WAEC Visual Art Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks

By WAEC2026 November 19, 2025 Blog, WAEC Syllabus 2026, WAEC Textbooks 0 Comments

The WAEC Visual Art Syllabus 2026/2027 & Textbooks includes theoretical and practical components covering General Knowledge in Art, West African Art, and Pre-historic, Ancient Egyptian, and Western Art. It also covers practical skills in areas like drawing, 2D creative design (e.g., graphic design, textile design), and 3D creative design (e.g., sculpture, ceramics). The exam is structured into three papers: a multiple-choice paper, an essay paper, and a practical paper.

Contents

1 Aims and Objectives
2 Examination guides
3 PAPER 1:
4 PAPER 2:
5 PAPER 3:
6 WAEC Visual Art Syllabus 2026/2027
7 Recent Posts

Aims and Objectives

Candidates must improve their development of perceptual, analytical and expressive skills through a variety of art activities relating to the environment
Candidates’ Knowledge and skills in the use and maintenance of art tools, equipment and materials
Candidates must have a Level of appreciation of the values and qualities of different works of art.
Candidates mush have the Knowledge and application of design elements and principles
Candidates must have the Knowledge of art history and art structure
Candidates must have Knowledge and appreciation of their culture in relation to other cultures
The candidates must have Understanding of the meaning, significance and role of art in the socio-economic development of their society
Understanding indigenous art technology, aesthetics, beliefs, values, and attitudes
Students must acquire the Skills in the development of local materials and resources, especially in the promotion of small-scale industries

Examination guides

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken in one sitting.

PAPER 1:

It will consist of forty multiple-choice objective questions, all of which must be

answered within 50 minutes for 40 marks.

PAPER 2:

It will consist of five essay-type questions. Candidates will be required to answer three questions within 1 hour and 30 minutes for 60 marks.

PAPER 3:

It will consist of two sections, Sections A and B.

Section A will be drawing/painting and will be compulsory for all candidates.

Two questions will be set, one on still life and the other on imaginative composition, and candidates will be expected to answer one of them within 3 hours for 50 marks.

Section B will consist of two questions, one on lettering/calligraphy and the other on product design. Candidates will be required to answer one question from either lettering/calligraphy or product design within 3 hours for 50 marks.

The paper will be sent to candidates a fortnight in advance of the date of its conduct.

WAEC Visual Art Syllabus 2026/2027

Main Topic / Unit	Subtopics / Content Areas
1. Rationale for Visual Arts	Importance and justification for studying visual arts.
2. Concept of Visual Arts & General Knowledge	Definition and meaning of visual arts; branches; relevance of art.
3. Scope & Vocations of Visual Arts	Career paths; professional opportunities; fields of specialization.
4. Role of Art in National Development	Art in socio-economic development; cultural identity; industry and employment.
5. Basic Drawing Tools, Equipment & Materials	Pencils, erasers, papers, sharpeners, drawing boards, fixatives etc.
6. Drawing	Definition, techniques, types, purposes; identification of drawing types.
7. Exploration of Tools/Equipment/Materials	Study and application of tools used in art production.
8. Drawing Media Preparation & Care	Uses, maintenance, safety, preservation of media.
9. Basic Design & Composition	Composition rules, arrangement, design foundations.
10. Perspective	Definition; types—1-point, 2-point, 3-point perspective.
11. Idea Development	Ideas from natural and artificial/man-made objects.
12. Drawing for Communication	Analytical studies, object drawing, figure drawing.
13. Design Process	Definition; steps in design problem-solving.
14. Product Designing	Concepts, planning and creation of functional products.
15. Two- & Three-Dimensional Designing	2D designs (flat), 3D designs (forms, models).
16. Computer as a Tool in Art	Parts of the computer; uses in digital art.
17. Portfolio Building	Importance, functions, types of portfolios.
18. Elements, Principles & Organization of Design	Line, shape, colour, texture, balance, contrast, rhythm etc.
19. Perception	Definition; visual perception in art.
20. Colour Theory	Definition; 12-point colour wheel; sources of colour; terminology; mixing; harmony; psychology; relationships; perspective.
21. Ghanaian Colour Concepts	Association of colour with Ghanaian objects & culture.
22. Colour Symbolism	Meaning and cultural significance of colours.
23. Printmaking/Printing	Definition; tools, materials, equipment; processes (direct/indirect). Relief, intaglio, lithography, serigraphy, photographic screen printing; prints from surfaces; printing as communication.
24. Lettering	Definitions; types—block letters, calligraphy, upper/lower case, parts of letters; Gothic (sans serif) and Roman (serif).
25. Prehistoric Art	Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic; beginnings; locations; cave art; uses (e.g., hunting magic); techniques, tools, materials; terms.
26. Ancient Art: Egyptian	Purpose (eternity); characteristics; conventions/canons; influence on other cultures.
27. Greek, Renaissance, Oriental & Oceanic Art	Greek art (Archaic–Hellenistic contributions); Renaissance (rebirth, origins, artists, achievements, relevance); Oriental art (beliefs, forms, functions in Indian/Chinese/Japanese); Oceanic art (Polynesian & Melanesian beliefs/forms/functions).
28. African Art	Religious influence (animism, magic, myth); art forms and functions; African concept of art (functionality); types (visual, performing, verbal); characteristics; West African groups; contemporary vs. indigenous; relevance; change through religion, education, trade, politics.
29. Art in National Development	Contributions of art to society, economy, culture.
30. Ghanaian Attitudes to Art Development	Indigenous art forms (e.g., Adinkra); contemporary Ghanaian artists; symbolism; functions; art & tourism.
31. Art Appreciation & Modern Art	Concepts; procedures (identification, inventory, technical qualities, interpretation); creativity; aesthetics; criticism; judgment; modern art movements—Cubism, Impressionism, Post/Neo Impressionism, Fauvism, Expressionism, Surrealism.
32. Entrepreneurship in Visual Arts	Art enterprises; setting up a business; finance & technical assistance; management; customer relations; costing & pricing; marketing strategies; business risks; exhibition planning & mounting.
33. Professional Ethics	Ethical behaviour, copyright, professionalism.
34. Business Plan Development	Definition; importance; steps in preparation.
35. Artist’s Statement	Definition; importance; how to write one.
36. Business Brochure & Card	Definition; importance; use in promotion.
37. Museum & Gallery Studies	Definition; history; development; functions; socio-economic importance; administrative structure; authenticity & neutrality; examples of museums & activities.

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