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JAMB Yorùbá Syllabus 2026/2027
Complete official UTME Yorùbá syllabus — all topics, sub-topics and JAMB learning objectives. Study what actually comes out, nothing extra.
3
Sections
40
Questions
JAMB Yorùbá Syllabus PDF
Official JAMB document • Free download
Section A
A
Language
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1. Comprehension (8 questions)
- Prose (Ìtàn Àròsọ)
- Verse (Ewì)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify central issues in a passage and draw appropriate conclusions
- Determine basic assumptions and express ideas
- Identify the meanings and functions of given phrases and sentences
2. Essay Writing (1 question)
- Argumentative
- Descriptive
- Narrative
- Letter Writing — Formal and Informal
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify different types of essay
- Apply different types of techniques associated with each essay type
3. Sound System (4 questions)
- Production of sounds — consonants and vowels
- Tones and tone change
- Syllable structure
- Sound processes — co-vowel occurrence, elision, deletion etc.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify organs of speech, speech sounds and parameters for describing each speech sound
- Determine correct usages of speech sounds
- Detect linguistic errors — pronunciations and wrong usages
- Determine the syllable components of words
- Demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles underlying the relationship between sounds
4. Grammar (5 questions)
- Morphology — Word-formation
- Loan-word integration
- Word classes — nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions etc.
- Phrases and clauses — types and functions
- Sentences — types, structures and functions
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Demonstrate good knowledge of word derivation
- Demonstrate knowledge of word adoption
- Identify the appropriate class a word belongs to
- Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Yorùbá syntax
- Identify the types, structures and functions of sentences
5. Current Orthography (2 questions)
- Current Yorùbá orthographic conventions
- Acceptable written forms
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Present ideas in acceptable written form
6. Translation (1 question)
- Translation between Yorùbá and English
- Acceptable principles of interpretation
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Interpret sentences and ideas in accordance with acceptable principles
Section B
B
Literature (10 questions)
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1. Oral Literature — 4 questions
- Prose (Ìtàn Àròsọ) — Babalọlá, A. (2023). Àkójọpọ̀ Àlọ́ Ìjàpá (Apá Kejì). Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc.
- Drama (Eré Oníṣe) — Ògúnníran, L. (2022). Eégún Aláré. Ìbàdàn: Golden Pen Publishers.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify central issues, problems and the component parts of ideas presented in the work of art
- Draw moral lessons from the text
- Identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text
- Draw appropriate conclusions
- Identify the type of drama
- Extract the narrative techniques in the drama
- Identify the central theme of the work
- Interpret same in accordance with acceptable principles of the society
2. Written Literature — 6 questions
- Prose (Ìtàn Àròsọ) — Ìṣọ̀lá, A. (2023). Ogún Ọmọdé. Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc.
- Poetry (Ewì) — Àdéwọlé, O. (2023). Èdè Abínibí àti Àwọn Àròfò Mìíràn. Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc. [pp 1–50 tested in 2026; pp 51–83 in 2027; pp 84–116 in 2028; pp 117–152 in 2029; pp 153–216 in 2030]
- Drama (Eré Onítàn) — Fádíyà, O. (2023). Òtè Oyè. Ìbàdàn: Genius Books Publishers.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Demonstrate good knowledge of ideas in the work of art
- Draw moral lessons from the text
- Identify the narrative techniques in the text
- Identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text
- Deduce the import of written works of art and genres
- Identify the central theme of the work
- Interpret the work in accordance with acceptable principles of the society
- Identify types of drama and extract narrative techniques in the drama
Section C
C
Culture (9 questions)
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1. Èrò àti Ìgbàgbọ́ — Beliefs and Worldview
- Olódùmarè, àkùdàáyà, emèrè, àjẹ́, àwọn irúnmọlẹ̀ and related concepts
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Distinguish traditional practices and acceptable ways of life from modern and common sense beliefs
2. Ètò Ìṣèlú àti Ààbò Ìlú — Political Organisation and Security
- Ẹgbẹ́ àti ọgbà (societies and guilds)
- Oyè jíjẹ àti àwọn ìjòyè (chieftaincy titles and title-holders)
- Ogun jíjà (warfare)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Assess the functions and roles of individuals, chieftains, and groups in ensuring peace, stability and continuity of society
3. Ètò Ìsìnkú àti Ogún Pínpín — Burial Rites and Inheritance
- Òkú àgbà (death of an elder), òkú ọ̀fọ̀ (untimely death), òkú òòṣà (death of a devotee)
- Ìtúfọ̀, ilẹ̀ òkú gbígbẹ́, ìdí igi, mọ̀lẹ́bí, bàbá ìsìnkú
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Distinguish between traditional burial practices
- Relate them to funerals and inheritance
4. Òǹkà Yorùbá — Yorùbá Numerals
- Yorùbá numerals from 1 to 20,000 (oókan títí dé ọ̀kẹ́ kan)
- Addition, subtraction and division methods in Yorùbá
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Count in Yorùbá numerals
- Apply addition, subtraction and division methods in Yorùbá
5. Ètò Ìgbéyàwó àti Ìsọmọlórúkọ — Marriage and Naming Ceremonies
- All aspects of the Yorùbá traditional marriage ceremony (ìgbéyàwó)
- All aspects of the Yorùbá naming ceremony (ìsọmọlórúkọ)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Relate social activities and events to appropriate situations
6. Ètò Ìwòsàn — Traditional Healthcare
- Ìtọ́jú aláìsàn (care of the sick)
- Ìtọ́jú àti ìgbẹ̀bí aboyún (care and delivery of pregnant women)
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Demonstrate knowledge of the best way of using appropriate health care practices
7. Eré Ìdárayá — Traditional Games
- Eré òṣùpá (moonlight games) — àlọ́, bojúbojú etc.
- Eré ojúmọmọ (daytime games) — ìjàkadì, ayò, òkòtó, àrín etc.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify types of Yorùbá traditional games
- Identify rules and regulations guiding each game
- Mention values derived from each game
8. Iṣẹ́ Abínibí àti Oúnjẹ Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá — Traditional Occupations and Food
- Traditional occupations — iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀ (farming), ìṣọ̀nà (weaving), ìlù lílù (drumming) etc.
- Traditional foods — àbàrí, iyán, ẹ̀wà etc.
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Demonstrate adequate knowledge of the various traditional professions
- Compare various traditional professions
- Demonstrate knowledge of preparing each type of Yorùbá food
- Mention nutritional values of each food
9. Ẹ̀kọ́ Ilé — Home Training
- Ìwà ọmọlúàbí (good character) and its benefits
- Acceptable patterns of behaviour and attitude conforming with societal norms
What JAMB expects you to do:
- Identify acceptable patterns of behaviour and attitude that conform with societal norms and values
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Now Practice JAMB Yorùbá 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 Yorùbá Past Questions →📚 JAMB Recommended Textbooks
These are the official books listed by JAMB for Yorùbá preparation:
📖 Abíọ́dún, J. (1995) — Àròkọ àti Aáyan Ògbufọ̀, MAJAB Publishers, Lagos
📖 Adéwọlé, L. O. et al (2000) — Exam Focus: Yorùbá Language for WASSCE/SSCE, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Awóbùlúyì, O. (1978) — Essentials of Yorùbá Grammar, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Awóbùlúyì, O. (ed.) (1990) — Yorùbá Metalanguage (Èdè-Ìperí Yorùbá), Vol. II, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Awóbùlúyì, O. (2008) — Ẹ̀kọ́ Ìṣẹ̀dá-Ọ̀rọ̀ Yorùbá, Montem Paperback, Akurẹ
📖 Awóbùlúyì, O. (2013) — Ẹ̀kọ́ Gírámà Èdè Yorùbá, Atman Ltd., Oṣogbo
📖 Babalọlá, A. (ed.) (1991) — Ìwé Ìmọ́dọ̀tun Yorùbá SSI–SSIII, Longman
📖 Bámgbóṣé, O. (ed.) (1984) — Yorùbá Metalanguage (Èdè-Ìperí Yorùbá), Vol. 1, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Bámgbóṣé, A. (1990) — Fọnọ́lọ́jì àti Gírámà Yorùbá, Ìbàdàn
📖 Mustapha, O. (ed.) (1988) — Ẹ̀kọ́-Èdè Yorùbá Òde-òní SSI–SSIII, Macmillan Publishers
📖 Mustapha, O. (ed.) (1991) — Ẹ̀kọ́-Èdè Yorùbá Titun SSI–SSIII, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Ọdẹ́tókun, A. et al (2005) — Ìwé Ìgbáradì fún Ìdánwó Yorùbá, Macmillan Publishers, Ìbàdàn
📖 Owólabí, K. (1989) — Ìjìnlẹ̀ Ìtúpalẹ̀ Èdè Yorùbá (1): Fónẹ́tíìkì àti Fọnọ́lọ́jì, Oníbọnòjé Press, Ìbàdàn
📖 Owólabí, O. et al (1999) — Countdown WASSCE/SSCE, NECO, JME (Ìwé Ìgbáràdi fún Ìdánwò Àṣekágbá Yorùbá), Evans, Ìbàdàn
📖 Ọyádèyí, O. (1998) — Ìjìnlẹ̀ Fọnọ́lọ́jì àti Gírámà Èdè Yorùbá, Heinemann, Ìbàdàn
📖 Babalọlá, A. (2023) — Àkójọpọ̀ Àlọ́ Ìjàpá (Apá Kejì), University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Ògúnníran, L. (2022) — Eégún Aláré, Golden Pen Publishers, Ìbàdàn
📖 Ìṣọ̀lá, A. (2023) — Ogún Ọmọdé, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Àdéwọlé, O. (2023) — Èdè Abínibí àti Àwọn Àròfò Mìíràn, University Press Plc, Ìbàdàn
📖 Fádíyà, O. (2023) — Òtè Oyè, Genius Books Publishers, Ìbàdàn
📖 Adéoyè, C. L. (1979) — Àṣà àti Ìṣe Yorùbá, OUP, Ìbàdàn
📖 Adéoyè, C. L. (1985) — Ìgbàgbọ́ àti Ẹ̀sìn Yorùbá, Oníbọnọ̀jé Press, Ìbàdàn
📖 Ládélé, T. A. et al (1986) — Àkójọpọ̀ Ìwádìí Ìjìnlẹ̀ Àṣà Yorùbá, Macmillan Publishers, Ìbàdàn
Common Questions 🤔
JAMB Yorùbá has three sections: Section A (Language), Section B (Literature), and Section C (Culture). Together they carry 40 questions — Language has 21 questions, Literature has 10, and Culture has 9. Note that JAMB Yorùbá carries 40 questions, not 60 like most other subjects.
JAMB sets 40 multiple-choice questions in Yorùbá. The breakdown is: Comprehension 8, Essay Writing 1, Sound System 4, Grammar 5, Current Orthography 2, Translation 1 (Language total: 21); Oral Literature 4, Written Literature 6 (Literature total: 10); and Culture 9.
The current prescribed texts are: Oral — Babalọlá's Àkójọpọ̀ Àlọ́ Ìjàpá (Apá Kejì) for prose and Ògúnníran's Eégún Aláré for drama; Written — Ìṣọ̀lá's Ogún Ọmọdé (prose), Àdéwọlé's Èdè Abínibí àti Àwọn Àròfò Mìíràn (poetry, pages 1–50 for 2026), and Fádíyà's Òtè Oyè (drama).
The Culture section (9 questions) covers nine areas: traditional beliefs and worldview (Èrò àti Ìgbàgbọ́), political organisation (Ètò Ìṣèlú), burial rites and inheritance (Ìsìnkú àti Ogún Pínpín), Yorùbá numerals (Òǹkà), marriage and naming ceremonies, traditional healthcare, traditional games (Eré Ìdárayá), traditional occupations and food, and home training (Ẹ̀kọ́ Ilé). All nine areas must be prepared.
The Sound System section (4 questions) tests your knowledge of Yorùbá consonants and vowels, the three tones (high, mid and low) and how they change in context, syllable structure, and sound processes such as elision, deletion and co-vowel occurrence. These questions require you to identify correct and incorrect pronunciations and to understand how sounds relate to one another.
The three-section structure — Language, Literature and Culture — has remained stable. However, the poetry text (Àdéwọlé's Èdè Abínibí) is examined in pages rotation: pages 1–50 are set for 2026. Always confirm the current page range and practise past questions from 2023 onwards to stay current with JAMB's question style.