain the success/failure of retail trade

5. Home trade: wholesale trade (SS 1-3)

  • types of wholesalers (merchant, agent, general, etc.)
  • channels of distribution
  • functions of wholesalers
  • advantages and disadvantages of wholesalers

You should be able to:

  • classify the types of wholesalers
  • identify the channels of distribution
  • discuss the functions of wholesalers
  • outline the merits and demerits of the middleman

6. Foreign trade (SS 1-3)

  • types of foreign trade
  • basic issues in foreign trade (balance of trade, balance of payments and counter trade)
  • procedures and documents used in export, import and entrepôt trade
  • barriers to international trade
  • tariffs and reasons for the imposition
  • tools for trade restriction and export promotion
  • role of Customs and Excise Authority, Ports Authority, etc. in foreign trade

You should be able to:

  • compare the various types of foreign trade
  • analyse the basic issues in foreign trade
  • explain the procedures and documents used in foreign trade
  • identify the barriers to international trade
  • state the various tariffs and reasons for their imposition
  • identify the tools for trade restriction and export promotion
  • appraise the role of government agencies in foreign trade

7. Purchase and sale of goods (SS 1-3)

  • procedure and documentation (enquiry, quotation, order, invoice, proforma invoice, statement of accounts, indent, consular invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, consignment note, etc.)
  • terms of trade (trade discount, quantity discount, cash discount, warranties, C.O.D., C.I.F., F.O.B. and E.O.E. etc.)
  • terms of payment: cash — spot/prompt payment
  • terms of payment: credit — meaning, types and functions, merits and demerits
  • means of payment: legal tender (bank notes and coins), cheques, standing order, bank draft, stamps, postal orders, money orders, bills of exchange, promissory note, mail transfer, traveller's cheques, telegraphic transfer, e-payment, recharge card

You should be able to:

  • examine the procedures and documents used in the purchase and sale of goods
  • determine the terms of trade
  • distinguish between cash and credit forms of payment
  • explain the meaning and types of credit
  • analyse the merits and demerits of credit transactions
  • identify the means of payment
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8. Advertising (SS 1-3)

  • meaning and roles
  • types, media and methods
  • advantages and disadvantages

You should be able to:

  • explain the meaning and role of advertising
  • identify the different types of advertising, its media and methods
  • analyse the advantages and disadvantages of advertising

9. Banking (SS 1-3)

  • types of bank
  • services
  • challenges
  • e-banking

You should be able to:

  • categorize the different types of bank
  • assess the services rendered by banks
  • identify the challenges facing banks
  • explain e-banking

10. Communication (SS 1-3)

  • process and procedure
  • types
  • trends
  • merits and demerits
  • barriers

You should be able to:

  • assess the different stages in the communication process
  • analyse the types of communication
  • appraise the contributions of courier services, GSM, etc. to businesses
  • state the merits and demerits of communication
  • outline the barriers to communication

11. Insurance (SS 1-3)

  • types
  • principles
  • terms
  • importance
  • types of risk

You should be able to:

  • describe the types of insurance
  • apply the principles of insurance to life situations
  • explain the terms in insurance
  • state the importance of insurance
  • identify the different types of risk in insurance

12. Tourism (SS 1-3)

  • meaning and forms
  • importance
  • agencies that promote tourism in Nigeria
  • challenges
  • tourist centres

You should be able to:

  • explain the meaning and forms of tourism
  • examine the importance of tourism
  • identify the agencies that promote tourism in Nigeria
  • analyse the challenges facing tourism in Nigeria
  • identify the various tourist centres in Nigeria

13. Transportation (SS 1-3)

  • modes
  • importance
  • advantages and disadvantages

You should be able to:

  • appraise the relevance of the various modes of transportation
  • list the importance of transportation
  • discuss the advantages and disadvantages of transportation

14. Warehousing (SS 1-3)

  • importance
  • types and functions
  • factors to be considered in siting a warehouse

You should be able to:

  • highlight the importance of warehousing
  • appraise the contributions of warehouses to businesses
  • evaluate the factors that determine the siting of warehouses

15. Business units (SS 1-3)

  • forms and features (sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability companies, public corporations, cooperative societies, etc.)
  • registration of businesses
  • determination of choice of business units
  • dissolution and liquidation
  • merits and demerits
  • reasons for government ownership of public enterprises

You should be able to:

  • identify the forms and features of business units
  • analyse the procedures for registering businesses
  • examine the factors which determine the choice of business units
  • differentiate between dissolution and liquidation of business
  • state the merits and demerits of business units
  • state the reasons for government ownership of public enterprises

16. Financing business (SS 1-3)

  • sources of finance (personal savings, sale of shares and bonds, loans, debentures, mortgage, bank overdraft, ploughing back of profit, credit purchase, leasing, etc.)
  • types of capital (share capital, capital owned, authorized capital, issued capital, called-up capital, paid-up capital, liquid capital, working capital and owners' equity)
  • calculation of forms of capital, profits (gross and net) and turnover
  • problems of sourcing finance
  • the role of Bureau de change in an economy

You should be able to:

  • identify the various ways of financing a business
  • discuss the different types of capital
  • compute the different forms of capital, profits and turnover
  • appraise the problems associated with sourcing finances for business
  • assess the role of Bureau de change in an economy

17. Trade associations (SS 1-3)

  • objectives and functions of trade and manufacturers' associations (Cocoa Farmers' Association, Garri Sellers' Association, Poultry Farmers' Association, etc.)
  • objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce
  • forms of business combination/merger

You should be able to:

  • discuss the objectives and functions of trade and manufacturers' associations
  • list the objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce
  • explain the different forms of business combination/merger

18. Money (SS 1-3)

  • evolution
  • forms and qualities
  • functions

You should be able to:

  • discuss the origin of money
  • analyse the forms and qualities of money
  • appraise the functions of money

19. Stock exchange (SS 1-3)

  • importance and functions
  • types of securities (stocks, shares, bonds, debentures, etc.)
  • procedure of transactions and speculations
  • Second-Tier Securities Market (listing requirements, types of companies for the market, advantages and operating regulations of the market)

You should be able to:

  • state the importance and functions of the Stock Exchange
  • identify the different securities traded on the Stock Exchange
  • analyse the procedure of transactions and speculations on the Stock Exchange
  • appraise the advantages and operating regulations of the market

20. Elements of business management (SS 1-3)

  • functions (planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, motivating, communicating, controlling etc.)
  • principles (span of control, unity of command, delegation of authority, etc.)
  • organizational structure (line, line and staff, functional, matrix and committee)
  • functional areas of business (production, marketing, finance and personnel)
  • business resources (man, money, materials, machines and opportunities/goodwill)

You should be able to:

  • appraise the functions of management
  • analyse the principles of management
  • identify organizational structures
  • assess the functional areas of business
  • examine the business resources

21. Elements of marketing (SS 1-3)

  • importance and functions
  • the marketing concept (consumer orientation, customer satisfaction, integrated marketing, etc.)
  • marketing mix (product, price, place and promotion)
  • market segmentation
  • public relations and customer service
  • e-marketing

You should be able to:

  • highlight the importance and functions of marketing
  • discuss the marketing concept
  • assess the elements of marketing mix
  • explain market segmentation
  • examine public relations and customer service
  • explain e-marketing

22. Legal aspects of business (SS 1-3)

  • meaning and validity of a simple contract
  • Agency, Sale of Goods Act and Hire Purchase Act
  • contract of employment
  • government regulations of business (registration of business, patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.)
  • consumer protection (government legislation, Standards Organization, Trade Descriptions Act, Consumer Protection Council, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs and Excise, etc.)
  • regulatory agencies

You should be able to:

  • analyse the elements and validity of a simple contract
  • examine Agency, Sale of Goods Act and Hire Purchase Act
  • assess the rights and obligations of employers and employees
  • distinguish between patents, trademarks and copyrights
  • identify the functions of consumerism
  • assess the relevance of regulatory agencies and acts in the provision of safe goods and drugs

23. Commodity exchange (SS 1-3)

  • meaning
  • types of tradable commodity (agricultural produce, solid minerals, oil and gas)
  • requirements for trading (grading system, warehousing, clearing system, standardizing)
  • methods of trading (open outcry, electronic mechanism)
  • benefits of commodity exchange
  • constraints to commodity trading

You should be able to:

  • explain the meaning of commodity exchange
  • highlight types of tradable commodity
  • list the requirements for trading
  • discuss methods of trading
  • enumerate the benefits of commodity exchange
  • analyse the constraints to commodity trading

24. Business environment and social responsibility (SS 1-3)

  • legal, political, economic, social, cultural, technological environments, etc.
  • safe products, philanthropic and societal consideration
  • types and implication of pollution (water, air, land, etc.)

You should be able to:

  • discuss the types of business environment
  • assess the role of social environment in the provision of safe products
  • identify the different types of pollution and their implications on businesses

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