Download the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Syllabus for Christian Religious Studies to serve as a guide for educators and help candidates prepare better.
The underlying principle for the establishment of the current Basic Education Curriculum for Christian Religious Studies is the overall conception for the social, ethical, and moral development of Nigerian youth. This syllabus is designed to make teaching it easier. Its theme approach enables students to be properly and successfully prepared for the Basic Education Certificate Examination.
The aim of this syllabus is to develop candidates who “will be responsive and productively contribute towards the attainment of the National Development Goals (MDG), National Economic Empowerment Development Strategies (NEEDS), and National Titles.
The BECE CRS exam consists of two Papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2. And candidates are obligated to answer all questions. Below is the breakdown of what each of the papers contains.
Paper 1
Paper 1 consists of 60 multiple choice questions which will be drawn from the Old Testament there only. There are; God and His creation(20 questions), Relationship with God and Man (20 questions), and God’s Call(20 questions) making it a total of 60 questions and it is worth 60 marks.
Paper 2
Paper 2 also consist of a 60 multiple choice questions, based on the following New Testament themes which are: The Early life of Jesus Christ(10 questions), The ministry of Jesus Christ(10 questions), The passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ(10 questions), The beginning of the church(10 questions), The life and teaching of Paul(10 questions), The Christian church today(10 questions). Making it a sum of 60 questions and it carries 60 marks.
Note: The cumulative total of one hundred and twenty (120) marks will be weighted at seventy percent (70%) plus thirty percent (30%) from the school’s submitted Continuous Assessment (C.A.). The whole amount of the grand total marks is going to be 100%.
| BASIC EDUCATION CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION (BECE) CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS STUDIES SYLLABUS | |||
| S/N | THEME | TOPIC | LEARNING |
1 | HIS CREATION | I. Who is God? | a. Who is God? (Gen. 10:12) b. Attributes of God c. Names of God in different Nigerian Languages |
| II. God’s Creation | a Biblical Account of the creation (Gen. 1 — 2). b. God created human beings. c. Songs about creation in English and different Nigerian Languages. | ||
| III. Human beings share in God’s creative activities | a. Sharing God’s creative activities through marriage (Jh 2: 1) b. The meaning of Marriage (Gen. 2:22 — 25, Eph. 5:21 – 31) c. Purpose of marriage companionship, Procreation. responsibility. preventing immorality. STDS, HIV AIDS etc(Gen. 1:28). d. Things invented by man e.g cars, chairs, aeroplane, building etc. | ||
| IV. Disobedience | a. Biblical account of first human disobedience (Gen. 3:14-19). b. Consequences of Adam and Eve’s disobedience (Gen. 3:14— 19). c. Acts of disobedience and its consequences. | ||
| IV. Reconciliation | a. Meaning of Reconciliation. b. Conditions necessary for reconciliation (Lk. 15:1 1 -32). c. Ways of reconciling with offenders (Gen. 33: 1- 11). | ||
2 | RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND | I. Relationship in the Family | a. Meaning and Types of Family. b. Recognition of family members c. Different roles ofmembers of the family (Eph. 6: I – 9, Eph. 5: 21 -33, Col. 3: 18-21, I Peter3: 1 -7). d. Concept of good family name (Prov. 22 : l, Ecc. 17:1). |
| II. Relationship in School | a. Names and members of the school, b. Choosing friends at school factors c. Examples of good friends (I Sam. 18:1-5). d. Effects of bad friendship Prov. 1:10, 2 Thess. 3:6- 13 | ||
| III. Relationship in Community and Church | a. Identification of the names of community leaders. b. Ways of sustaining Relationship in the Community (Gal. 6:2). c. Relationship in the Church (l Peter 3:8-13, Rom. 13:1-7. 12:9-21. Heb. 10:25 | ||
| IV. Relationship with God | a. Relationship with God through i. Prayer ii. reading the Bible iii. worshipping iv. praising God etc (Acts 16:25). b. Ways God talks to us: i. Our Parents ii. The Bible (His words) iii. Teachers iv. Priests/preachers. c. Ways of maintaining good Relationship with i.Loving God ii. Loving one another iii. Daily prayer iv. Living holy life v. Worship and doing good vi. Reading the Bible vii. Forgiving one another etc. | ||
3 | GOD’S CALL | Call to Obedience | a. Meaning of Obedience. b. Blessing from obeying God’s call (Gen. 12:1 -9). c. Abraham obeys God’s call (Gen. 21•.1-8. Gen. 22:1-19). |
| II. Call to Freedom | a. The meaning and types of Freedom. b. The call of Moses (Ex. 3:1-15). c. Deborah and Barak lead their people to freedom Judees 4 | ||
| III. Call to Service | a. Meaning of Service. b. Examples of people who served in the Bible 41:37-57, Ruth 11:7-18). c.Lessons from the service of Joseph and Ruth. d. Life in God’s service (IPeL 2:18-25). e. Problems of service: i. Seduction (Gen. 39:7) ii. Bribery and Corruption etc. f. Rewards of service: i. Promotion ii. Long life Gen 41:37-43 | ||
| IV. Call to Repentance | a. King David obeys God’s call to Repentance (2 Sam. b. The people of Nineveh repented of their sins (Jonah 3:1-10). c. John the Baptist calls for repentance (Lk. 3:1-14. Matt. 1:1-12). d. Consequences of lack of repentance (l Sam. e. Jesus Christs call for repentance Mk 1:14-15) | ||
4 | THE EARLY LIFE OF JESUS CHRIST | I. The Birth of Jesus Christ | a. The Annunciation (Isaiah 9:6-7, Matt. 1:22-23. Lk. 1:30-33). b. The Birth of Jesus (Matt. 1:18 —25, Lk 2:1- 7). c. The Shepherds’ visit (Lk 2: 8-20). d. The visit of the wise men (Matt.2: 1-22). e. The values of viginity before marriage. |
| II. Presentation of Jesus in The Temple | a. Jesus presented at the Temple (Lk. 2:21 -24) b. Prophecy of Simeon (Lk. 2:25 — 35). c. Prophecy of Anna Lk. 2:36—40 . | ||
| III. Jesus and His Family | a. Jesus understanding of Family (Matt. 12:46-50 ). b. Jesus obeyed His parents (Lk. 2:51-52, E h. 6:1 – 3 ). | ||
5 | THE MINISTRY OF JESUS CHRIST | I. The Baptism of Jesus Christ. | a. Baptism of Jesus Christ (Matt. – 17, Matt. 1:9- I l, Lk. 3:21 -22). b. The significance of the Baptism of Jesus c. The Importance of Baptism in the life of christian |
| II. The Temptation of Jesus | a. The temptation of Jesus Christ (Matt.4: 1-11. Mk 1:12- 13, Lk4:1- 13). b. The significance of the temptation of Jesus c. Temptations in the life of a Christian. d. Ways ofovercoming temptation: i. Prayer ii. Being strong in our faith. | ||
| III. Call of The Disciples | a. Jesus calls His first four disciples (Matt. 4:18 – 22. Mk. 1:14-20, Lk. 5:1- 11) b. Jesus calls the twelve. Disciples/Apostles (Mk. 3:13-19). c. What it takes to be a disciple of Jesus Christ Matt.8:18-27, Lk. 9:57-63, Lk. 14:25-33 | ||
| IV. Mission of The Disciples | a. Fishers of men (Matt. 4: 18 — 22, Lk.5: 1- 11) b.The preaching of Gospel and healing the sick (Matt. 10:1 – 15). c. The mission of the twelve apostles and the seventy disciples (Matt. 10:1 — 15, Mk. – 13. Lk. – 16, Lk. 10:1 -24). d. The outcome of the mission of the twelve and seventy disciples (Mk. 12, Lk. 10:17 – 20). | ||
| V. Sermon on The Mount or Beatitudes | a. The Beatitudes (Matt. 5:1-12). b. The Sermon on the mount (Matt.5:13- 16): i. Revenge (Matt. 5:38-42) ii. Forgiveness (Matt. 6:14-15) iii. Fasting and Prayer (Matt. 6:5-13) iv. Love of money (Matt. 6:19-34) v. worrying (Matt. 6:25-34 | ||
| VI. Jesus Teaching in Parables | a. Meaning of Parable: Why Jesus taught in Parables (Matt. 13:34- 35). b. Parables about The Kingdom: The sower (Matt. 13:1 -9, 18 – 23). c. The Wheat and Tares (Matt. 13:24 – 30 . 36 -43). d. Parables illustrating God’s love: i. TheProdigal son (Lk. 15:11-32) ii. Lost sheep (Lk. 15:3-7) iii. Lost coin (Lk. 15:8-10). e. Parables about our attitude to earthly possession: i. TheRich fool(Lk. 12:13-21) ii. The Rich man and Lazarus (LEI 6:19-31). f. Maturity and Responsiblity: i. TheTen Virgins (Matt. 25:1-13) ii. The Talents (Matt. 2:14-30). g. Unforgiving Steward Matt. 18:21 -35 | ||
| VII. The Miracles of Jesus Christ | a. The meaning of Miracle b. Nature miracles of’ Jesus Christ: i. Turning of water Into wine (Jh 2-1 ii. Calming the Stonn (Matt. 8:23 — 27. Mk. 4:35 – 41 ) iii. Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matt. 14:13 – 21. Mk. 6:30 – 44) (Lk. 9:10 – 17). c. Feeding of the Four Thousand (Matt.8:1 – 6). d. Walking on the water (Matt. 14:22 — 33, Matt. 6:45 – 52) e. Healing miracles of Jesus Christ: i. The Centurion’s servant (Matt.8:5 – 13). (Lk. – 10) ii. The Paralytic (Matt.9:1- 8, Mk.2:1- 12) iii. The Gerasene demoniac (Mk.5: 1-20) f. Power over Death: i. Raising ofthe Widow’s son at Nain ii. Raisin ofLanrus(Jn.11:1 -45). | ||
| VIII. Jesus Subjects Himself to Civil and Religious Laws. | a. Jesus’ attitude to CIVil and Religious laws (Matt. 5: 17 20, Mau. 22: 15 – 22). b. Jesus paid tax (Matt. 17:24 — 27). c. Love as the supreme law (Jn. 13:34 — 35. Matt. 22:15 -22). (l Cor. 13:1). d. The qualities or [.me (Lk. 2:51) (l Cor. 13:1 – 13) | ||
6 | THE PASSION RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST | The passion of Jesus Christ | a. The Triumphant Entry (Mau. 21:1-11 Mk. 11 : 1-11, Lk. 19:28-44). b. The Last Supper (Matt. 26:17 — 30). c. The Betrayal and The Arrest (Nik. 14:43 – 52. Matt. 26: 47 – 56). d. The Trial and Peter’s denial (Matt. 26:47 – 68, 69 – 75). e. Instances which can lead a Christian to deny Christ and his/her neighbour. |
| 11. The Death and Burial of Jesus Christ | a. The Crucifixion (Matt. 27:32 – 44). b. Jesus’ words on the Cross. c. The Death (Matt. 27:45 – 56). d. The Burial Matt. 27:57-61 | ||
| III . The Resurrection and Appearance of Jesus Chist | a. The Resurrection (Matt . 28.1 – 10. Mk. 16:1 – 8: Lk.24:1- 12) b. Appearances (Lk.24:13 – 49). Matt 28.16-20. Mk 16:9- 15 Jn 21:1 – 14). c. The significance of Jesus resurrection to Christians | ||
| IV. The Ascension of Jesus Christ | a. The Great Commission (Matt. 28:16 -20. Mk.16:15- 18). b. Jesus ascends into Heaven (Nik. 16:19 20. Lk 24:50 – 53). c. Signs that will accompany those who will spread the gospel | ||
7 | THE BEGINNING OF THE CHURCH | l. The Promise of The Holy Spirit | a. The Promise of The Holy Spirit (jn. 14:26. jn. 15:26, Acts 1:3-5). b. The coming of The Holy Spirit (Acts.2:1-13) c. Peter’s first speech and its effect (Acts 2:14-41). |
| Il. Fellowship in The Early Church | a. Social and Religious life of the Early Church: i. Togethemess in the Early Gurch (Acts 241 -47. 5:1 – 11). ii. Murmuring in the Early Church (Acts6:1-2) b. Selection of Deacons (Acts.6:1-7), equitable distribution. c. Companson of the Early Church to Present Church. | ||
| III. Opposition to The Gospel | a. Arrest of Peter and John (Acts.3:11 -44. 4:5- 31). b. Arrest and Martydom of Stephen (Acts. – 15. 7:1 -60). c. Persecution of Church by Saul (Acts. – 31, 9:1 -43). d. Matrydom of James (Acts. 12:1 – 3 . | ||
| IV. The Ministry of Peter | a. Peter and Simon the Magician (Acts. 8:14 – 25). b.Healing miracles of Peter. Raising of Dorcas (Acts 9:32 — 42). c. Conversion ofComelius (Acts 10:1 – 48): Peter defends his action in Cornelius house (Acts 1 1:1 — 18). d. Peter’s divine release from prison and death of Herod (Acts 12:1 – 24). | ||
8 | THE LIFE AND TEACHINGS OF PAUL | Some Teachings of St. Paul | a. Paul’s Teachings on: i. Dignity of Labour(2 Thess. 3:6- 15. Col. 3:23) ii. Obedience to constituted authority (Rom. 13:1 – 7, Eph. – 8) iii. Love (l Cor. 13. Rom. 13:8- 10). b. Types Of work people do. c. Why people should do their work with honour. d. Need to obey the constituted authority (Rom. 13:1 – 7. Eph 6:5 – 8). |
| II. Paul’s Trials | a. Paul’s amval at Jerusalem and Arrest (Acts. 21:17 — 40). b. Paul before Jewish Council (Sanhedrin) and the plot to kill him (Acts. 22:30-33 and 35). c. Paul before Roman Governors (Felix, Festus and Agrippa) and his appeal to Rome (Acts. 25:1 -21) Felix: (Acts. 24:1 -27; Felix (Acts. 25:22) Agrippa Festus; 25, 13- 14 | ||
9 | THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH TODAY | I. The Growth of The Church | a. The Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20. Mk. 16:15 – 16). b. Marks of growth in the Church e.g organising crusades, revivals, vigils, prayer meetings, miracles etc (Acts.2: 1-47). |
| II. Unity among Christians | a. Christian Organizations in Nigeria e.g CAN etc. b. Definition of Inter-denomination and their activities. c. Christian Giving (Phil. 4:14 – 20, 2 Cor. – 5,2Cor. 9:6- 15). d. Teachings that will foster unity (jn. 17:15 and 21): i. Faithand Works (James 2:14— 18) ii. Humility (Phil. 2:3— 11, iii. Impartiality (James — 13) iv. Fo veness (Gal.6:1- 2) etc. | ||
| III. Christian Living among Non-Christians | a. Christian living in the Community (l Peter 1:3- 17; 2. Matt. 5:13 – 16). b. Christians attitude to persecution (l Peter 1:3- 17, James 1:12- 15, I Peter 1:6- 9). c. Discusston on Christian’s attitude to non-believing authorities. | ||
| IV. Peaceful Co-existence | a. Explanation of Peaceful co-exrstence i.e livtng in peace with others Matt.5:21-25. i. Instances in the Bible of people desinng peaceful co-existence e.g. Esau and Jacob (Gen 31: 1-11) Gen. 13:1 – 8. 2626 – 29). ii. Philemon and Onesimus (Phil.l:l -30) iii. Isaac and Abimelech (Gen. 26-2 – 29). b. Demonstration of how people can show desire for peaceful co-existence e.g call for dialogue, tolerance. forgiveness. reconcilntion or settlement of disputes etc. c. Origin of Christianity and Islam from Abraham as one father (Gem 16:15 — 16. Gen. 21:1 -3 | ||
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 |
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