Get the complete JAMB English Language syllabus for 2025, including exam structure, topics, recommended books, and FAQs to help you prepare better.
JAMB Syllabus for English Language 2025
The JAMB exam for 2025 is coming soon, so every student must study well to get good marks. To do well, you need to focus and follow the JAMB syllabus. This guide helps you know what to study and what to ignore.
JAMB has made the syllabus for every subject in the 2025 exam available. All students should use this guide to study the right topics. This will help you save time and energy.
English is a required subject for every student taking the JAMB exam. If you do not have the JAMB Syllabus for English Language yet, get it soon. The exam has 400 marks in total. Every mark is important for reaching the cut-off score for your chosen course.
This article shows you how to download the 2025 JAMB Syllabus for English Language. It also gives you a list of recommended books and simple tips to help you do well in the exam.
JAMB Use of English Examination Structure 2025
The exam for Use of English in 2025 is divided into three parts with a total of 60 questions.
Section A: Comprehension and Summary
- 1 comprehension passage with 5 questions
- 1 cloze passage with 10 questions
- 1 reading text (“The Life Changer”) with 10 questions
Total questions in this section: 25
Section B: Lexis and Structure
- 5 questions on sentence interpretation
- 5 questions on antonyms
- 5 questions on synonyms
- 10 questions on basic grammar
Total questions in this section: 25
Section C: Oral Forms
- 2 questions on vowels
- 2 questions on consonants
- 2 questions on rhymes
- 2 questions on word stress
- 2 questions on emphatic stress
Total questions in this section: 10
JAMB Syllabus for the English Language 2025
Below are the topics you need to study for the English Language paper in the JAMB exam. This guide tells you what to read to do well in the exam.
A. Comprehension and Summary
Topics to Study:
- Description
- Narration
- Exposition
- Argument or Persuasion
Notes:
- There are three passages in this part. One of these is a cloze test. Each passage is about 200 words long and comes from different fields.
- The questions will check:
- How well you understand the whole passage or parts of it.
- Your understanding of words, phrases, figures of speech, and idioms.
- Your ability to think in a clear and logical way.
- Your skill in putting ideas together.
- You will also read the text “The Life Changer” by Khadija Abubakar Jalli.
Objectives:
- Find the main ideas or topic sentences in the passages.
- Understand hidden or implied meanings.
- Recognize the role of words, phrases, and clauses in a sentence.
- Understand the writer’s purpose, mood, feelings, and opinions.
B. Lexis and Structure
Topics to Study:
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Sentence and clause patterns
- Word classes and their functions
- Grammar details like mood, tense, aspect, number, agreement, degrees (positive, comparative, superlative), and question tags
- Punctuation and writing rules
- Ordinary, figurative, and idiomatic uses in Standard British English
Objectives:
- Recognize words and expressions in everyday language, as well as in figurative and idiomatic forms.
- Find synonyms and antonyms.
- Tell the difference between correct and incorrect spellings.
- Identify common grammar patterns.
- Understand the meaning that sentences try to convey.
C. Oral Forms
Topics to Study:
- Vowels (simple vowels, two-part vowels, and three-part vowels)
- Consonants (including groups of consonants)
- Rhymes (including words that sound alike)
- Word stress (in one-syllable and many-syllable words)
- Emphatic stress (in connected speech)
Objectives:
- Tell apart different types of vowels.
- Tell apart different types of consonants.
- Learn the correct way to pronounce words and connect them in speech.
Recommended Books for JAMB Use of English 2025
Below is a list of books that can help you study for the JAMB Use of English exam. These books cover grammar, speaking, and other language skills. You may use them for practice and to improve your understanding of English.
| Author(s) | Year | Title | Location | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adedimeji, M. A. | 2021 | Doses of Grammar | Patigi | Ahman Pategi University Press |
| 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., Adeniran, A., Akano, A., & Onoga, U. | 2004 | New Oxford Secondary English Course Book Six for Senior Secondary Schools | Ibadan | University Press Plc |
| Caesar, O. J. | 2003 | Essential Oral English for Schools and Colleges | Lagos | Tonad Publishers Limited |
| 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 |
| Idowu, O. O., Sogbesan, T. S., Adofo, A. K., Burgess, D. F., & Burgess, L. J. | 1998 | Round-up English: A Complete Guide | Lagos | Longman |
| Idris, U. | 2001 | Oral English at Your Fingertips for Schools and Colleges | Lagos | M. Youngbrain Publishers |
| Igiligi, E. C., & 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 |
| Jones, D. | 2011 | Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary | Cambridge | Cambridge University Press |
| Nnamonu, S., & 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., & Nwachukwu, U. I. | 2005 | Countdown English Language (Revised Edition) | Ibadan | Evans Brothers |
| 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., & Ogbonna, E. A. | 1998 | Intensive English for Senior Secondary School 3 | Onitsha | Africana First Publishers |
| 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., & Owokade, C. O. | 2002 | Catch-up English for SSCE/UME | Ibadan | Heinemann |
FAQs
Q1: What topics are covered in the JAMB English Language syllabus?
A1: The syllabus covers three main areas:
- Comprehension and Summary: Topics like description, narration, exposition, and argument or persuasion.
- Lexis and Structure: Areas such as synonyms, antonyms, sentence patterns, grammar details, and punctuation.
- Oral Forms: This includes vowels, consonants, rhymes, word stress, and emphatic stress.
Q2: How many comprehension passages are included in the exam?
A2: There are three reading passages. They include one standard comprehension passage, one cloze passage, and one reading text known as “The Life Changer.”
Q3: What is tested under Lexis and Structure?
A3: In this section, the exam tests your understanding of words and sentences. You will work with synonyms, antonyms, sentence and clause patterns, word classes, grammar points (like mood, tense, and number), and correct punctuation.
Q4: Are oral English skills part of the syllabus?
A4: Yes, oral English skills are included. This section focuses on the sounds of English such as vowels, consonants, rhymes, and the stress patterns in words and speech.
Q5: What type of essays are required in the exam?
A5: The exam does not require you to write essays. Instead, you will answer questions on comprehension, summary, grammar, and language use. However, skills used in essay writing may help you in answering summary questions.
Q6: How should I prepare for summary questions?
A6: To prepare for summary questions, read passages carefully and practice identifying the main ideas. Write short, clear summaries of what you read. Practice with past exam questions and focus on keeping your summary simple and to the point.
