This BECE Mathematics syllabus is designed to make you familiar with the format of the examination. It serves as a guide to both candidates and educators to plan their learning and teaching schedules to make the candidate ace the examination.
The following are the materials needed and will be allowed into the examination hall for this subject: Candidates are expected to bring their calculator (Non-Programmable)into the exam hall as sharing of calculators and other materials is prohibited. Candidates should also ensure they come to the examination hall with their NECO Mathematical/Statistical Table as it will be used during the examination.
This syllabus aims to serve as a guideline to candidates of The Basic Education Certificate Examination. Some of the objectives of The Basic Education Certificate Examination are; To make the candidates recall mathematical formulas and concepts as they will serve as a foundation in their next class, and the candidates are also expected to apply the concepts to real-life situations.
The BECE Mathematics exam comprises three compulsory papers: Papers 1, 2, and 3. Below is the breakdown of the papers the number of questions they contain and their marks.
PAPER 1&2
Papers 1 and 2 consist of sixty multiple-choice questions each. The questions from Paper 1 will be Number and Numeration, Basic Operations, and Geometry and Measurement. The questions from Paper 2 will come from Algebraic processes and Everyday Statistics.
PAPER 3
Paper 3 comprises two compulsory questions and it will be set from any of the topics covered in the syllabus.
N.B The total mark for the three papers will cover 70% of the exam score, the remaining 30% will be derived from the candidate’s continuous assessment submitted by the school management.
| BASIC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (BECE) MATHEMATICS SYLLABUS | |||
| S/N | THEMES | TOPICS | OBJECTIVES |
1 | NUMBER AND NUMERATION | I.Whole Numbers | a. Counting in: i. millions and billions ii. trillions b. Quantitative reasoning. c. Whole numbers in standard form. d. Decimal numbers in standard form. e. Prime factors. f. Prime factorization. g. Squares and square roots. h. Binary number system. i. Using computer to do simple mathematical calculations. j. Translation of word problem into numerical expressions. k. Expressions involving brackets and fractions, Direct and inverse proportion. m. Application of direct and inverse proportions. n. Simple interest o. Compound interest. |
| IL Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) | LCM of whole numbers | ||
| III. Highest Common Factor | a. HCF of whole numbers. b. Quantitative reasoning | ||
| IV. Counting in base two | Counting in groups of twos. | ||
| V. Conversion of base 10 numerals to binary numbers | Converting numbers 1-10 to base | ||
| VI. Fractions | a. Identifying Equivalent fractions. b. Quantitative aptitude reasoning. c. Equivalent fractions. d. Ordering of fractions. e. Conversion of fractions to decimals and vice-versa. f. Conversion of fraction to percentage and vice-versa. g. Expressing fractions as ratios, decimals and percentages. h. Quantitative reasoning on fractions, ratios and n es. | ||
| VII. Rational and non rational numbers | Rational and non-rational numbers. | ||
2 | BASIC OPERATION | I. Addition and subtraction | a. Addition and subtraction of numbers and Place values. b. Use of number line. c. Addition and subtraction of positive and negative integers d. Everyday application of positive and negative integers |
| Il. Addition and subtraction of fractions | a. Addition and subtraction of fractions. b. Word problems on addition and subtraction of fractions. | ||
| Ill. Multiplication and division of fractions | a. Multiplication of fractions. b. Division of fractions. c. Word problems involving multiplication and division of fractions. | ||
| IV. Estimation | a. Estimation of dimensions and distances. b. Estimation of capacity and mass of objects. c. Estimation of other things, e.g., age, time etc. d. Quantitative reasoning involving estimation. | ||
| V. Approximation | a. Approximating values of addition and subtraction. b. Approximating results of multiplication and division. c. Rounding off numbers to the nearest 10. 100 and 1000. d. Application of approximation in everyday life. e. Approximation of numbers: i. Decimal places ii. Significant figures f. Quantitative reasoning | ||
| VI. Addition of numbers in base 2 numerals | Addition or two or three 3.digit binary numbers | ||
| Vll. Subtraction of numbers in base 2 numerals | Subtraction of two or three 3-digit binary numbers. | ||
| Vlll. Multiplication of numbers in base 2 numerals | Multiplication of two 2-digit binary numbers. | ||
| IX. Transactions in the homes and offices | a. Household arithmetic. b. Commercial arithmetic. | ||
| X. Multiplication and division of directed numbers | a. Square and square root tables. b. Charts, records and schedules. c. Multiplication and Division of directed numbers. | ||
| Xl. Division of numbers in base 2 numerals | Division or two to 3-digit binary numbers | ||
3 | GEOMETRY AND MEASUREMENT | I. Plane shapes | a. Similarities and differences between the following: square, rectangle,triangle, trapezium, parallelogram and circle. b. Perimeter of regular polygon, square, rectangle, triangle, trapezium, parallelogram and circle. c. Area of regular plane shapes such as; squares, rectangles, paralelograms etc. |
| II. SIMILAR SHAPES | a. Similar shapes. b. Enlargements and scale factor. c. Lengths, areas and volumes of similar figures. d. Basic properties of cubes and cuboid | ||
| III. Three dimensional figures | a. Basic properties of cubes and cuboids. b. Basic properties of pyramids and cones. c.Basic properties of cylinders and spheres. d. Volume of cubes and cuboids. | ||
| IV. Construction | a. Construction of parallel and perpendicular lines. b. Bisection of a given line segment. c. Construction of angles 90, 60, 45 and 30 degrees. d. Constructing tnangles. e. Bisecting angles. f. Copying given angles. g. Construction of simple plane shape | ||
| V. Angles | a. Measurement of angles. b. Identification and properties of: i. Vertically opposite ii. Adjacent iii. Alternate iv. Corresponding angles c. Identification and properties of angles at a point and angles on a straight line. d. Sum of angles of a polygon. e. Angles of elevation and depression. | ||
| VI. Bearing | Bearing | ||
| VII. Trigonometry | a. The sine, cosine and tangent of an acute angle. b. Application of Trigonometric ratios. | ||
| VIII. Area of plane figures | a. Area of triangles. b. Area of parallelogram. c. Area of trapezium. d. Area of circles. e. Word roblems involving area. | ||
4 | ALGEBRAIC PROCESSES | I. Use of Symbols | a. Open sentences b. Use of letters to represent symbols or shapes in open sentences. c. Solving open sentences with two arithemetic operation. d. Word problem involving use of symbols e. Quantitative aptitude. |
| II. Signification of algebraic expressions | a. Like and unlike terms in algebraic expressions b. Identification of coefficient of terms of algebraic expressions c. Basic arithemetic applied to algebraic expressions or similar terms. d. Collection and significations of like and unlike terms in algebraic expressions e. Quantitative reasoning. | ||
| III. Simple equations | a. Translations of word problems into equations and vice versa. b. Solutions of simple equations c. Problems of simple eqautions. | ||
| IV. Algebraic expressions | a. Expanssion of algebraic expressions. b. Factorization of simple algebraic expressions c. Expansion and factorization of quadratic expression d. Quantitative reasoning e. Algebraic expressions of fractions with monomial denominators f. Word problem leading to simple algebraic fractions. | ||
| V. Linear inequalities | a. Linear inequalities in one variable b. Graphical representation of solutions of linear inequalities in one variable c. Word problems. | ||
| VI. Graphs | a. Plotting points on the Cartesian plane b.Graph of linear equation in two variables c. Linear Graphs from real life situations d. Quantitative reasoning | ||
| VII. Factorization | a. Factorization of expression of the form: i. ax+ay ii. 3m+pq+3p+mp iii. a2-b2 iv. a 2-2ab+b2 b. Word problems involving factorization | ||
| VIII. Simple equations involving fractions | a. Simple equations involving fractions b. Word problem leading to simple equation involving fractions. | ||
| IX. Simultanous linear equations | a. Compilation of table of values b. Graphical solution of simultanous linear equations in two variables c. Solution of simultanous linear equration using elimination methods d. Solution of simultanous linear equration using subtitution methods | ||
5 | EVERYDAY STATISTICS | I. Need for statistics | a. Purpose of statistics b. Need for collecting data for planning purpose c. Collectiion of data |
| II. Data collection | Collect data in the class a. Median b. Mean c. Mode | ||
| III. Data presentation | a. Ordered presentation of data b. Frequency table c. Pie Chart d. Chart, records and schedule | ||
| IV. Probability | a. Occurance of chance events in everyday life b. Probability of chance events. | ||
| V. Measure of central tendecy | a. Revision of previous work on mean, median and mode. b. Median. c. Mode. d. Mean. e. Application of measures of central tendecy to analyze any given information. | ||
| VI. Measure of dispersion | a. Range. | ||
The grades that were used are A, B, C, P, and F. They will be listed below in order of merit.
SN | SCORE | GRADE |
1 | 70-100 | Distinction |
2 | 60-69 | Very Good |
3 | 50-59 | Credit |
4 | 40-49 | Pass |
5 | 0-39 | Fail |
