WAEC Syllabus

Christian Religious Studies Waec Syllabus

Below is this 2026 Waec Syllabus for Christian Religious Studies. Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates.

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Aims and Objectives

  • have knowledge, understanding and appreciation of the religious, cultural, historical and social background of the biblical materials prescribed to be studied
  • understand the nature of biblical moral lessons in the selected passages/themes from the Bible and the extent of their relevance and possible application to present-day social, political, religious and cultural life and existence
  • identify difficulties involved in the application of healthy attitudes, concepts and skills acquired from the Bible in ensuring peaceful co-existence and national development
  • demonstrate adequate preparation for higher education through critical thinking and independent work

Scheme of Examination

(May not be taken with Islamic Religious Studies and /or West African Traditional Religion)

There will be two papers, Papers 1 and 2, both of which will be composite papers to be taken in one sitting.

PAPER 1 will consist of fifty multiple-choice objective questions, all of which must be answered within 1 hour for 40 marks.

PAPER 2 will consist of nine essay-type questions.  Candidates will be required to answer four questions within 2 hours for 60 marks.

The questions will be arranged in sections as follows:

Section A: Themes from the Old Testament—four questions.

Section B: Themes from the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts of the Apostle—three questions.

Section C: Themes from Selected Epistles—two questions.

Candidates will be required to answer four questions in all, choosing at least one question from each section and the fourth question from either Section A or Section B.

The Revised Standard Version of the Bible will be used in setting questions.

Detailed Christian Religious Studies Syllabus

SECTION A: Themes from the Old  Testament

The Sovereignty of God
  • God, the Creator
  • God, the Controller of the universe
Leadership roles
  • Joseph
  • Moses
  • Joshua
  • Deborah
Parental Responsibility
  • Eli and Samuel
Consequences of Saul’s disobedience
Submission to the will of God
  • David’s submission to the will of God
  • David’s sin, repentance and forgiveness
Making Decisions
  • Solomon’s wisdom
  • The unwise decision of Solomon and Rehoboam
Supremacy of God
  • Religious tensions during Ahab’s reign
  • Elijah at Mount Carmel
Greed and its effects
  • Ahab
  • Gehazi
Religious reforms
  • The reign of King Josiah
Concern for one’s  Nation
  • The condition of the nation
  • Response to the state of the nation
Faith in God
  • Faith and courage
  • Faith and power
Nature of God
  • True religion and social justice: Amos
  • God’s divine love – Hosea

SECTION B: Themes from the Synoptic Gospels and the Acts Of The Apostles

Baptism and Temptation of Jesus
  • The Baptism
  • The Temptation
The Call and Demands of Discipleship
Jesus’ Teaching on forgiveness
The Trials of Jesus
  • Jesus at Gethsemane
  • Peter’s Denials
  • Condemnation of Jesus
The Crucifixion, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus
Fellowship in the Early Church
The Holy Spirit and the Mission to the Gentiles
  • The Holy Spirit at Pentecost
  • Mission to the Gentiles
Opposition to the Gospel Message

SECTION C: Themes from selected Epistles

The Epistles of James
  • Faith and Works
  • Impartiality
  • Effective Prayers
The Epistle of 1 Peter
  • Good Citizenship
  • Christians Living among non-Christians
  • Interpersonal Relationships among Christians

SUGGESTED READING LIST/REFERENCES

GENERAL
  • The Holy Bible (Revised Standard Version)
  • New Clarendon Bible Series
  • Bright, John: History and Religion of Israel
  • Anderson, B. W.: The Living World of the Old Testament
  • H. C. & Young: The Living World of the New Testament
  • Cambell, D. B. J.: The Synoptic Gospels
  • New Bible Commentary – Cambridge.
OLD TESTAMENT
  • Quarcoopome, T. N. O. :  History and Religion of Israel AUP, Ibadan, 1986.
  • Dickson, Kwesi:  History and Religion of Israel Darton L & T
  • From the Institution of the Monarchy to    the fall of the Northern Kingdom
NEW TESTAMENT
  • The Life of Christ
  • The Acts of the Apostles
  • Pobee, John S: Matthew and Mark for Schools
  • Dickson K .A: The Gospel According to Luke (Accra, Asempa Publishers)
  • Awolabi Joshua: Simple Approach to Christian Religious Knowledge  Elis Association ,Lagos 2011

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Christian Religious Studies WAEC syllabus the same for SSCE and GCE candidates?

Yes. WAEC uses the same Christian Religious Studies syllabus for both SSCE (school) and GCE (private/external) candidates, so the topics, aims and scheme of examination are identical.

What does the Christian Religious Studies WAEC syllabus contain?

The Christian Religious Studies syllabus sets out the aims and objectives, the scheme of examination (papers, duration and marks) and the detailed list of topics and subtopics that your exam questions are drawn from.

Is the Christian Religious Studies syllabus the same in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia?

Yes. WAEC standardises the Christian Religious Studies syllabus across all member countries, so candidates in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia study the same content.

Can I download the Christian Religious Studies WAEC syllabus as a PDF?

Yes. You can download the complete Christian Religious Studies WAEC syllabus as a PDF using the SSCE and GCE download buttons above. The PDF works offline for both internal (SSCE) and external (GCE) candidates.

Is this the latest Christian Religious Studies WAEC syllabus for 2026?

Yes. This is the current Christian Religious Studies syllabus, covering the May/June, Nov/Dec and Jan/Feb WASSCE cycles. It was last reviewed on January 2, 2026.

How should I use the Christian Religious Studies syllabus to prepare for WAEC?

Work through every topic in the detailed syllabus above, match each topic to past questions, and use the aims and objectives to understand the skills examiners reward. Cover the whole syllabus, since WAEC sets questions from across all topics.