JAMB 2025 ENGLISH SYLLABUS

Introduction:

JAMB 2025 ENGLISH SYLLABUS aims to guide the candidates in their preparation for the Board’s examination. It is designed to evaluate the candidates’ ability to:

1. Communicate effectively in both written and spoken English.
2. Use the English language to learn at the tertiary level.

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Table of Contents

• Introduction:
• Sections of the Syllabus
• SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
  • • Topics:
• SECTION B: Lexis and Structure
  • • Topics:
• SECTION C: Oral Forms
  • • Topics:
• The Structure of the Examination
  • SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
  • SECTION B: Lexis and Structure
  • SECTION C: Oral Forms
• Recommended Texts

Sections of the Syllabus

The syllabus consists of three sections:

• SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary
• SECTION B: Lexis and Structure
• SECTION C: Oral Forms

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SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary

Topics:

• Description
• Narration
• Exposition
• Argumentation/Persuasion

Details:

• Each of the two passages to be set (one will be a cloze test) will reflect various disciplines and be about 200 words long.
• Questions on the passages will test the following:
  • Comprehension of the whole or part of each passage.
  • Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech, and idioms as used in the passages.
  • Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc.).
  • The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli.
  • Synthesis of ideas from the passages (combining distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complete whole).

Objectives: Candidates should be able to:

• Identify main points/topic sentences in passages.
• Determine implied meanings.
• Identify grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses, and figurative/idiomatic expressions.
• Deduce or infer the writer’s intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter, and opinion.

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SECTION B: Lexis and Structure

Topics:

• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Homonyms
• Clause and Sentence Patterns
• Word Classes and Their Functions
• Mood, Tense, Aspect, Number, Agreement/Concord, Degree (Positive, Comparative, and Superlative) and Question Tags
• Punctuation and Spelling
• Ordinary Usage, Figurative Usage, and Idiomatic Usage

Note:
Idioms to be tested shall be those that are formal and expressed in standard British English.

Objectives: Candidates should be able to:

• Identify words and expressions in their ordinary, figurative, and idiomatic contexts.
• Determine similar and opposite meanings of words.
• Differentiate between correct and incorrect punctuation and spelling.
• Identify various grammatical patterns in use.
• Interpret information conveyed in sentences.

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SECTION C: Oral Forms

Topics:

• Vowels (Monophthongs and Diphthongs)
• Consonants (Including Clusters)
• Rhymes (Including Homophones)
• Word Stress (Monosyllabic and Polysyllabic)
• Intonation (Words Emphatic Stress)

Note:
Emphatic stress involves the placement of normal stress on words in an utterance for emphasis.

Objectives: Candidates should be able to:

• Make distinctions between vowel types.
• Differentiate between consonant types.
• Identify correct accentuation in individual words and connected speech.

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The Structure of the Examination

SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary

• Topics:
  • 1 comprehension passage – 5 questions
  • 1 cloze passage – 10 questions
  • 1 reading text – 10 questions

SECTION B: Lexis and Structure

• Topics:
  • Sentence interpretation – 5 questions
  • Antonyms – 5 questions
  • Synonyms – 5 questions
  • Sentence completion – 10 questions

SECTION C: Oral Forms

• Topics:
  • 10 questions

Total: 60 questions

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Recommended Texts

• Attah, M. O. (2013). Practice in Spoken English for Intermediate and Advanced Learners, Maiduguri: University of Maiduguri Press.
• Bamgbose, A. (2002). English Lexis and Structure for Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges (Revised Edition), Ibadan: Heinemann.
• Banjo, A. et al (2004). New Oxford Secondary English Course Book Six for Senior Secondary Schools, Ibadan: UP Plc.
• Caesar, O. J. (2003). Essential Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Lagos: Tonad Publishers Limited.
• Daniel Jones (2011). Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Egbe, D. I (1996). Mastering English Usage and Communication Skills, Lagos: Tisons.
• Elugbe, B. (2000). Oral English for Schools and Colleges, Ibadan: Heinemann.
• Grant, N. J. H, Nnamonu, S. Jowitt, D. (1998). Senior English Project 3 (New Edition) Harlow: Longman.
• Idris, U. (2001). Oral English at Your Fingertips for Schools and Colleges, Lagos: M. Youngbrain Publishers.
• Igiligi, E. C. and Ogenyi, S. O. (2010). Grammar and Composition in the G.S.M. Age, Enugu: Joe Hills Production Services.
• Jauro, L. B. (2013). Oral English for Schools and Colleges: A Teaching and Learning Approach, Yola: Paraclete Publishers.
• Nnamonu, S. and Jowitt, D. (1989). Common Errors in English, Lagos: Longman.
• Obinna, M. F. (2001). University Matriculation Use of English (Fourth Edition), Port Harcourt: Sunray Books Limited.
• Ogunsanwo, O. Duruaku, A. B.C, Ezechukwu, J and Nwachukwu, U. I (2005). Countdown English Language (Revised Edition), Ibadan: Evans.
• Olatoye, S. (2006). The Silent Teacher, Ado-Ekiti: Segun and Sons Enterprises.
• Oluikpe, B. O. A, Nnaemeka, B. A, Obah, T. Y, Otagburuagu, E. J. Onuigbo, S. and Ogbonna, E. A. (1998). Intensive English for Senior Secondary School 3, Onitsha: Africana – FIRST Publisher.
• Tomori, S. H. O (2000). Objective Tests for School Certificate English: Practice in Lexis, Structure and Idiom (Reprinted Edition), Ibadan: Heinemann.
• Ukwuegbu, C, Okoro, O., Idris, A. U., Okebukola, F. O. and Owokade, C. O. (2002). Catch-up English for SSCE/UME, Ibadan: Heinemann.