All Practice Exams

100+ Free BECE Mathematics Practice Questions

Pass your WAEC BECE Mathematics (Basic Education Certificate Examination) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More WAEC WASSCE & BECE Subject Exams

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

2026 Statistics

Key Facts: BECE Mathematics Exam

4 themes

Number and Numeration, Algebraic Processes, Geometry and Mensuration, and Everyday Statistics

WAEC BECE Mathematics syllabus

JSS3

BECE is taken at the end of junior secondary school to qualify for senior secondary placement

West African Examinations Council

About 60

Typical number of objective (Paper 1) multiple-choice questions in BECE Mathematics

WAEC BECE Mathematics examination structure

Paper 1 and Paper 2

BECE Mathematics has an objective paper and a separate written theory paper

West African Examinations Council

A1 to F9

Nigerian BECE grading band scale, with A1-C6 commonly treated as a credit pass

WAEC BECE grading system

WAEC

The West African Examinations Council administers the BECE across member countries

West African Examinations Council

No calculators

Candidates work objective questions without calculators, using mental and written methods

WAEC BECE examination regulations

100

Free original objective-style practice questions in this bank

OpenExamPrep

WAEC BECE Mathematics is the mathematics paper of the Basic Education Certificate Examination, taken at the end of junior secondary school (JSS3) to qualify for senior secondary placement. It includes a multiple-choice objective Paper 1 (typically about 60 questions) plus a written theory paper, administered by the West African Examinations Council. The syllabus covers four themes: Number and Numeration, Algebraic Processes, Geometry and Mensuration, and Everyday Statistics. In Nigeria it is graded on an A1-F9 band scale, with A1-C6 commonly treated as a credit pass. This 100-question bank gives original objective-style practice across all four themes with explanations for every option.

Sample BECE Mathematics Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your BECE Mathematics exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1What is the place value of the digit 7 in the number 4 738?
A.7
B.70
C.700
D.7 000
Explanation: In 4 738 the digit 7 is in the hundreds column, so its place value is 7 hundreds, which is 700. Place value is the value a digit has because of its position.
2Express 0.045 as a fraction in its lowest terms.
A.9/200
B.45/100
C.9/20
D.45/1000
Explanation: 0.045 = 45/1000. Dividing numerator and denominator by 5 gives 9/200, which cannot be simplified further. Always reduce a fraction to its lowest terms.
3Find the Lowest Common Multiple (LCM) of 6 and 8.
A.14
B.24
C.48
D.2
Explanation: Multiples of 6 are 6, 12, 18, 24...; multiples of 8 are 8, 16, 24... The smallest number in both lists is 24, so the LCM of 6 and 8 is 24.
4Find the Highest Common Factor (HCF) of 36 and 48.
A.6
B.12
C.4
D.144
Explanation: 36 = 2 x 2 x 3 x 3 and 48 = 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 x 3. The common factors are 2 x 2 x 3 = 12, so the HCF is 12.
5Convert the binary number 1011 (base two) to a base ten number.
A.11
B.13
C.23
D.1011
Explanation: 1011 in base two = (1 x 8) + (0 x 4) + (1 x 2) + (1 x 1) = 8 + 0 + 2 + 1 = 11 in base ten. Each place value in base two is a power of 2.
6Express 13 (base ten) as a number in base two.
A.1011
B.1101
C.1110
D.1001
Explanation: Dividing 13 by 2 repeatedly: 13/2 = 6 r 1, 6/2 = 3 r 0, 3/2 = 1 r 1, 1/2 = 0 r 1. Reading the remainders upwards gives 1101 in base two.
7What is 3/5 of 200?
A.120
B.60
C.100
D.150
Explanation: 3/5 of 200 = (3 x 200) / 5 = 600 / 5 = 120. To find a fraction of a quantity, multiply the quantity by the fraction.
8Simplify 2/3 + 1/4.
A.3/7
B.11/12
C.5/12
D.3/12
Explanation: The lowest common denominator of 3 and 4 is 12. So 2/3 = 8/12 and 1/4 = 3/12, giving 8/12 + 3/12 = 11/12.
9A man shares 360 oranges among his three children in the ratio 2 : 3 : 4. How many oranges does the child with the largest share get?
A.80
B.120
C.160
D.200
Explanation: The total number of ratio parts is 2 + 3 + 4 = 9. Each part is 360/9 = 40 oranges. The largest share is 4 parts = 4 x 40 = 160 oranges.
10What is 15% of 240?
A.24
B.36
C.30
D.48
Explanation: 15% of 240 = (15/100) x 240 = 0.15 x 240 = 36. Percentage means out of one hundred, so divide by 100 and multiply by the amount.

About the BECE Mathematics Exam

The WAEC BECE Mathematics examination is the mathematics paper of the Basic Education Certificate Examination, the qualifying examination taken at the end of junior secondary school (JSS3) for placement into senior secondary school. It is administered by the West African Examinations Council across member countries including Nigeria and Ghana. The examination includes a multiple-choice objective paper (Paper 1), typically with around 60 questions, plus a separate written theory paper. The syllabus is built on four themes: Number and Numeration, Algebraic Processes, Geometry and Mensuration, and Everyday Statistics. Questions test recall of mathematical facts and formulas, accurate computation, and multi-step problem solving at the junior secondary curriculum level.

Assessment

BECE Mathematics has a multiple-choice objective Paper 1 (typically 60 objective questions) and a separate written theory/essay paper. This practice bank focuses on the objective multiple-choice component at junior secondary level.

Time Limit

Paper 1 (objective) runs about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the country administration; the complete Mathematics examination including the theory paper takes longer.

Passing Score

No single fixed pass mark for the whole exam. BECE Mathematics is graded on a band scale (in Nigeria, A1 to F9, with A1-C6 usually treated as a credit pass). Senior secondary placement uses combined subject grades.

Exam Fee

BECE registration fees are set nationally and vary by country and candidate type. WAEC and the relevant Ministry of Education publish the official fee schedule each year, so confirm the current amount before registering. (West African Examinations Council (WAEC))

BECE Mathematics Exam Content Outline

35%

Number and Numeration

Whole numbers and place value, number bases (especially base two and base ten conversions), factors, multiples, LCM and HCF, fractions and decimals, percentages, ratio, proportion and rates, indices and standard form, and money problems including simple and compound interest, profit and loss.

22%

Algebraic Processes

Use of symbols, simplifying and substituting into algebraic expressions, expansion and factorisation, solving linear equations and inequalities in one variable, change of subject of a formula, simple simultaneous ideas, and translating word problems into equations.

28%

Geometry and Mensuration

Angles on a line, at a point and in parallel lines, triangles and polygons, properties of quadrilaterals and circles, the Pythagoras rule, perimeter and area of plane shapes, surface area and volume of cuboids, cylinders and prisms, bearings, and basic geometric constructions.

15%

Everyday Statistics

Collecting, tabulating and presenting data using bar charts, pie charts and pictograms, reading frequency tables, calculating mean, median, mode and range, and finding simple probabilities of single events.

How to Pass the BECE Mathematics Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: No single fixed pass mark for the whole exam. BECE Mathematics is graded on a band scale (in Nigeria, A1 to F9, with A1-C6 usually treated as a credit pass). Senior secondary placement uses combined subject grades.
  • Assessment: BECE Mathematics has a multiple-choice objective Paper 1 (typically 60 objective questions) and a separate written theory/essay paper. This practice bank focuses on the objective multiple-choice component at junior secondary level.
  • Time limit: Paper 1 (objective) runs about 1 to 1.5 hours depending on the country administration; the complete Mathematics examination including the theory paper takes longer.
  • Exam fee: BECE registration fees are set nationally and vary by country and candidate type. WAEC and the relevant Ministry of Education publish the official fee schedule each year, so confirm the current amount before registering.

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

BECE Mathematics Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master the basics first: fractions, decimals, percentages and ratio appear in many questions, so practise converting between them quickly and accurately.
2Learn the key mensuration formulas by heart, including area of triangles, rectangles, circles and trapezia, and the volume of cuboids, cylinders and prisms.
3Practise number-base conversions, especially base two to base ten and back, because they appear regularly in the objective paper.
4For geometry, memorise angle facts: angles on a line add to 180 degrees, angles at a point add to 360 degrees, and angles in a triangle add to 180 degrees.
5Work through past objective papers under timed conditions so you learn to move quickly and return to harder items rather than getting stuck.
6Always check units and re-read what the question asks for, since many marks are lost by giving the right number in the wrong unit or solving for the wrong quantity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BECE Mathematics a multiple-choice exam?

BECE Mathematics includes a multiple-choice objective paper (Paper 1), typically with around 60 questions, plus a separate written theory/essay paper. This practice bank focuses on the objective multiple-choice component.

What topics are tested in BECE Mathematics?

The syllabus is built on four themes: Number and Numeration, Algebraic Processes, Geometry and Mensuration, and Everyday Statistics, all at the junior secondary (JSS1-JSS3) level.

Who administers the BECE?

The BECE is administered by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in member countries including Nigeria and Ghana. It is taken at the end of junior secondary school to qualify candidates for senior secondary placement.

How is BECE Mathematics graded?

There is no single fixed pass mark for the whole exam. In Nigeria it is graded on an A1 to F9 band scale, with grades A1 to C6 commonly treated as a credit pass. Placement into senior secondary school uses combined subject grades.

What level of difficulty is BECE Mathematics?

It tests the junior secondary curriculum: recall of facts and formulas, accurate arithmetic with fractions, decimals and percentages, simple algebra, plane geometry, mensuration formulas and basic statistics, often through short multi-step problems.

Are these official WAEC past questions?

No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions modelled on the BECE objective syllabus and question style. Use official WAEC past papers alongside this bank for full preparation.