Use of English is compulsory for every JAMB UTME candidate. The official syllabus tests whether you can understand written material, use vocabulary and grammar correctly, and recognise standard spoken English patterns.
This guide presents the complete JAMB Use of English syllabus in a direct, study-friendly structure. It is based primarily on the current material in JAMB’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS), not on predicted questions or an unofficial area of concentration.
The subject contains 60 questions divided into three sections: Comprehension and Summary, Lexis and Structure, and Oral Forms. Candidates should use this page with the official syllabus, suitable English textbooks and regular CBT practice.
JAMB Use of English Syllabus at a Glance
- Subject: Use of English
- Status: Compulsory for all UTME candidates
- Total questions: 60
- Section A: Comprehension and Summary, 25 questions
- Section B: Lexis and Structure, 25 questions
- Section C: Oral Forms, 10 questions
- Official source: JAMB IBASS
General Objectives
JAMB states that the syllabus is designed to assess whether candidates can:
- communicate effectively in written and spoken English; and
- use English as a language of learning at tertiary level.
This means the examination is not simply a collection of grammar rules. It tests reading, interpretation, vocabulary, sentence control and spoken-English awareness in contexts candidates may meet during higher education.
Section A: Comprehension and Summary
This section covers passages written in different forms:
- description;
- narration;
- exposition; and
- argumentation or persuasion.
According to the syllabus, the passages may reflect different disciplines and are designed to test more than the ability to locate copied sentences. Candidates should be able to identify main points, understand supporting details, recognise the meaning of words and expressions in context, follow the writer’s logic and combine separate pieces of information into a meaningful whole.
Comprehension skills you must develop
- Identify the main idea and topic sentence.
- Separate central points from examples and minor details.
- Determine the meaning of words, phrases and idioms from context.
- Recognise the grammatical function of words, phrases and clauses.
- Make deductions and inferences that are supported by the passage.
- Identify the writer’s purpose, mood, attitude and opinion.
- Understand how ideas are connected across sentences and paragraphs.
- Synthesise information instead of lifting unrelated statements.
How to answer comprehension questions
Read the question carefully and return to the relevant part of the passage. For a direct question, use what the writer actually states. For an inference, choose the conclusion best supported by the text, not a personal opinion. When asked about a word, test the options inside the original sentence because meaning depends on context.
The cloze passage
A cloze passage contains missing words or expressions. Each answer must fit the grammar, meaning and tone of the whole sentence. Prepare by studying collocations, prepositions, verb forms, connectors, vocabulary and concord. Do not choose a word merely because it sounds familiar.
Prescribed reading text
The current official 2026 material names The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba as the general reading text. Candidates should read the complete book and understand its characters, relationships, settings, sequence of events, themes, motivations and significant details.
Do not depend only on a summary. JAMB may test a small event or relationship that a short summary leaves out. Candidates preparing for a later UTME cycle should confirm the current prescribed text through JAMB because the Board may replace it.
Section B: Lexis and Structure
This section covers vocabulary, sentence meaning and grammar. The official syllabus includes:
- synonyms;
- antonyms;
- homonyms;
- clause and sentence patterns;
- word classes and their functions;
- mood, tense and aspect;
- number and agreement or concord;
- degrees of comparison;
- question tags;
- punctuation and spelling or language mechanics;
- ordinary, figurative and idiomatic usage; and
- sentence interpretation and completion.
Vocabulary in context
Learn words through sentences, not isolated lists. A word may have several meanings, and JAMB expects candidates to identify the meaning intended by the sentence. Practise synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, collocations, phrasal verbs and formal idioms.
The syllabus specifies standard formal British English for idiomatic usage. Avoid assuming that every informal Nigerian expression is acceptable in the examination.
Grammar areas to master
Give particular attention to subject-verb agreement, pronoun reference, tense consistency, active and passive constructions, modal verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, modifiers, comparison, question tags and the functions of nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and other word classes.
You should also be able to recognise phrases and clauses, distinguish sentence types and interpret what a grammatical construction communicates. Grammar questions are often easier when you identify the subject, main verb and relationship between clauses before looking at the options.
Sentence interpretation
These questions may use idioms, figurative expressions or carefully worded statements. Read the entire sentence, identify its tone and replace the key expression mentally with each option. Select the option that preserves the complete meaning.
Section C: Oral Forms
Oral Forms tests your understanding of standard English sounds and speech patterns. It covers:
- vowels, including monophthongs and diphthongs;
- consonants and consonant clusters;
- rhymes and homophones;
- word stress in monosyllabic and polysyllabic words;
- emphatic stress; and
- intonation and connected speech.
Candidates should be able to distinguish vowel and consonant sounds, recognise words with similar or different sounds, identify the correctly stressed syllable and determine which word carries emphasis in an utterance.
How to prepare for Oral Forms
- Learn sounds with example words instead of memorising symbols alone.
- Compare minimal pairs such as words that differ by one sound.
- Practise syllable division and mark the stressed syllable.
- Say words aloud and verify pronunciation with a reliable dictionary.
- Study how emphatic stress changes the implied correction in a sentence.
- Practise rhymes, homophones and consonant clusters regularly.
Official 60-Question Structure
| Section | Component | Questions |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehension/Summary | Comprehension passage | 5 |
| Comprehension/Summary | Cloze passage | 10 |
| Comprehension/Summary | Reading text | 10 |
| Lexis and Structure | Sentence interpretation | 5 |
| Lexis and Structure | Antonyms | 5 |
| Lexis and Structure | Synonyms | 5 |
| Lexis and Structure | Sentence completion/basic grammar | 10 |
| Oral Forms | Sounds, rhyme and stress | 10 |
| Total | 60 | |
Use this structure to balance your preparation. Comprehension and grammar/vocabulary each account for a large part of the paper, but neglecting Oral Forms can still cost ten marks.
Selected Officially Recommended Texts
JAMB’s official syllabus provides a longer reading list. Useful entries include:
- English Lexis and Structure for Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges by A. Bamgbose;
- New Oxford Secondary English Course Book Six by A. Banjo and others;
- Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary by Daniel Jones;
- Oral English for Schools and Colleges by B. Elugbe;
- Common Errors in English by S. Nnamonu and D. Jowitt;
- Countdown English Language by O. Ogunsanwo and others; and
- Objective Tests for School Certificate English by S. H. O. Tomori.
You do not need to buy every book. Choose a sound general English text, a reliable oral-English resource and regular CBT practice. Consult the official syllabus for the full list.
Four-Week Study Plan
- Week 1: comprehension, main ideas, inference and vocabulary in context. Read part of the prescribed text daily.
- Week 2: word classes, clauses, sentence patterns, concord, tense and sentence completion.
- Week 3: synonyms, antonyms, idioms, sentence interpretation, spelling and punctuation.
- Week 4: vowels, consonants, rhyme, word stress and emphatic stress. Complete timed 60-question practice tests and revise errors.
Keep an error log. For each wrong answer, record the topic, why the chosen option failed and the rule or contextual clue that supports the correct answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Use of English compulsory in JAMB?
Yes. Every UTME candidate sits for Use of English irrespective of the intended course.
How many JAMB English questions are there?
The official structure contains 60 questions: 25 from Comprehension and Summary, 25 from Lexis and Structure, and 10 from Oral Forms.
What novel should candidates read?
The current 2026 official material identifies The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba. Candidates for later examination years must confirm whether JAMB has announced a replacement.
Does JAMB English include an essay?
No. UTME Use of English is a computer-based multiple-choice examination. However, candidates still need to understand descriptive, narrative, expository and argumentative writing for passage comprehension.
Where can I get the complete syllabus?
Use JAMB’s official IBASS material and the Exams Scholars complete JAMB syllabus library.
Final Preparation Advice
Study all three sections. Read widely, learn grammar through examples, build vocabulary in context, practise spoken-English distinctions and complete the prescribed text. Most importantly, use timed CBT questions to convert knowledge into speed and accuracy.
Primary sources: official JAMB Use of English syllabus; JAMB IBASS; JAMB official website; JAMB 2026 registration guidance confirming The Lekki Headmaster.
