JAMB Syllabus for Commerce
The JAMB Commerce syllabus is a guide to the topics candidates are expected to study for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). If you are preparing to write JAMB and have chosen Commerce as one of your subjects, it is important to know the areas you are expected to cover before the examination.
This JAMB Syllabus for Commerce will help you organise your study and focus on the topics included in the examination. However, you should not rely on the syllabus alone. You also need good Commerce textbooks and other study materials to understand the topics properly.
In this article, you will find the complete JAMB Commerce syllabus, arranged in a simple table for easy reading, followed by the recommended textbooks you can use for your preparation.
JAMB Commerce Syllabus
| S/N | Topic | Contents |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Commerce | (i) Meaning and scope(ii) Characteristics(iii) Functions |
| 2 | Occupation | (i) Meaning and importance(ii) Types: industrial, commercial and services(iii) Factors that determine choice of occupation |
| 3 | Production | (i) Factors, characteristics and rewards: land, labour, capital and entrepreneur(ii) Division of Labour and specialization(iii) Types: primary, secondary and tertiary |
| 4 | Trade | Home TradeRetail trade:- Types of retailers- Functions of retailers- Factors to be considered in setting up retail trade- Trends in retailing- Advantages and disadvantages of retailersWholesale trade:- Types of wholesalers- Functions of wholesalers- Advantages and disadvantages of wholesalersForeign Trade- Basic issues in foreign trade- Procedures and documents used in export, import and entrepôt trade- Barriers to international trade- Role of Customs and Excise Authority, Ports Authority, etc. |
| 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: cash and credit(iv) Types and functions of credit(v) Merits and demerits of credit transactions |
| 6 | Aids-to-Trade | Advertising: Types and media; advantages and disadvantagesBanking: Types of bank; services; challengesCommunication: Process and procedure; types; trends; merits and demerits; barriersInsurance: Types; principles; terms; importanceTourism: Importance; agencies that promote tourism in Nigeria; challengesTransportation: Modes; importance; advantages and disadvantagesWarehousing: Importance; types and functions; factors to be considered in siting a warehouse |
| 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 |
| 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) Role of Bureau de Change in an economy |
| 9 | Trade Associations | (i) Objectives and functions of trade and manufacturers’ associations(ii) Objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce |
| 10 | Money | (i) Evolution(ii) Forms and qualities(iii) Functions |
| 11 | 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 |
| 12 | 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 |
| 13 | Elements of Marketing | (i) Importance and functions(ii) The marketing concept: consumer orientation, customer satisfaction, integrated marketing, etc.(iii) Marketing mix: product, price, place and promotion(iv) Market Segmentation(v) Public relations and Customer Service |
| 14 | Legal Aspects of Business | (i) Meaning and validity of a simple contract(ii) Agency, Sale of Goods Act and Hire Purchase Act(iii) Contract of employment(iv) Government regulations of business: registration of business, patents, trademarks, copyrights, etc.(v) Consumer protection: Government legislation, Standards Organization, Trade Descriptions Act, Consumer Protection Council, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs and Excise, etc.(vi) Regulatory agencies |
| 15 | Information and Communication Technology (ICT) | Computer: Appreciation and application; types and functions; merits and demerits; challengesTerms: Internet, Intranet, browsing, password, e-mail, Google, Yahoo, search, Local Area Network, etc.Activities: e-commerce; e-banking; e-business |
| 16 | Business Environment and Social Responsibility | (i) Legal, political, economic, social, cultural, technological environments, etc.(ii) Safe products, philanthropic and societal consideration(iii) Types and implication of pollution: water, air, land, etc. |
Studying the syllabus alone is not enough to prepare well for the JAMB Commerce examination. You also need good textbooks and other recommended materials to help you understand the topics and study them in detail.
JAMB has provided recommended texts that candidates can use alongside the syllabus. Check the next section for the list of recommended Commerce textbooks.
JAMB Commerce Recommended Textbooks
- 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. et al. (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.
If you are preparing for the JAMB Commerce examination, make sure you study all the topics listed in the syllabus and use the recommended textbooks to prepare properly. Do not leave any topic out, as questions can come from different parts of the syllabus.
You can also check out our page for more JAMB subject combinations, syllabi, recommended textbooks, and other admission information to help you prepare for the examination. If you have any questions about the JAMB Commerce syllabus, you can leave a comment below. You can also share this article with other candidates preparing for JAMB.
