Aims and Objectives
- knowledge, skills, and concepts needed to practice marketing as a career
- ability to set up and manage a market outlet
- understanding of the roles of marketing in the economy
Scheme of Examination
There will be two papers, Papers 1 and 2, both of which will constitute a composite paper to be taken in one sitting.
PAPER 1:
will consist of forty multiple-choice objective questions, which will cover the entire syllabus. Candidates are expected to answer all the questions in 50 minutes for 40 marks.
PAPER 2:
will be a 2-hour paper consisting of six essay questions, out of which candidates will be expected to answer any four for 80 marks.
Detailed Marketing Syllabus
- Introduction to Marketing
- Meaning
- Explanation of basic terms in marketing: needs, wants, demands, product, exchange, transactions, and markets
- Brief history of marketing in Nigeria;
- Functions of marketing.
- Marketing Concepts
- Meaning
- Various marketing concepts (production, product, selling, marketing and societal marketing).
- Marketing Mix and Marketing Environment
- Meaning
- Elements (4 Ps)
- Marketing Environment
- Factors affecting the marketing environment:
- political
- cultural
- religious
- economic
- technological
- social.
- Products
- Meaning
- Classification (Industrial goods, consumer goods, services, primary and secondary products and mineral products-oil and non-oil
- Distinctions between classes of products
- Product Design*
- Markets
- Meaning
- Classification
- Consumer
- Organization (industrial, reseller and government)
- Consumer and Organizational Behaviour
- Meaning
- Influencing factors
- Decision process in a logical order
- Marketing Planning and Research
- Meaning, process and importance
- Elements of marketing planning
- Information required for marketing planning
- Reasons for marketing planning and research.
- Utilization of feedback
- Pricing
- Meaning;
- Strategies (haggling, cost-plus, demand and competition);
- Application of strategies*
- Price determinants.
- Advertising
- Definition;
- Functions;
- Media – meaning, types, advantages and disadvantages.
- Production of sample adverts*
- Sales Promotion
- Meaning and Functions;
- Forms – price-off, coupons, salesmen competition, loyalty schemes, premium offers, trade-in-allowance, sampling, training schemes, and merchandising incentives.
- Merchandising
- Meaning;
- Elements (packaging, branding and labeling)
- Influencing factors;
- Functions.
- Distribution
- Definition
- Channels of distribution (definition and types
- Factors influencing the choice of distribution channels
- Functions of channel members.
- Transportation
- Meaning, mode, choice and importance
- Documents used in transportation
- Factors affecting the choice of transportation
- Warehousing
- Meaning, types and functions
- Activities in the warehouse
- Market Unions and Facilitators
- Market Unions (Meaning and types)
- Roles of Market Unions in local markets;
- Market Facilitators – meaning, types and roles.
- International Marketing
- Meaning, importance, reasons and methods of engaging in international marketing
- Influencing factors
- Guiding rules and regulations;
- ICT in Marketing
- E-Marketing (electronic marketing) – meaning, importance, uses, ethics and abuses.
- Entrepreneurship in Marketing
- Meaning of entrepreneurship and entrepreneur
- Sources of funds;
- Factors affecting the location of a market outlet;
- Management of market outlets – purchase and supply of goods and services
- Selling and bargaining skills;
SUGGESTED READING LIST
- Fundamentals of Marketing by O.O. Shokan – MAM Education Limited, Lagos.
- Commerce Textbook by G.A. Saka and Nnabuko J.O. – Emiola Publisher Ltd
- Marketing in Nigeria: Concepts, Principles and Decisions, 2nd Edition by A. Agbonifoh, O.E Ogwo, D.A. Nnolim, and A.D. Nkamnebe, (2007). - Afritowers Limited Publisher.
Download Complete PDF
The full Marketing topic list is in text above. Use the buttons below to download the official WAEC PDF for offline use — one file for school candidates (WASSCE) and one for private candidates (GCE).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Marketing WAEC syllabus the same for SSCE and GCE candidates?
Yes. WAEC uses the same Marketing syllabus for both SSCE (school) and GCE (private/external) candidates, so the topics, aims and scheme of examination are identical.
What does the Marketing WAEC syllabus contain?
The Marketing 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 Marketing syllabus the same in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia?
Yes. WAEC standardises the Marketing syllabus across all member countries, so candidates in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia study the same content.
Can I download the Marketing WAEC syllabus as a PDF?
Yes. You can download the complete Marketing 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 Marketing WAEC syllabus for 2026?
Yes. This is the current Marketing 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 Marketing 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.