JAMB Commerce Syllabus

General Objectives

The Commerce syllabus is designed to enable candidates to:

• 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

Detailed Commerce Syllabus

16 topics. For each topic: what to study (contents) and the objectives you should be able to meet.

1. Commerce

   Contents

   • Meaning and scope
   • Characteristics
   • Functions

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • differentiate between Commerce and other related subjects
   • describe the characteristics of Commerce
   • identify the functions of Commerce

2. Occupation

   Contents

   • Meaning and importance
   • Types (industrial, commercial, and services)
   • Factors that determine choice of occupation

   Objectives — candidates 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

   Contents

   • Factors, characteristics, and rewards (land, labour, capital, and entrepreneur)
   • Division of Labour and specialization
   • Types (primary, secondary and tertiary)

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • identify the Factors of Production and their rewards
   • distinguish between Division of Labour and Specialization
   • classify the types of production

4. Trade

   Contents

   • Home Trade — Retail trade: types of retailers; functions of retailers; factors to be considered in setting up retail trade; trends in retailing (branding, self-service, vending machines, luncheon and fuel vouchers); advantages and disadvantages of retailers
   • Home Trade — Wholesale trade: types of wholesalers (merchant, agent, general); functions of wholesalers; advantages and disadvantages of wholesalers
   • Foreign trade — Basic issues in foreign trade (balance of trade, balance of payments, counter trade)
   • Foreign trade — Procedures and documents used in export, import, and entreport trade
   • Foreign trade — Barriers to international trade
   • Foreign trade — Role of Customs and Excise Authority, Ports Authority in foreign trade

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • compare the various types of retailers
   • 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
   • classify the types of wholesalers
   • discuss the functions of wholesalers
   • outline the merits and demerits of the middleman
   • analyse the basic issues in foreign trade
   • explain the procedures and documents used in foreign trade
   • identify the barriers to international trade
   • appraise the role of government agencies in foreign trade

5. Purchase and Sale of Goods

   Contents

   • Procedure and documentation (enquiry, quotation, order, invoice, proforma invoice, statement of accounts, indent, consular invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, consignment note)
   • Terms of trade (trade discount, quantity discount, cash discount, warranties, C.O.D., C.I.F., F.O.B., E.O.E.)
   • Terms of payments — Cash (legal tender); Credit (types and functions; merits and demerits)

   Objectives — candidates 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
   • identify the types of credit
   • analyse the merits and demerits of credit transactions

6. Aids-to-Trade

   Contents

   • Advertising: types and media; advantages and disadvantages
   • Banking: types of bank; services; challenges
   • Communication: process and procedure; types; trends; merits and demerits; barriers
   • Insurance: types; principles; terms; importance
   • Tourism: importance; agencies that promote tourism in Nigeria; challenges
   • Transportation: mode; importance; advantages and disadvantages
   • Warehousing: importance; types and functions; factors to be considered in siting a warehouse

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • identify the different types of advertising and its media
   • analyse the advantages and disadvantages of advertising
   • categorize the different types of bank
   • assess the services rendered by banks
   • identify the challenges facing banks
   • assess the different stages in the communication process
   • analyse the types of communication
   • appraise the contributions of courier services and GSM to businesses
   • state the merits and demerits of communication
   • outline the barriers to communication
   • describe the types of insurance
   • apply the principles of insurance to life situations
   • explain the terms in insurance
   • state the importance of insurance
   • examine the importance of tourism
   • identify the agencies that promote tourism in Nigeria
   • analyse the challenges facing tourism in Nigeria
   • appraise the relevance of the various modes of transportation
   • list the importance of transportation
   • discuss the advantages and disadvantages of transportation
   • highlight the importance of warehousing
   • appraise the contributions of warehouses to businesses
   • evaluate the factors that determine the siting of warehouses

7. Business Units

   Contents

   • Forms and features (Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, Limited Liability Companies, Public Corporations, Cooperative Societies)
   • Registration of businesses
   • Business Mergers
   • Determination of choice of business units
   • Dissolution and liquidation
   • Merits and demerits

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • identify the forms and features of business units
   • analyse the procedures for registering businesses
   • appraise the different forms of business mergers and the reasons for merging
   • 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

8. Financing Business

   Contents

   • Sources of finance (personal savings, sale of shares and bonds, loans, debentures, mortgage, bank overdraft, ploughing back of profit, credit purchase, leasing)
   • Types of capital (share capital, capital owned, authorized capital, issued capital, called-up capital, paid-up capital, liquid capital, working capital, 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

   Objectives — candidates 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 bureaux de change in an economy

9. Trade Associations

   Contents

   • Objectives and functions of trade and manufacturer's associations (Cocoa Farmers' Association, Garri Sellers' Association, Poultry Farmers' Association)
   • Objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce

   Objectives — candidates should be able to:

   • discuss the objectives and functions of trade and manufacturer's associations
   • list the objectives and functions of Chambers of Commerce

10. Money

    Contents

    • Evolution
    • Forms and qualities
    • Functions

    Objectives — candidates should be able to:

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

11. Stock Exchange

    Contents

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

    Objectives — candidates 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

12. Elements of Business Management

    Contents

    • Functions (planning, organizing, staffing, coordinating, motivating, communicating, controlling)
    • Principles (span of control, unity of command, delegation of authority)
    • Organizational structure (line, line and staff, functional, matrix, committee)
    • Functional areas of business (production, marketing, finance, personnel)
    • Business resources (man, money, materials, machines, opportunities/goodwill)

    Objectives — candidates 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

13. Elements of Marketing

    Contents

    • Importance and Functions
    • The marketing concept (consumer orientation, customer satisfaction, integrated marketing)
    • Marketing mix (product, price, place, promotion)
    • Market Segmentation
    • Public relations and Customer Service

    Objectives — candidates 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

14. Legal Aspects of Business

    Contents

    • 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)
    • Consumer protection (Government legislation, Standards Organization, Trade Descriptions Act, Consumer Protection Council, NAFDAC, NDLEA, Customs and Excise)
    • Regulatory agencies

    Objectives — candidates 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

15. Information and Communication Technology (ICT)

    Contents

    • Computer: appreciation and application; types and functions; merits and demerits; challenges
    • Terms (Internet, Intranet, browsing, password, e-mail, google, yahoo, search, Local Area Network)
    • Activities: e-commerce, e-banking, e-business

    Objectives — candidates should be able to:

    • discuss computer appreciation and application
    • enumerate the types and functions of computer
    • analyse the merits and demerits of ICT
    • appraise the challenges of using the computer
    • identify the different terms used in ICT
    • evaluate the trends in ICT

16. Business Environment and Social Responsibility

    Contents

    • Legal, political, economic, social, cultural, technological environments
    • Safe products, philanthropic and societal consideration
    • Types and implication of pollution (water, air, land)

    Objectives — candidates 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

Recommended Texts

• 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. & Igwe, P. M. (2005). New Syllabus Commerce for Secondary Schools Books 1-3 (2nd ed.). Ibadan: Evans.
• Babatunde, A. H. (1999). Handbook on Commerce for Schools and Colleges (1st ed.). Global Publications.
• Eriki, P. O. (1998). Working with Computer. Benin: Bofic Publishers.
• French, C. S. (2000). Computer Science (5th ed.). 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 (6th ed.). 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. & Isaacs, A. (eds) (2002). A Dictionary of Business (3rd ed.). 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many topics are in the JAMB Commerce syllabus?

The JAMB UTME Commerce syllabus covers 16 main topics: Commerce, Occupation, Production, Trade, Purchase and Sale of Goods, Aids-to-Trade, Business Units, Financing Business, Trade Associations, Money, Stock Exchange, Elements of Business Management, Elements of Marketing, Legal Aspects of Business, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Business Environment and Social Responsibility.

What are the aims of the JAMB Commerce syllabus?

The syllabus is designed to enable candidates to acquire basic knowledge of Commerce, examine the relationship between Commerce and other related fields, apply the principles of Commerce in the Nigerian economy, and appreciate dynamic and positive changes in commercial activities.

Which topics carry the most weight in JAMB Commerce?

Trade and Aids-to-Trade are the broadest topics with the most sub-areas. Trade covers home trade (retail and wholesale) and foreign trade, while Aids-to-Trade spans advertising, banking, communication, insurance, tourism, transportation, and warehousing. Together they generate a large share of questions, so candidates should study them in depth.

Does JAMB Commerce involve calculations?

Yes. The Financing Business topic requires candidates to compute different forms of capital, profits (gross and net), and turnover. While Commerce is largely theory-based, you should be comfortable with these basic business calculations.

How is JAMB Commerce tested?

Commerce is examined as objective multiple-choice questions in the computer-based UTME. Questions are drawn from across all 16 syllabus topics and test the listed objectives, such as differentiating, describing, classifying, analysing, and appraising commercial concepts.

Who should take Commerce in JAMB?

Commerce suits candidates in commercial and management science tracks who plan to study courses like Business Administration, Accounting, Marketing, Banking and Finance, Economics, and related business programmes in higher institutions.

What modern business topics does the syllabus include?

The syllabus includes contemporary areas such as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) covering e-commerce, e-banking and e-business, the role of bureaux de change, business mergers, the Second-Tier Securities Market on the Stock Exchange, and consumer protection agencies like NAFDAC, NDLEA, and the Consumer Protection Council.

Are there recommended textbooks for JAMB Commerce?

Yes. The syllabus lists about 17 recommended texts, including Anderson's Commerce for West Africa, Asaolu and Igwe's New Syllabus Commerce for Secondary Schools, Ubaka's Commerce Simplified, and Pallister and Isaacs' A Dictionary of Business, alongside management, marketing, and computing titles.