WAEC Subject Combination For Science, Arts And Commercial Students 2026/2027

WAEC Subject Combination For Science, Arts And Commercial Students 2026/2027: The WAEC exam, has its subjects combinations structured with a minimum of seven and a maximum of nine subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

With all things remaining equally, generally, Science students focus on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology; Arts students include Literature and a language like Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa; and Commercial students emphasizes on Economic.

There are three basic areas of study in the Senior Secondary School Examination they are:

• Science
• Art
• Commercial

The three areas of study have WAEC subject combinations that are peculiar to each of them, for any career a student would want to pursue. Only three subjects have been made totally Compulsory by the West African Examination Council, irrespective of your area of study, approved by the Federal Government. The 3 Subject are:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Civic Education

It’s important that every WAEC Candidate knows this, and also know that to be a successful student in WAEC, a candidate must have at least a credit in these three general subjects, most especially English language and mathematics.

So, we will discuss the WAEC subject combination for these important areas of study which are Sciences, Arts, and Commercial Class. Whichever one you belong to, this article is still helpful.

WAEC Subject Combination For Science Students 2026/2027

The WAEC subject combination for science students includes subjects specific to the science field, most of which involve practical exams alongside theory and objective sections.

These practicals, usually conducted in laboratories, require working with live specimens. Schools without proper lab facilities are given an alternative to the practical session. A student still has options aside from the ones listed below. Subjects: There are other subjects that science students can add to their list of compulsory subjects; they include: Further Mathematics, Languages- Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa, and Technical Drawing.

Going forward, the WAEC subject combination for science students includes the following subjects.

• English language
• Mathematics
• Civic Education
• Physics
• Chemistry
• Biology
• Geography
• Agricultural Science 
• Economics
• A Trade Subject

WAEC Subject Combination For Art Students 2026/2027

The subject combination for art students is totally different from that of a science student, even though there are cases where art and science students may register for subjects such as economics, biology, agricultural science, etc.

Apart from the Nine Subjects listed below, there are other subjects available for art students, including: Arabic Studies, Agricultural Science/Biology French, Music Commerce.

The WAEC subject combination for art students includes: 

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Civic Education
• Literature in English
• Government or History
• Religious Studies: Christian Religious Studies or Islamic Religious Studies
• Languages: Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa 
• Economics
• A Trade Subject

WAEC Subject Combination For Commercial Students 2026/2027

A commercial student is trained in subjects related to business, management, and economics, such as Economics, Commerce, Accounting, and Marketing. They form a key subset of students who sit for the WAEC examination each year.

Apart from the Nine Subjects listed below, Other elective subjects available to Commercial students include: Further Mathematics, Book Keeping Agricultural Science, or Biology, Languages: Yoruba, Igbo, or Hausa.

 The WAEC subject combination for commercial students includes:

• English Language
• Mathematics
• Civic Education
• Economics
• Accounting
• Commerce
• Government
• Office Practice
• A Trade Subject

Note: There are some subjects that are neither compulsory for any subject area, but they are available to be chosen by any interested candidate. Examples of such subjects include Economics, Languages (Hausa, Igbo, or Yoruba), Agricultural Science, Biology, etc

WAEC Trade subjects 2026/2027

Most WAEC Trade Subjects 2026/2027 are grouped because they provide students with practical, hands-on entrepreneurial skills, fostering job readiness and global competitiveness by instilling practical skills beyond academic knowledge.

There are 35 trade subjects in WAEC. These subjects are part of the curriculum to develop entrepreneurship and ensure students can acquire skills that lead to self-reliance and contribute to the economy, rather than solely focusing on traditional academic disciplines.

These are subjects that were introduced by WAEC to expose students to skill acquisition and the entrepreneurial world. Some trade subjects involve practical sessions, while others don’t. Every WAEC candidate is mandated to sit for at least one trade subject.

• Animal husbandry
• Auto body repairs
• Auto mechanic
• Auto electrical work
• Automobile parts merchandising
• Block laying, bricklaying, and concreting work
• Bookkeeping
• Carpentry and joinery
• Catering craft practice
• Data processing
• Dyeing and bleaching
• Plumbing and pipe fitting
• Printing craft practice
• Radio, television, and electronics
• Salesmanship
• Stenography
• Tourism
• Upholstery
• Welding and fabrication engineering craft practice
• Marketing
• Metalwork
• Mining
• Painting and decorating
• Photography
• Plumbing craft practice
• Printing craft practice
• Leather goods manufacturing and repairs
• Insurance
• Machine Woodworking
• GSM phone maintenance and repair
• Garment making
• Furniture making
• Fisheries
• Shorthand
• Keyboarding

Criteria for Selection of Subjects for WASSCE and SSCE

a. Compulsory Cross-Cutting Subjects

Each student is to take the four (4) compulsory cross-cutting subjects listed. For the Trade/Entrepreneurship subject, each student is expected to select one (1) Trade/Entrepreneurship subject from the list of 34 Trade / Entrepreneurship subjects listed.

b. Fields of Studies

(i) Each student may then choose two (2), three (3), four (4), or five (5) subjects From each of their preferred four Fields of Studies depending on the potential, interest and capability such that the minimum number of subjects is eight (8) while the maximum number of subjects is nine.

(ii) If students select two (2) subjects from a Field of Study, they can select two (2) or three (3) subjects from any other Field of Study or from Trade / Entrepreneurship subject to make a minimum of eight (8) or a maximum of nine (9) subjects.

(iii) iIf students select three. (3) subjects from a Field of Study, they can select one (1) or two (2) subjects from any other Fields of Studies or Trade / Entrepreneurship subjects to make a minimum of eight (8) or a maximum of nine (9) subjects.

(iv) If students select four (4) subjects from a Field of Study, they can select one (1) one subject from any other fields of study or Trade / Entrepreneurship subjects to make a maximum of nine (9) subjects.

(v) If students select five (5) from a Field of Study, they have already selected a maximum of nine (9) subjects

Note: !n all, students are to select a minimum of eight (8) or maximum of (9) subjects

Frequently asked questions

Conclusion

The WAEC subject combination for science, commercial, and art students forms the complete exam package each year, reflecting students’ academic interests and specialization. Some subjects, like Physics, Commerce, and Literature, are specific to certain areas, while others like Agricultural Science, Economics, and Biology overlap across all fields. A student’s subject combination also indicates their preferred skills, especially through trade subjects, making it a key early decision that shapes future academic choices.

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