🔢
JAMB Mathematics Syllabus 2026/2027
Complete official UTME Mathematics syllabus — all topics, sub-topics and JAMB learning objectives. Study what actually comes out, nothing extra.
5
Sections
40
Questions
JAMB Mathematics Syllabus PDF
Official JAMB document • Free download
Section I
I
Number and Numeration
+
1. Number Bases
- Operations in different number bases from 2 to 10
- Conversion from one base to another including fractional parts
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Perform four basic operations (×, +, −, ÷)
- Convert one base to another
- Perform operations in modulo arithmetic
2. Fractions, Decimals, Approximations and Percentages
- Fractions and decimals
- Significant figures
- Decimal places
- Percentage errors
- Simple interest
- Profit and loss percent
- Ratio, proportion and rate
- Shares and value added tax (VAT)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Perform basic operations (×, +, −, ÷) on fractions and decimals
- Express to specified number of significant figures and decimal places
- Calculate simple interest, profit and loss percent, ratio, proportion, rate and percentage error
- Solve problems involving share and VAT
3. Indices, Logarithms and Surds
- Laws of indices
- Equations involving indices
- Standard form
- Laws of logarithm
- Logarithm of any positive number to a given base
- Change of bases in logarithm and application
- Relationship between indices and logarithm
- Surds
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Apply the laws of indices in calculation
- Establish the relationship between indices and logarithms in solving problems
- Solve equations involving indices
- Solve problems in different bases in logarithms
- Simplify and rationalize surds
- Perform basic operations on surds
4. Sets
- Types of sets
- Algebra of sets
- Venn diagrams and their applications
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify types of sets: empty, universal, complements, subsets, finite, infinite and disjoint sets
- Solve problems involving cardinality of sets
- Solve set problems using symbols
- Use Venn diagrams to solve problems involving not more than 3 sets
Section II
II
Algebra
+
1. Polynomials
- Change of subject of formula
- Multiplication and division of polynomials
- Factorization of polynomials of degree not exceeding 3
- Roots of polynomials not exceeding degree 3
- Factor and remainder theorems
- Simultaneous equations including one linear, one quadratic
- Graphs of polynomials of degree not greater than 3
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Find the subject of the formula of a given equation
- Apply factor and remainder theorem to factorize a given expression
- Multiply and divide polynomials of degree not more than 3 and determine values of defined and undefined expressions
- Factorize by regrouping, difference of two squares, perfect squares and cubic expressions
- Solve simultaneous equations — one linear, one quadratic
- Interpret graphs of polynomials including applications to maximum and minimum values
2. Variation
- Direct variation
- Inverse variation
- Joint variation
- Partial variation
- Percentage increase and decrease
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve problems involving direct, inverse, joint and partial variations
- Solve problems on percentage increase and decrease in variation
3. Inequalities
- Analytical and graphical solutions of linear inequalities
- Quadratic inequalities with integral roots only
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve problems on linear and quadratic inequalities
- Interpret graphs of inequalities
4. Progression
- nth term of a progression
- Sum of A.P. and G.P.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Determine the nth term of a progression
- Compute the sum of A.P. and G.P.
- Sum to infinity of a given G.P.
5. Binary Operations
- Properties of closure, commutativity, associativity and distributivity
- Identity and inverse elements (simple cases only)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve problems involving closure, commutativity, associativity and distributivity
- Solve problems involving identity and inverse elements
6. Matrices and Determinants
- Algebra of matrices not exceeding 3×3
- Determinants of matrices not exceeding 3×3
- Inverses of 2×2 matrices (excluding quadratic and higher degree equations)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Perform basic operations (×, +, −, ÷) on matrices
- Calculate determinants
- Compute inverses of 2×2 matrices
Section III
III
Geometry and Trigonometry
+
1. Euclidean Geometry
- Properties of angles and lines
- Polygons: triangles, quadrilaterals and general polygons
- Circles: angle properties, cyclic quadrilaterals and intersecting chords
- Construction
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify various types of lines and angles
- Solve problems involving polygons
- Calculate angles using circle theorems
- Identify construction procedures of special angles e.g. 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°
2. Mensuration
- Lengths and areas of plane geometrical figures
- Lengths of arcs and chords of a circle
- Perimeters and areas of sectors and segments of circles
- Surface areas and volumes of simple solids and composite figures
- The earth as a sphere: longitudes and latitudes
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Calculate the perimeters and areas of triangles, quadrilaterals, circles and composite figures
- Find the length of an arc, a chord, perimeters and areas of sectors and segments of circles
- Calculate total surface areas and volumes of cuboids, cylinders, cones, pyramids, prisms, spheres and composite figures
- Determine the distance between two points on the earth's surface
3. Loci
- Locus in 2 dimensions based on geometric principles relating to lines and curves
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify and interpret loci relating to parallel lines, perpendicular bisectors, angle bisectors and circles
4. Coordinate Geometry
- Midpoint and gradient of a line segment
- Distance between two points
- Parallel and perpendicular lines
- Equations of straight lines
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Determine the midpoint and gradient of a line segment
- Find the distance between two points
- Identify conditions for parallelism and perpendicularity
- Find the equation of a line in the two-point form, point-slope form, slope-intercept form and the general form
5. Trigonometry
- Trigonometrical ratios of angles
- Angles of elevation and depression
- Bearings
- Areas and solutions of triangle
- Graphs of sine and cosine
- Sine and cosine formulae
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Calculate the sine, cosine and tangent of angles between −360° ≤ θ ≤ 360°
- Apply special angles e.g. 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 105°, 135° to solve simple problems in trigonometry
- Solve problems involving angles of elevation and depression
- Solve problems involving bearings
- Apply trigonometric formulae to find areas of triangles
- Solve problems involving sine and cosine graphs
Section IV
IV
Calculus
+
1. Differentiation
- Limit of a function
- Differentiation of explicit algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions — sine, cosine and tangent
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Find the limit of a function
- Differentiate explicit algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions
2. Application of Differentiation
- Rate of change
- Maxima and minima
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve problems involving applications of rate of change, maxima and minima
3. Integration
- Integration of explicit algebraic and simple trigonometrical functions
- Area under the curve
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve problems of integration involving algebraic and simple trigonometric functions
- Calculate area under the curve (simple cases only)
Section V
V
Statistics
+
1. Representation of Data
- Frequency distribution
- Histogram, bar chart and pie chart
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify and interpret frequency distribution tables
- Interpret information on histogram, bar chart and pie chart
2. Measures of Location
- Mean, mode and median of ungrouped and grouped data (simple cases only)
- Cumulative frequency
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Calculate the mean, mode and median of ungrouped and grouped data (simple cases only)
- Use ogive to find the median, quartiles and percentiles
3. Measures of Dispersion
- Range
- Mean deviation
- Variance
- Standard deviation
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Calculate the range, mean deviation, variance and standard deviation of ungrouped and grouped data
4. Permutation and Combination
- Linear and circular arrangements
- Arrangements involving repeated objects
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve simple problems involving permutation and combination
5. Probability
- Experimental probability (tossing of coin, throwing of a dice etc.)
- Addition and multiplication of probabilities (mutual and independent cases)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Solve simple problems in probability including addition and multiplication
🚀
Now Practice JAMB Mathematics Past Questions
Reading the syllabus is step one. The fastest way to score high is to practice real past questions from every year — with instant answers and explanations.
Practice Mathematics Past Questions →📚 JAMB Recommended Textbooks
These are the official books listed by JAMB for Mathematics preparation:
📖 Adelodun, A. A. (2000) — Distinction in Mathematics: Comprehensive Revision Text (3rd Ed.), FNPL, Ado-Ekiti
📖 Anyebe, J. A. B. (1998) — Basic Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools and Remedial Students in Higher Institutions, Kenny Moore, Lagos
📖 Channon, J. B. & Smith, A. M. (2001) — New General Mathematics for West Africa SSS 1 to 3, Longman, Lagos
📖 David-Osuagwu, M. et al. (2000) — New School Mathematics for Senior Secondary Schools, Africana-FIRST Publishers, Onitsha
📖 Egbe, E. et al. (2000) — Further Mathematics, Africana-FIRST Publishers, Onitsha
📖 Ibude, S. O. et al. (2003) — Algebra and Calculus for Schools and Colleges, LINCEL Publishers
📖 Tuttuh-Adegun, M. R. et al. (1997) — Further Mathematics Project Books 1 to 3, NPS Educational, Ibadan
📖 Wisdomline Pass at Once JAMB
Common Questions 🤔
JAMB Mathematics has five sections: Section I (Number and Numeration), Section II (Algebra), Section III (Geometry and Trigonometry), Section IV (Calculus), and Section V (Statistics). Each section carries a different weight of questions.
JAMB sets 40 questions in Mathematics, to be answered in 2 hours alongside your other subjects. Each question carries equal marks, so accuracy across all five sections is key.
Algebra and Number & Numeration together account for the largest share of JAMB Maths questions. Within Algebra, Polynomials, Variation and Progressions come up every year. Geometry and Trigonometry also carry significant weight. Calculus and Statistics are smaller sections but are consistent and straightforward to prepare.
No. JAMB Mathematics covers the standard SS1–SS3 curriculum. Further Mathematics goes deeper into topics like complex numbers, vectors and advanced calculus. However, studying Further Mathematics will give you a strong advantage in the Calculus and Algebra sections of JAMB.
JAMB is a CBT (Computer-Based Test) exam and does not allow physical calculators. The CBT platform provides a basic on-screen calculator. Practice mental arithmetic and learn to use logarithm tables for computations — these are also tested directly in Section I.
The JAMB Mathematics syllabus has remained stable across the five core sections for many years. No new sections were added for 2026. Always practice past questions from 2023 onwards to stay current with JAMB's question style and difficulty level.