Aims and Objectives
No published Aims and Objectives.
Scheme of Examination
Two passages will be dictated at 80 words per minute with an interval of 2 minutes.
The syllabic intensity of the passages should be 1.35 – 1.40.
Each passage will last for 3 minutes.
After the last passage, 5 minutes will be allowed for candidates to read through their shorthand notes before the commencement of transcription.
All transcription must be done on the typewriter.
The use of English and Shorthand Dictionaries is allowed.
The examination shall be 1 hour 13 minutes (6 minutes for dictation, 7 minutes for intervals and 1 hour for transcription).
Detailed Shorthand Syllabus
- Business Matters
- One of the passages for dictation shall be business in nature e.g., Letters, Memoranda, Reports, and any other related topics.
- Literary Matters
- The other passage shall be literary and within the experience of the candidates. It shall not be technical or controversial.
NOTES ON THE EXAMINATION
- Candidates must provide typewriters, shorthand notebooks, and other writing materials.
- The shorthand notes may be written with either pen or pencil. The shorthand notes must be attached to the transcripts.
- Specially marked typing papers will be supplied by the Council. No typing paper other than those supplied by the Council may be used.
- Candidates shall not be allowed to make any carbon copies.
- The shorthand readers shall be allowed access to the passages twenty minutes before the dictation commences.
- A preliminary passage of 2 minutes duration will be dictated before the commencement of the actual examination to enable candidates to become accustomed to the reader’s voice. The preliminary passage must not be transcribed and does not form part of the examination.
- The candidate’s shorthand teacher may be appointed to dictate the passages. The invigilator must check the dictation and note errors or deviations from the total time allowed for each passage. A signed certificate of the actual time taken should be returned with the completed scripts.
- Quarter-minute indications are printed on each passage. Care should be taken to articulate the words very distinctly. Punctuation must be indicated by the inflection of the voice and, in no case, dictated.
- The reader is expected to leave the examination hall immediately after the dictation, taking away the shorthand passages. These should be returned to the Council or an official of the Council where one is available. The passages should not be left with either the Invigilator or Supervisor.
READING LIST
- First course - Pitman
- First-course review - Pitman 2000
- Pitman 2000 Phrase Book
- First Dictionary shorthand - Pitman 2000
- 700 common words - Pitman 2000
- Office skills magazines
- Journals
- Speed development - Pitman 2000
- Speed builder - Bryan Coombs
Download Complete PDF
The full Shorthand 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 Shorthand WAEC syllabus the same for SSCE and GCE candidates?
Yes. WAEC uses the same Shorthand syllabus for both SSCE (school) and GCE (private/external) candidates, so the topics, aims and scheme of examination are identical.
What does the Shorthand WAEC syllabus contain?
The Shorthand 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 Shorthand syllabus the same in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia?
Yes. WAEC standardises the Shorthand syllabus across all member countries, so candidates in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia study the same content.
Can I download the Shorthand WAEC syllabus as a PDF?
Yes. You can download the complete Shorthand 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 Shorthand WAEC syllabus for 2026?
Yes. This is the current Shorthand 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 Shorthand 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.