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JAMB Use of English Syllabus 2026/2027
Complete official UTME Use of English syllabus — all topics, sub-topics and JAMB learning objectives. Study what actually comes out, nothing extra.
3
Sections
60
Questions
JAMB Use of English Syllabus PDF
Official JAMB document • Free download
Section A
A
Comprehension and Summary
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1. Passage Types
- Description
- Narration
- Exposition
- Argumentation / Persuasion
2. Comprehension Skills
- Three passages set — one will be a cloze test; each about 200 words long
- Passages reflect various disciplines
- Comprehension of the whole or part of each passage
- Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech and idioms as used in passages
- Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc.)
- Approved Reading Text
- Synthesis of ideas from the passages — combining distinct pieces of information to form a complete whole as summary
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify main points and topic sentences in passages
- Determine implied meanings
- Identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative/idiomatic expressions
- Deduce or infer the writer's intentions including mood, attitude to subject matter and opinion
3. Exam Structure — Section A
- 1 comprehension passage — 5 questions
- 1 summary passage — 5 questions
- 1 cloze passage — 10 questions
- 1 reading text — 5 questions
Section B
B
Lexis and Structure
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1. Vocabulary
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Ordinary usage, figurative usage and idiomatic usage
- Note: Idioms tested are formal and expressed in Standard British English (SBE)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify words and expressions in their ordinary, figurative and idiomatic contexts
- Determine similar and opposite meanings of words
2. Grammar
- Clause and sentence patterns
- Word classes and their functions
- Mood, tense, aspect, number
- Agreement / concord
- Degree: positive, comparative and superlative
- Question tags
- Mechanics (punctuation, spelling)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Differentiate between correct and incorrect spellings
- Identify various grammatical patterns in use
- Interpret information conveyed in sentences
3. Exam Structure — Section B
- Sentence interpretation — 5 questions
- Antonyms — 5 questions
- Synonyms — 5 questions
- Basic Grammar — 10 questions
Section C
C
Oral Forms
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1. Vowels and Consonants
- Vowels: monophthongs, diphthongs and triphthongs
- Consonants (including clusters)
- Rhymes (including homophones)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Make distinctions among vowel types
- Differentiate among consonant types
2. Stress and Pronunciation
- Word stress: monosyllabic and polysyllabic words
- Emphatic stress in connected speech — placement of stress on words in an utterance for the purpose of emphasis
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify correct pronunciation of individual words
- Identify correct articulation of connected speech
3. Exam Structure — Section C
- Vowels — 2 questions
- Consonants — 2 questions
- Rhymes — 2 questions
- Word Stress — 2 questions
- Emphatic Stress — 2 questions
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Now Practice JAMB Use of English 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 Use of English Past Questions →📚 JAMB Recommended Textbooks
These are the official books listed by JAMB for Use of English preparation:
📖 Adedimeji, M. A. (2021) — Doses of Grammar, Ahman Pategi University Press
📖 Attah, M. O. (2013) — Practice in Spoken English for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, University of Maiduguri Press
📖 Bamgbose, A. (2002) — English Lexis and Structure for Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges (Revised Ed.), Heinemann
📖 Banjo, A. et al. (2004) — New Oxford Secondary English Course Book Six, University Press Plc
📖 Caesar, O. J. (2003) — Essential Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Tonad Publishers
📖 Jones, D. (2011) — Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge University Press
📖 Egbe, D. I. (1996) — Mastering English Usage and Communication Skills, Tisons
📖 Elugbe, B. (2000) — Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Heinemann
📖 Grant, N. J. H. et al. (1998) — Senior English Project 3 (New Ed.), Longman
📖 Idowu, O. O. et al. (1998) — Round-up English: A Complete Guide, Longman
📖 Idris, U. (2001) — Oral English at Your Fingertips for Schools and Colleges, M. Youngbrain Publishers
📖 Jauro, L. B. (2013) — Oral English for Schools and Colleges: A Teaching and Learning Approach, Paraclete Publishers
📖 Nnamonu, S. & Jowitt, D. (1989) — Common Errors in English, Longman
📖 Ogunsanwo, O. et al. (2005) — Countdown English Language (Revised Ed.), Evans Brothers
📖 Oluikpe, B. O. A. et al. (1998) — Intensive English for Senior Secondary School 3, Africana First Publishers
📖 Tomori, S. H. O. (2000) — Objective Tests for School Certificate English (Reprinted Ed.), Heinemann
📖 Ukwuegbu, C. et al. (2002) — Catch-up English for SSCE/UME, Heinemann
Common Questions 🤔
JAMB Use of English has three sections: Section A (Comprehension and Summary), Section B (Lexis and Structure), and Section C (Oral Forms). Together they carry 60 questions — the highest of any JAMB subject.
JAMB sets 60 questions in Use of English. Section A has 25 questions (comprehension, summary, cloze and reading text), Section B has 25 questions (sentence interpretation, antonyms, synonyms and grammar), and Section C has 10 questions on oral forms.
Lexis and Structure (Section B) and Comprehension (Section A) carry the most questions and appear every year. Within Section B, synonyms, antonyms and basic grammar are the most consistent. Oral Forms (Section C) is the easiest to prepare — 10 straightforward questions on vowels, consonants, stress and rhymes.
Yes. Use of English is mandatory for every UTME candidate regardless of course or institution. You cannot sit JAMB without it. It is also the only subject that is not replaceable by any other subject in your combination.
Emphatic stress is the placement of stress on a particular word in a sentence to give it special emphasis and change or clarify the meaning. JAMB tests this with a sentence and four stress patterns — you must identify which word is stressed based on the question being answered.
The Use of English syllabus structure has been stable for several years. The three sections — Comprehension & Summary, Lexis & Structure, and Oral Forms — remain unchanged. Always practice past questions from 2023 onwards to stay current with JAMB's question style.