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JAMB Igbo Syllabus 2026/2027
Complete official UTME Igbo syllabus — all topics, sub-topics and JAMB learning objectives. Study what actually comes out, nothing extra.
4
Sections
40
Questions
JAMB Igbo Syllabus PDF
Official JAMB document • Free download
A · Languages (Asụsụ)
B · Literature (Agụmagụ)
C · Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu)
D · General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua)
Section A
A
Languages (Asụsụ)
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1. Essay (Edemede)
- Basic principles of essay writing: introduction, body and conclusion
- Narrative (Akọmakọ)
- Descriptive and Expository (Nkọwa na Nkọwami)
- Argumentative (Mgbagha/Arụmarụụka)
- Speech making (Ekwumekwu)
- Letter Writing (Edemleta)
- Dialogue (Mkparịtaụka)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify the basic principles of essay writing
- Use words and expressions appropriate to a particular topic
- Differentiate between different essay types
- Describe the characteristics of essay types
- Compare different types of essay
- Criticize other people's essays
2. Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa)
- One passage of about one hundred and fifty (150) words
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Explain the meanings of difficult words
- Give correct answers
- Differentiate between figurative and idiomatic expressions from the passage
- Deduce conclusion(s) based on the passage
3. Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ)
- Vowels and Consonants (Ụdaume na mgbochiume)
- Syllabic nasals (ụdaimi)
- Semi-vowel (Myiriụdaume)
- Nasal homorganicity (ndagba myiriụdaume)
- Syllable structure (nkeji mkpụrụokwu)
- Vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume)
- Vowel assimilation (olilo ụdaume)
- Vowel elision and consonant elision (ndapụ ụdaume na ndapụ mgbochiume)
- Tone and tone marking (Ụdaolu na Akara ụdaolu)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals
- Distinguish between the speech sounds of the Igbo language
- Recognise semi-vowels ('m' & 'n') and nasal homorganicity
- Divide words into syllables
- Identify the vowel groups in Igbo
- Describe vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonant elision
- Assign tone marks appropriately
4. Spelling and Spelling Rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Detect words written correctly in Igbo
- Determine appropriate word division in Igbo
5. Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Indicate the Igbo orthography
- Distinguish between the Igbo and English orthography
6. Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Differentiate between standard Igbo and dialects
- Use standard Igbo in their writings
7. Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n'Igbo)
- Processes of word derivation: coinages, loans and loan-blends (Mmụbawanye mkpụrụokwu site n'usoro mmepụta, mkpụpụta, mbite na mbiọgwa)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Differentiate between loan and coined words
- Identify loan words and loan-blends in Igbo
- Spell Igbo words appropriately
8. Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ)
- Parts of speech (Nkejiasụsụ) — Nominals (Mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye)
- Structure, types and characteristics of morpheme (Ndokọ, ụdị na njirimara mọfịm) — Free & bound (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe)
- The word (mkpụrụokwu)
- The phrase (nkebiokwu)
- The clause (nkebiahịrị) — nominal, adverbial and adjectival clause (kemkpọaha, kenkwuwa na kenkọwa)
- The sentence (ahịrịokwu) — simple (mfe), compound (ukwu), complex (mgbagwọ)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Differentiate between grammatical categories
- Identify parts of speech and their functions
- Differentiate between types of affixes and their functions
- Determine types and characteristics of morphemes
- Identify words, phrases, clauses, sentences, their types and characteristics
9. Translation (Ntụgharị)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Translate English into Igbo and vice versa
- Communicate effectively in Igbo and English
Section B
B
Literature (Agụmagụ)
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1. Literary Devices (Atụmatụokwu)
- Alliteration (bịambia mgbochiume)
- Assonance (bịambịa ụdaume)
- Parallelism (kwunkwugha)
- Metaphor (mbụrụ)
- Simile (myiri)
- Hyperbole (egbeokwu)
- Personification (mmemmadụ)
- Proverbs (ilu)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify all literary devices in passages
- Interpret literary devices
- Differentiate between types of literary devices
- Use Igbo literary devices appropriately
2. Oral Literature (Agụmagụ Ọnụ/Agụmagụ Ọdịnala)
- Folktales (ifo)
- Myths (nkọmịrịkọ)
- Legends (nkọkịrịkọ)
- Poems (abụ)
- Songs (uri)
- Chants (mbem)
- Riddles (agwụgwa)
- Oral drama (ejije ọnụ)
- Tongue-twister (okwuntụhị)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Create folk stories, chants, riddles, oral drama, etc.
- Analyse various genres of oral literature
- Present ideas/formulae in accordance with underlying principles
- Apply the lessons of oral literature to their everyday life
3. Prose (Iduuazị)
- Tony U. Ubesie (1993). Jụọ Obinna. Oxford University Press.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Interpret the text
- Isolate the characters in the book
- Identify figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text
- Analyse the text
- Identify the author, publisher and date of publication
- Draw moral lessons from the text
4. Poetry (Abụ)
- Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014). Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd.
- Selected poems: Ọchịchị (18–19), Onye Ndu (22–23), Nne Ọma (29–30), Oke Ọchịchọ (40–41), Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma (53–54)
- Ihe Ụwa (60–61), Jiri Nwayọ (62–63), Eziokwu (65–66), Mma (67–69), Nwanyị (92–94)
- Aja Ala (101–103), Ala Igbo (108–111), Ndụ M N'ụwa A (131–132), Ọjị (150–151)
- Ụwa Emebighi (151–154), Amamihe (168–169), Ndụ Nwaanyị (178–180)
- Nna M Ọgọenyi (181–184), Ụlọakwụkwọ (192–193), Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere (249–252)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Compare the types and themes of the poems
- Relate the poet's idea to the contents of the poems
- Compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poems
- Analyse the structures of the poems
- Apply acquired knowledge and moral lessons from the poems to their daily lives
5. Drama (Ejije)
- J. C. Maduekwe (1979). Otu Mkpịsị Aka. Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify the type of drama the text belongs to
- Determine the themes in the text
- Identify the story lines
- Find out the characters in the book
- Appreciate the language style of the play
- Appraise the social problems raised by the author in the play
- Apply acquired knowledge to their personal lives
- Identify the moral lessons from the drama text
Section C
C
Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu)
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1. Greetings (Ekele dị iche iche)
- Morning, afternoon and evening greetings
- Greetings at meals, to the sick, at work, etc.
2. Marriage and Divorce (Alụmdi na nwunye, ịgba alụkwaghịm)
3. Birth and Naming Ceremonies
- Childbirth and post-natal care (ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ)
- Presentation of child, title for mother (ikupụta nwa, ibi ugwu)
- Naming ceremony, child market, first tooth (ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze)
4. Titles and Chieftaincy (Echichi)
- Nze na Ọzọ
- Eze/Obi/Igwe
- Iyọm/Lọọlọ
5. Death and Burial Rites
- Judgement (ike ekpe, iri ekpe)
- Funeral rites (ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe)
6. Kinship and Social Groups
- Patrilineage, daughters' associations, in-laws and freeborn (ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala)
- Age grades, town union, family (ọgbọ/ebiri/uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ)
7. Taboos and Sacred Things (Arụ na nsọala)
- Sacred things, animals, trees and places (ihe nsọ, anụ nsọ, osisi nsọ, ebe nsọ)
8. Traditional Governance (Ọchịchị Ọdịnala)
- Igwe/Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, ụmụnna, ezinaụlọ, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, otu ọgbọ
9. Reception of Guests and Rituals
- Welcoming visitors, kolanut and nzu presentation (nnabata ọbịa, ọji na ịtu nzu)
- Naming, morning handwashing, offering prayers (itu aha, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ)
10. Worship and Sacrifices (Ihe ofufe)
- Divination, sacrifice, spirit invocation, worship (ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, ịgọ mmụọ, ofufe)
11. Sacred Implements (Ngwa ofufe)
- Ọfọ, ikenga, okpesi
12. Beliefs (Nkwenye)
- Oath-taking, covenant, reincarnation (ịdụ isi/ịṅụ iyi, ịgba ndụ, orikọ, ịlọ ụwa)
- Ogbanje, dreams, divination by animals (ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi anụ)
- Rain-making (ịha/ịchụ mmiri)
13. Wealth and Economy (Akụnaụba)
- Land ownership, land rights, legal proceedings, livestock farming (inwe ala, ike ala, iri ekpe, elulu)
14. Masquerades and Cults (Abamaba)
- Mmọnwụ, ọkọnkọ, ekpe, ọmabe, odo, dibịa
15. Recreation and Games (Egwuregwu)
- Wrestling, moonlight play, ọga chanting (mgba, egwu ọnwa, ikpọ ọga)
- Ǹchọ, okwe, wrestling and oro dance (ịzụ ǹchọ, ịzụ okwe, ịgba/ịchọ oro)
16. Igbo Occupations (Akaọrụ ndị Igbo)
- Farming, fishing, blacksmithing, trading (ọrụ ugbo, ịkụ azụ, ịkpụ ụzụ, ịzụ ahịa)
- Weaving, hunting, medicine, pottery (ịtụ ihe ọtụtụ, ịchụ nta, ime dibịa, ịkpụ ite)
17. Festivals and Ceremonies (Emume)
- Ọfala, path-clearing (ịbọ ụzọ)
- New Yam Festival (ịwa ji/iri ji)
- Slaughter of big goat, evening rites, cloth weaving (igbu ewu ukwu, iru mgbede, ịwa akwa)
- Funeral dirge, New Year reckoning (akwamozu, ịgụ afọ)
18. General Objectives — Customs & Institutions
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Describe the customs of their people
- Determine the rules and regulations guiding specified aspects of the culture and tradition of the Igbo people
- Describe the importance of the aspects of Igbo culture
- Identify changes that have occurred as a result of civilisation
- Explore their environment for a better appreciation of their culture
Section D
D
General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua)
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1. Topical Issues in Igbo Language, Literature and Culture
- Ahịajiọkụ — dates, themes and functions
- Odenigbo Lectures — dates, themes and functions
- Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo — dates, themes and functions
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify some dates, themes and functions of Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo and Ọhaneze Ndi Igbo Lectures
- Identify authors, publishers and dates of publication of various textbooks in Igbo
- Acquaint themselves with the functions and contributions of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA)
2. Authors, Publishers and Dates of Publication
- Works in Igbo language — authors, publishers, dates and places of publication
3. Igbo Studies Association (ISA)
4. Current Issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ)
- HIV/AIDS, Cancer and Corona Virus (Ọrịa Mmịnwụ/Obirinaajaọcha, Awa eto na Ọrịa koro)
- Drug Abuse (Ịṅu Ọgwụ Agharaaghara)
- Cultism (Otu Nzuzo)
- Rights of Women and Children (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka)
- Human Rights Violation and Child Abuse (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike na Mmetọ Nwata)
- Religious Conflicts (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka)
- Kidnapping (Ntọrọ Mmadụ)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Acquaint themselves with current issues
- Examine their effects
- Suggest remedies to the problems
🚀
Now Practice JAMB Igbo 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 Igbo Past Questions →📚 JAMB Recommended Textbooks
These are the official books listed by JAMB for Igbo preparation:
📖 Agụ-Ọfọdile, M. C. (2007) — Nkụzi Asụsụ Igbo N'ụzọ Dị Mfe Maka Ndị Sinịọ Sekọndịrị Nke Atọ, Austin Modest Publishers
📖 Ụba-Mgbemena, A. (2006) — Ntọala Usoroasụsụ Igbo, Gold Press Ltd.
📖 Ofili, D. N., Anozie, C. C. & Chukwu, A. O. (2012) — Lingwistiiki Sayensị Asụsụ II, Computer Edge Publishers
📖 Ezikeojiaku, P. A. et al. (1991) — Ule Igbo Maka Sinịọ Sekọndịrị, University Press Plc
📖 Anọzie, C. C. (2003) — Igbo Kwenu: Akụkọ na Omenala ndị Igbo, Computer Edge Publishers
📖 Ikekeonwu, C. et al. (1999) — Fonọlọji na Grama Igbo, University Press Plc
📖 Emenanjọ, E. N. et al. (1999) — Exam Focus Maka WASSCE Na UTME, University Press Plc
📖 Ọfọmata, C. E. (2005) — Ndezu Ụtọasụsụ Igbo, Format Publishers (Nig.) Ltd.
📖 Nzeakọ, J. U. T. (1972) — Omenala Ndị Igbo, Longman (Nig.) Ltd.
📖 Okoye, O. F. S., Ofoegbu, N. F. & Ezidiegwu, B. L. (1997) — Ọgbara Ọhụrụ Elidingtọasụsụ Igbo maka Sinịọ Sekọndịrị, Houston Publishers Ltd.
📖 Osuagwu, B. I. N. (1979) — Ndị Igbo na Omenala Ha, Macmillan
📖 Ubesie, T. U. (1978) — Ọdịnala Ndị Igbo, Oxford University Press
📖 Umeh, I. O. A. et al. (1992) — Ụtọasụsụ na Agụmagụ Igbo nke Sinịọ Sekọndịrị Sukul, Evans
Common Questions 🤔
JAMB Igbo has four sections: Section A (Languages/Asụsụ), Section B (Literature/Agụmagụ), Section C (Customs and Institutions/Omenala na Ewumewu), and Section D (General and Current Affairs). Together they test language skills, literary appreciation, cultural knowledge and current awareness.
JAMB sets 40 questions in Igbo. The questions are spread across the four sections — covering essay, comprehension, sounds and grammar in Section A; literary devices, oral literature, prose, poetry and drama in Section B; Igbo customs and institutions in Section C; and topical and current affairs in Section D.
The current JAMB Igbo set texts are: Prose — Tony U. Ubesie (1993), <em>Jụọ Obinna</em> (Oxford University Press); Poetry — Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014), <em>Akọnuche</em> (Pacific Publishers Ltd.), with 20 selected poems; Drama — J. C. Maduekwe (1979), <em>Otu Mkpịsị Aka</em> (Longman Nigeria). Candidates must read all three texts thoroughly.
Section A (Languages) and Section B (Literature) are the most heavily tested. Within Section A, sounds and sound patterns, grammar and comprehension are particularly important. In Section B, literary devices and the three set texts — prose, poetry and drama — require thorough preparation.
Vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume) in Igbo is the principle by which vowels within a word or phrase belong to the same vowel group. Igbo has two sets of vowels, and words typically use vowels from only one set. JAMB tests candidates' ability to identify vowel groups and explain related processes like vowel assimilation and vowel elision.
The Igbo syllabus structure — four sections covering Language, Literature, Customs & Institutions and General Affairs — has been stable in recent years. The set texts remain unchanged. Always practise past questions from 2023 onwards to stay current with JAMB's question style.