JAMB Syllabus For English 2023/2024/2025

Embarking on the journey of JAMB examinations requires a comprehensive understanding of the English syllabus. This crucial document outlines the topics and skills candidates need to master to excel in the English section of the examination.

The JAMB Use of English syllabus contains three (3) sections;

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

Comprehension/Summary

Objectives

Candidates should be able to:

i. identify main points/topic sentences in passages;
ii. determine implied meaning;
iii. identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses, and figurative /idiomatic expressions;
iv. deduce or infer the writer’s intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter, and opinion.

Content

(a) description
(b) narration
(c) exposition
(d) argumentation/persuasion

(i) Each of the two passages to be set (one will be a cloze test) should reflect various disciplines and be about 200 words long.

(ii) Questions on the passages will test the following:

(a) Comprehension of the whole or part of each passage.

(b) Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech, and idioms used in the passages.

(c) Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc.).

(d) The Life Changer by Khadija Abubakar Jalli

(e) Synthesis of ideas from the passages.

NOTE:

Synthesis of ideas means combining distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complete whole.

Lexis and Structure

Objectives

Candidates should be able to:

i. identify words and expressions in their ordinary, figurative, and idiomatic contexts;
ii. determine similar and opposite meanings of words;
iii. differentiate between correct and incorrect punctuation and spelling;
iv. identify various grammatical patterns in use;
v. interpret information conveyed in sentences.

Content

• 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 are to be tested.

NOTE:

Idioms to be tested shall be formal and expressed in standard British English.

Oral Forms

Objectives

Candidates should be able to:

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

Content

• 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.

The Structure of the Examination

Objectives

N/A

Content

SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary

(a) One comprehension passage – 5 questions
(b) I cloze passage – 10 questions
(c) One reading text – 10 questions

SECTION B: Lexis and Structure

(a) Sentence interpretation – 5 questions
(b) Antonyms – 5 questions
(c) Synonyms – 5 questions
(d) Sentence completion – 10 questions

SECTION C: Oral Forms

Ten questions

Total: 60 questions

VIEW ALSO : JAMB Syllabus for Chemistry 2023/2024/2025

Conclusion

In conclusion, mastering the JAMB English syllabus is a pivotal step toward success. This article has provided valuable insights and practical tips to empower candidates on their journey to excellence.

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FAQs – JAMB Syllabus For English 2023/2024/2025

1. Is the English syllabus the same every year?

   • The syllabus can undergo updates, so it’s crucial to stay informed about the latest version.

2. How can I access the JAMB English syllabus?

   • The official JAMB website is a reliable source for accessing the latest syllabus.

3. Are there specific topics that carry more weight in the English syllabus?

   • Certain topics may have higher weightage, and candidates should prioritize their preparation accordingly.

4. Can effective preparation for the English syllabus improve overall JAMB performance?

   • Yes, mastering the English syllabus often correlates with better performance in the overall examination.

5. What are some common mistakes to avoid in the English section?

   • Common mistakes include misinterpreting questions, neglecting time management, and overlooking key instructions.

6. Are there online platforms that offer additional resources for English preparation?

   • Yes, various online platforms provide additional materials and practice resources.

7. Is the English syllabus the same for all JAMB candidates?

   • Yes, the English syllabus is standardized for all candidates taking the JAMB examination.

8. How frequently does JAMB update its syllabus?

   • Updates to the syllabus can occur periodically, so candidates should stay updated on any changes.

9. Are there specific strategies for improving comprehension skills in the English section?

   • Yes, practicing reading comprehension exercises and expanding vocabulary are effective strategies.

10. Can I rely solely on the JAMB syllabus for English preparation?

    • While the syllabus is crucial, using additional resources can enhance your preparation.

11. Are there any recommended books for English preparation in JAMB?

    • Several books focus on JAMB English preparation; candidates can explore options based on their preferences.

12. How can I overcome anxiety related to the English section of JAMB?

    • Regular practice, time management, and adopting a positive mindset can help alleviate anxiety.

13. Is there a specific time allocated for the English section in JAMB?

    • Yes, there is a designated time for each section, and effective time management is essential.

14. Can understanding the English syllabus improve writing skills?

    • Yes, the syllabus covers writing skills, and mastering it can positively impact your writing abilities.

15. What role do language skills play in JAMB and beyond?

    • Language skills are crucial not only for JAMB success but also for future academic and professional endeavors.

ESSAY WRITING:

The Essay Writing section of the WAEC English exam carries 50 marks of the total marks. Topics to study in this section are the following.

• • Letter writing (Formal or Informal)
  • Writing a speech
  • How to write a narrative
  • Making description
  • Debate writing and presentation of argumentation
  • Report writing
  • Writing article.
  • Essay writing.
  • Writing of exposition.

SUMMARY:

The summary section requires candidates to read a prose passage of about 300 words and summarize it.

 Hints for this section.

• Your write up should meet the number of words stated on the Exam paper (Mostly, not less than 450 words)
• Let your write-up be unique and related to the topic. Do not deviate from the subject matter you are writing about.
• Make sure to paragraph your write-up properly using a formal format with proper arrangement of your points and emphasis.
• Avoid making grammatical errors, wrong punctuation, or misspelling of words.

COMPREHENSION

This section of the paper covers 40 marks of the total marks. The WAEC English Language comprehension section consists of two paragraphs to be answered in 50 minutes.

Each of the paragraphs has over 300 words.

What you should study in this section?

• Learn how to read passages carefully and answer questions from them.
• Get past questions to see sample passages, read them, and answer the questions in them.
• Questions from the comprehension passages are OBJ questions.

What to study?

LEXIS and STRUCTURES: The topics to study under lexis and structures are;

• Vocabulary
• Idioms and idiomatic expressions.
• Collocations
• Synonyms
• Antonyms
• Dictionary meanings of words.
• Sequence of tenses
• Pronouns and matching of pronouns in sentences
• Noun referents
• Prepositions in sentences
• Use of figurative
• Conjunctions
• Determiners

WAEC Oral English Syllabus for 2024/2025

This section is for the WAEC Oral English syllabus. The following are topics that the WAEC Oral English questions will be set from.

Note: This is still part of the 2024 WAEC Syllabus for English Language and the Oral paper is paper 3 of the English Language Exam.

Listening Comprehension: Topics to study under listening comprehension

• Test vowels and consonants
• Intonation
• Narratives
• Stress and stress patterns
• Clusters
• Dialogues
• Diphthongs and Monophthongs
• Rhymes

CONSONANTS: Important topics to cover in this section are;

• Single Consonants
• Consonant sounds and clusters

VOWELS: Cover the following topics

• Vowel system
• Pure Vowels
• Diphthongs
• Monophthongs
• Triphthongs
• Sound contrasts

STRESS: Topics to study

• Primary Stress
• Emphatic stress
• Word Stress
• Sentence Stress

INTONATION: What to study in this section

• Intonation patterns
• Tunes:
• Utterances
• Pitch fall and rise patterns

Other important topics to cover;

• Syllable Structure
• Phonetic Symbols and transcription

Sentences

• Patterns in Sentences
• Syllables
• Phrases and Clauses
• Concord Rules

Recommended Textbooks and materials to use for 2024

Now that you have known the topics to read for the exam, I want to recommend the following textbooks and materials for WAEC candidates to use along when doing their studies.

Below are the best and recommended textbooks to read for the 2023 WAEC English exam.

• Practice in Spoken English written by Attah, M.
• English Lexis and Structure (Revised Edition), written by Bamgbose, A.
• New Oxford Secondary English Course, written by Banjo, A.
• Essential Oral English, written by Caesar, O.
• Mastering English Usage and Communication Skills written by Egbe, D.
• Oral English by Elugbe, B.
• Senior English Project 3 by Grant, N., and Co.
• Oral English at Your Fingertips, written by Idris, U.
• Common Errors in English, written by Nnamonu, S.