JAMB English Language Syllabus

The JAMB English Language syllabus for the 2026/2027 UTME is the official document that lists every topic, objective and recommended text you will be examined on. It has four areas: Comprehension/Summary (reading passages and cloze); Lexis and Structure (synonyms, antonyms, sentence interpretation and grammar); Oral Forms (sounds, rhymes and stress); and the prescribed reading text. Every question in the English Language paper is drawn from this syllabus, so studying any topic outside it is a waste of time. The complete, up-to-date syllabus is reproduced in full on this page.

The areas of concentration are the sections and high-frequency topics the UTME focuses on. Comprehension and lexis/structure carry the most questions, so build vocabulary and grammar and practise reading passages under time; the oral (sounds and stress) section and the prescribed novel are reliable, easy marks if you prepare. Concentrate your revision on these areas first, then cover the rest of the syllabus — and practise past-question-style questions on each area so you recognise how they are tested.

Use of English carries 60 multiple-choice questions — more than any other subject — for 100 marks, and it is compulsory for every candidate. Across your four subjects the UTME totals 180 questions and 400 marks.

The whole UTME lasts two hours (120 minutes) for all four subjects combined — roughly 40 seconds per question. Answer the questions you know quickly, flag the harder ones, and return to them. There is no negative marking, so never leave any question unanswered.

Yes — Use of English is compulsory for every JAMB candidate, whatever your course. Its 60 questions make it the highest-weighted single paper, so it deserves serious preparation.

While JAMB does not publish a 'hot topics' list, the syllabus changes little year to year, so the same high-frequency topics recur. Comprehension and lexis/structure carry the most questions, so build vocabulary and grammar and practise reading passages under time; the oral (sounds and stress) section and the prescribed novel are reliable, easy marks if you prepare. Studying strictly by the syllabus and practising many questions per topic is the reliable way to prepare — never rely on 'expo' or leaked questions, which are scams and can cost you your result.

The official syllabus recommends standard texts: The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba (the 2026 novel) plus a good SSS English course book. You do not need every book — one complete, syllabus-aligned textbook plus consistent past-question practice is enough. See the full recommended-texts list below.

JAMB publishes the official syllabus free on the IBASS portal at jamb.gov.ng (Quick Links → Syllabus System). Rather than a static PDF, this page reproduces the complete English Language syllabus for 2026/2027 — every section, topic and recommended text — so you can study it on any phone, with progress tracking and practice built in. Always confirm the current syllabus on the official portal.

No — the core topics stay largely the same from year to year because the subject content does not change. The main exception is the prescribed Use of English novel (and some Literature texts), which JAMB updates at the start of a new exam cycle. Always check the official syllabus at the start of your preparation to confirm nothing in your subjects has been updated.

No. JAMB does not use negative marking, so a wrong answer simply scores zero — there is no penalty. This means you should attempt every one of the 60 questions, even where you have to make an educated guess near the end of the time.

Turn the syllabus into a checklist: study one topic, then immediately practise questions on it so it sticks; give the most time to the areas of concentration that carry the most topics; use one recommended textbook rather than many; and practise past-question-style questions under timed conditions to build speed. Track each topic on this page from Not started to Mastered so you always know what is left.

The official JAMB reading text for the 2026 UTME Use of English is “The Lekki Headmaster” by Kabir Alabi Garba, which replaced The Life Changer. About 10 of the 60 English questions come from it, so reading the full novel — not just a summary — is essential. It follows principal Bepo Adewale and the ‘Japa’ migration dilemma, with themes of leadership, integrity and the Nigerian education system. Confirm the current prescribed text on the official syllabus, as JAMB may change it in a new cycle.