The WAEC Visual Arts syllabus for 2026–2030 covers the topics and areas candidates are expected to study before the examination. It includes practical drawing, creative design, sculpture, crafts, general art knowledge, West African art and the history of world art.
Candidates preparing for the WAEC Visual Arts should study the topics carefully and practise the practical aspects of the subject. Below is the detailed WAEC Visual Arts syllabus for 2026–2030.
Read this post to see the full WAEC Visual Arts syllabus for 2026–2030, including all the topics and areas candidates are expected to study for the examination.
WAEC Syllabus For Visual Arts
PAPER 1: GENERAL ART KNOWLEDGE
Introduction to Art
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Types of Art |
Visual arts, fine arts, applied arts and performing arts such as music, dance and drama. |
| Branches of Visual Arts |
Drawing, painting, sculpture, graphics, textiles, ceramics, photography and lettering. |
| Elements of Art |
Line, colour, shape/form, texture and space. |
| Principles of Design |
Balance, rhythm/movement, emphasis, proportion, variety, unity and harmony. |
| Functions of Art |
Personal, social, physical and aesthetic functions of art. |
| Art Appreciation |
Understanding, analysing and appreciating works of art. |
Art of West Africa
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Cameroon |
Bamileke traditional art. |
| Dahomey/Benin Republic |
Fon traditional art. |
| Gambia |
Wollof, Mandinka and Jola traditional art. |
| Ghana |
Ashanti, Fante, Ewe and Frafra traditional art. |
| Guinea |
Kissi traditional art. |
| Côte d’Ivoire |
Senufo and Baule traditional art. |
| Liberia |
Dan and Ngere traditional art. |
| Mali |
Dogon and Bambara traditional art. |
| Sierra Leone |
Mende and Sherbro traditional art. |
| Burkina Faso |
Mossi, Bobo and Kurumba traditional art. |
| Nigeria |
Benin, Ife, Nok and Igbo-Ukwu traditional art. |
Modern Traditional Art
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Oshogbo Art |
Oshogbo art and its development. |
| Kente |
Ashanti and Ewe Kente designs. |
| Modern Benin Art |
Development and characteristics of modern Benin art. |
| Pottery |
Winneba pottery and Abuja pottery. |
| Adinkra |
Ntoso Adinkra designs and symbols. |
| Bida Brass Works |
Traditional brass works and techniques. |
| Calabash Carving |
Traditional calabash carving and decoration. |
| Enyiresi Basketry |
Traditional basketry and techniques. |
| Mbari |
Mbari mud sculpture. |
| Weaving |
Traditional weaving techniques and products. |
Nigerian Artists and Art Organisations
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Nigerian Artists |
Selected Nigerian artists, their works and contributions to Nigerian art. |
| Society of Nigerian Artists (SNA) |
History, activities and contributions. |
| Nigerian Society for Education through Art (NSEA) |
History, activities and contributions. |
| Ona Art Movement |
Development, artists and characteristics. |
| Ulli Art Movement |
Development and contributions. |
| Eye Society |
Development and contributions to Nigerian art. |
| Cultural Festivals |
Artistic significance of costumes, symbols, objects, masks, body decorations and wall decorations. |
Contemporary West African Artists
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Outstanding Artists |
Selected contemporary West African artists. |
| Training |
Educational and artistic backgrounds of the selected artists. |
| Style |
Artistic styles and techniques used by the artists. |
| Achievements |
Major achievements and recognition. |
| Contributions |
Contributions to the development of contemporary West African art. |
HISTORY OF WORLD ART
| Period/Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Prehistoric Art |
Development, characteristics and examples of prehistoric art. |
| Ancient Egyptian Art |
Egyptian art from about 11,000–7,000 BC. |
| Egyptian Kingdoms |
Old Kingdom, Middle Kingdom and New Kingdom. |
| Greek Art |
Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic periods. |
| Greek Art Characteristics |
Major characteristics and developments of Greek art. |
| Medieval Art |
Development, features and characteristics of Medieval Art. |
| Renaissance Art |
Early, Low and High Renaissance. |
| Renaissance Artists |
Giotto, Donatello and Masaccio. |
| Impressionism |
19th-century Impressionism and its characteristics. |
| Impressionist Artists |
Paul Cézanne, Claude Monet, Édouard Manet and Georges Seurat. |
| Post-Impressionism |
Development and characteristics of Post-Impressionism. |
| Post-Impressionist Artists |
Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. |
| Cubism |
Development and characteristics of 20th-century Cubism. |
| African Influence on Cubism |
African artistic influence on Cubism. |
| Cubist Artists |
Pablo Picasso and Georges Braque. |
PAPER 3: PRACTICAL
Section A: Drawing
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Drawing from Objects |
Observation and interpretation of arranged man-made objects such as old radio sets, car parts, bicycles, machines and bottles. |
| Drawing from Nature |
Drawing natural objects such as shells, fish, crustaceans and skeletons. |
| Drawing from Life |
Drawing a living person, including male and female models, based on an instructed pose. |
Section B: Creative Design (2-D)
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Graphic Design |
Lettering and poster design, book illustration, printmaking, package design and computer graphics. |
| Printmaking |
Linocut, woodcut, yam print, stencilling and screen printing. |
| Computer Graphics |
Use of CorelDraw and Adobe Photoshop for graphic design. |
| Textile Design |
Design using materials such as cotton and silk, including mural designs. |
| Photography |
Portraits, landscapes, seascapes, nature, pets, experimental photography, photograms and distortion. |
| Mosaic |
Creation of designs and pictures using pieces of suitable materials. |
| Collage |
Creation of designs by arranging and attaching different materials to a surface. |
Section C: Creative Design (3-D)
| Topic |
Areas to Study |
| Sculpture |
Human figures, animals and abstract forms using clay, plaster of Paris, wood and cement. Work is to be executed within the school premises. |
| Product Design/Modelling |
Cups, jugs, flower vases, bowls, toy animals and figures. Techniques include moulding, handbuilding and wheel work. Clay works should be fired. |
| Ceramics |
Production of useful objects such as cups, jugs, vases and bowls using suitable clay techniques. Clay works should be fired. |
| Basketry |
Mats, chairs, hats, stools, bags and macramé using materials such as cane and raffia. |
| Jewellery |
Jewellery made from metals, beads, plastic, shells and seeds. |
| Calabash Decoration |
Decorative designs and patterns created on calabash. |
Candidates preparing for WAEC Visual Arts should study the syllabus carefully and give attention to both the theory and practical sections. Regular practice in drawing, design, sculpture, crafts and other practical areas is also important.
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