WAEC compulsory subjects for science, arts and commercial
In the West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations, students have a limited number of subjects to choose from. There are compulsory subjects that every student irrespective of their study area. Hence, the need to specify the WAEC compulsory subjects for final year secondary school students.

The study areas in Nigerian secondary schools
In every senior secondary class, starting from senior secondary class 2 (SS2), students will be assigned subject areas, in two major ways, which are:
- Choosing a subject area based on personal preference.
- The school instructs students to register under a specific subject area, based on their performances in the senior secondary class one (SS1) subjects.
These two criteria are the two major ways that get their subject areas in senior secondary school.
Students are assigned to three major subject areas.
- Science
- Art
- Commercial
These three subject areas determine the subject combinations that a student will sit for in the WAEC examination, but the specializations change little about the WAEC compulsory subjects’ status.
WAEC compulsory subjects for every WAEC candidate
According to WAEC, every WAEC candidate must sit for the following subjects:
- English language
- Mathematics
These three subjects are compulsory subjects for every student in the WAEC examination. irrespective of whether they are science, art, or commercial students.
Why English language, mathematics, and Civic education are compulsory subjects in WAEC?
The custom of sitting for English language and mathematics in the WAEC examination as WAEC compulsory subjects didn’t start overnight.
It has been like that since the creation of the WAEC examination, and the reasons for choosing them are not alien. The reasons include:
- The English language is the official language of the member countries of the West African Examination Council, and the English language is used professionally in those countries. This makes the English language a compulsory subject in WAEC, as writing, reading, and understanding the language are of great importance.
- Mathematics is a subject with high application in some disciplines and is rarely used in some. But it’s compulsory in WAEC.
According to Scientific world info, mathematics aids understanding of the world and provides a good way of building mental resilience. They went on to add that “Maths encourages logical reasoning, creative thinking, abstract thinking, and effective communication skills”.
These are the beliefs that stamped mathematics’ place on the list of WAEC compulsory subjects.
- Civic education is a recent addition to the list of WAEC compulsory subjects. Civic education is a subject that teaches citizens about the principles of democracy, and the practices that promote positive growth of the society and motivate citizens to participate in political processes. So basically, the inclusion of Civic education is to ensure the enlightenment of the young civilian population in Nigeria secondary schools.
Frequently asked questions about WAEC compulsory subjects
Is Yoruba a compulsory subject in WAEC?
No. It’s not a compulsory subject in WAEC. To even study Yoruba in the university, you need to pass the WAEC compulsory subjects especially mathematics and English language.Â
How many subjects do you need to register in WAEC?
Every WAEC candidate is expected to register a maximum of 9 subjects and a minimum of 8 subjects. The 8 or 9 subjects must include the compulsory subjects.
The WAEC compulsory subjects are subjects that are not limited to any group or section of WAEC examination participants.
The WAEC participants can only come from three different study areas: science, art, and commercial, but the diversity and distinction in specialized subjects didn’t change the rule about the WAEC compulsory subjects. Instead, more and more subjects are being made compulsory, in a bid by WAEC to improve the quality of graduates leaving the secondary school system every year.
These posts might interest you:
- WAEC subject combination for science, arts and commercial students
- Latest WAEC news 2024/2025
- WAEC syllabus for 2024
- WAEC timetable 2024