JAMB Arabic Syllabus 2026: Full Topic Guide for Students

Are you preparing for JAMB UTME 2026 and thinking of taking Arabic? You’re in the right place. I’m going to show you what topics to focus on, how to study, and tips to score well.

What is JAMB UTME?

JAMB UTME is the exam you write to get into Nigerian universities. It tests your knowledge in subjects like English and your chosen science or arts subject. Arabic is one of the arts subjects, and it’s chosen by students who want to study Islamic studies, languages, or translation.

Why Arabic is Important

Learning Arabic is more than just passing an exam. It opens doors to careers like teaching, translation, Islamic studies, or working with international organizations. It’s also the language of the Quran, so understanding it has cultural and religious value.

The thing is, if you follow the JAMB syllabus carefully, you won’t waste time studying topics that are unlikely to appear. This guide will make your study simple, focused, and stress-free.

Understanding the JAMB Arabic Syllabus

Before you start studying Arabic, it’s important to know what the syllabus covers. Think of it as a roadmap that shows you where to focus so you don’t get lost.

Structure of the Arabic Syllabus

The JAMB Arabic syllabus 2026 is divided into clear sections. Here’s what you should know:

• Grammar (Nahw) – Nouns, verbs, and particles
• Vocabulary – Common words, phrases, and root words
• Sentence Construction – Simple and complex sentences
• Reading Comprehension – Understanding paragraphs and passages
• Translation – Arabic to English and English to Arabic
• Islamic and Cultural Studies – Quranic words, greetings, and daily phrases

Exam Format:

• 180 multiple-choice questions in total (all subjects combined)
• Duration: 2 hours
• Arabic questions focus on grammar, vocabulary, reading, and translation

How the Syllabus Helps You

Following the syllabus gives you clear benefits:

• Focus on Important Topics – You won’t waste time on irrelevant areas.
• Connect Topics Easily – Understanding grammar helps with vocabulary, reading, and translation.
• Boost Confidence – Knowing the syllabus means you know what to expect on exam day.

Quick Tip: Keep a copy of the official JAMB Arabic syllabus and highlight areas you find tricky. Plan to revise those multiple times.

Read also: Jamb Syllabus for all Subjects 2026: What to Read Before the Exam

Unit 1: Arabic Alphabets and Pronunciation

The Arabic alphabet is the foundation of the language. If you get this right, reading, writing, and understanding Arabic becomes much easier.

Arabic Letters and Sounds

Arabic has 28 letters, and some letters have sounds that don’t exist in English. Here are a few examples:

Letter	Pronunciation	Example Word
أ (Alif)	“a” as in apple	أب (father)
ب (Ba)	“b” as in bat	باب (door)
ت (Ta)	“t” as in top	تمر (dates)
ث (Tha)	“th” as in think	ثوم (garlic)
ج (Jim)	“j” as in jam	جمال (camel)

Tip: Practice each letter daily. Pronunciation matters in Arabic, so read aloud as much as you can.

Writing and Reading Practice

• Combine letters – Arabic letters change shape depending on their position in a word (beginning, middle, end).
• Learn vowels (Harakat) – Fatha (a), Kasra (i), Damma (u) help you pronounce words correctly.
• Reading practice – Start with simple words, then move to sentences.

Example: The word كتاب (kitab) means “book.” Notice how letters connect and the vowels guide pronunciation.

Quick Tip: Spend at least 15–20 minutes daily practicing the alphabet and vowels. Mastery here makes grammar and vocabulary much easier.

Unit 2: Vocabulary Building

Vocabulary is the heart of learning Arabic. The more words you know, the easier it is to read, write, and translate.

Common Words and Phrases

Start with everyday words and phrases you’re likely to see in JAMB:

Arabic	English Meaning
مرحبا (Marhaba)	Hello
شكرا (Shukran)	Thank you
صباح الخير (Sabah al-khair)	Good morning
مساء الخير (Masa’ al-khair)	Good evening
نعم (Na’am)	Yes
لا (La)	No

Tip: Learn words in categories like greetings, family, numbers, and common objects. This makes memorization easier.

Root Words and Derivatives

Arabic words often come from roots, usually 3 letters, that give the basic meaning.

• Example: Root ك-ت-ب (K-T-B)
  
  • كتاب (Kitab) – Book
  • يكتب (Yaktub) – He writes
  • مكتبة (Maktaba) – Library

Quick Tip: Understanding roots helps you guess meanings of unfamiliar words. UTME questions often test this skill.

Question to Think About: Can you see how knowing the root “ك-ت-ب” can help you answer multiple questions in the exam? That’s why vocabulary + roots are important.

Unit 3: Arabic Grammar (Nahw)

Grammar is the backbone of Arabic. Understanding nouns, verbs, and particles will help you read, write, and translate correctly.

Nouns (Ism)

Nouns are words that name people, places, or things. In Arabic:

Feature	Explanation	Example
Gender	Masculine or feminine	ولد (walad – boy), بنت (bint – girl)
Number	Singular, dual, plural	كتاب (kitab – book), كتابان (kitaban – 2 books), كتب (kutub – books)
Definiteness	Definite (with “al”) or indefinite	الكتاب (al-kitab – the book), كتاب (kitab – a book)

Note: UTME may ask you to identify the gender, number, or definiteness of a noun.

Verbs (Fi’l)

Verbs show actions. Arabic verbs change according to tense:

Tense	Example	Meaning
Past (Madi)	كتب (kataba)	He wrote
Present (Mudari)	يكتب (yaktub)	He writes
Future	سيكتب (sayaktub)	He will write

Tip: Learn the patterns of verb conjugation. Many UTME questions test this.

Particles (Harf)

Particles are small words that connect sentences or change meaning.

• Prepositions: في (fi – in), على (ala – on)
• Conjunctions: و (wa – and), أو (aw – or)
• Negation: لا (la – no/not), لم (lam – did not)

Mistakes with particles are common. Pay attention to how they affect the sentence.

Unit 4: Sentence Construction

Constructing sentences correctly is important in Arabic. JAMB often asks questions that test your understanding of how words combine to form meaningful sentences.

Simple Sentences

A simple sentence usually has a subject and a predicate.

• Subject (Fa’il): The person or thing doing the action
• Predicate (Khabar): What the subject is doing or the state of the subject

Example:

• الولد يقرأ الكتاب (Al-walad yaqra’ al-kitab) – The boy reads the book.
• البيت كبير (Al-bayt kabir) – The house is big.

Tip: Learn to identify the subject and predicate; UTME often asks for this.

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences use connectors or subordinate clauses to join ideas.

Examples of connectors:

• لأن (li’anna – because)
• عندما (‘indama – when)
• حتى (hatta – until)

Example:

• ذهبت إلى المدرسة لأن لدي درس مهم (Dhahabtu ila al-madrasa li’anna ladayya darsun muhim) – I went to school because I have an important lesson.

Practice reading and forming complex sentences. This will help with comprehension and translation questions in UTME.

Read also:JAMB Mathematics Syllabus 2026: Key Topics Students Must Focus On

Unit 5: Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is about understanding Arabic passages and answering questions correctly. This is a big part of JAMB Arabic.

Understanding Paragraphs

When reading a passage:

1. Look for the main idea – What is the paragraph mostly about?
2. Identify supporting details – Facts or examples that explain the main idea.
3. Notice keywords – Words like “always,” “never,” “because,” and “but” often guide the meaning.

Example:
If the passage talks about a farmer planting crops, the main idea is probably farming or agriculture, while details might mention crops, tools, or irrigation.

Answering Questions

• Read all options carefully – Don’t rush to choose.
• Eliminate obviously wrong answers – Even if unsure, this improves your chance.
• Use context clues – The meaning of one word can often be guessed from nearby words.

Practice comprehension with short passages first, then move to longer texts. Daily reading in Arabic improves speed and understanding.

Unit 6: Translation Skills

Translation is about changing Arabic into English or English into Arabic while keeping the meaning correct. JAMB often tests this skill.

Arabic to English Translation

• Focus on understanding each word and the overall meaning.
• Pay attention to verbs, tense, and sentence structure.
• Don’t translate word-for-word; make sure it makes sense in English.

Example:

• Arabic: الولد يقرأ الكتاب
• English: The boy is reading the book

English to Arabic Translation

• Identify the subject, verb, and object in English.
• Use correct verb form and noun gender in Arabic.
• Watch out for negations and connectors.

Example:

• English: The girl will go to school tomorrow
• Arabic: ستذهب البنت إلى المدرسة غداً

Fast Tip: UTME translation questions often use simple sentences. Practice short passages first, then gradually move to longer ones.

Unit 7: Islamic and Cultural Studies

This unit is about Arabic words and phrases used in Islamic and daily life. JAMB often asks questions from this area, so it’s important to know the basics.

Basic Islamic Terms in Arabic

• Quranic Words: الله (Allah – God), صلاة (Salat – Prayer), رمضان (Ramadan – Ramadan)
• Common Prayers and Greetings:
  • السلام عليكم (As-salamu alaykum – Peace be upon you)
  • وعليكم السلام (Wa alaykum as-salam – And upon you be peace)
• Other Terms: مسجد (Masjid – Mosque), حديث (Hadith – Sayings of the Prophet)

Arabic in Daily Life

• Common Cultural Phrases:
  • مرحبا (Marhaba – Hello)
  • مع السلامة (Ma’a as-salama – Goodbye)
  • إن شاء الله (Insha’Allah – God willing)
• Etiquette Words: شكرا (Shukran – Thank you), عفوا (Afwan – You’re welcome)

Easy Tip: Learning these phrases helps with vocabulary, translation, and comprehension. Many UTME questions ask for meanings or correct usage in context.

Unit 8: Common Exam Mistakes

Many students lose marks in JAMB Arabic because of small but avoidable mistakes. Knowing these can help you score higher.

Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

• Subject-verb agreement: Make sure the verb matches the subject in gender and number.
  • Wrong: الولد يذهبون (The boy [plural verb])
  • Correct: الولد يذهب (The boy goes)
• Tense errors: Pay attention to past, present, and future tense.
• Incorrect use of particles: Using لا, لم, or لن incorrectly can change the meaning.

Comprehension Mistakes

• Misreading keywords: Words like “not” or “because” can reverse the meaning.
• Ignoring context: Don’t translate word-by-word; understand the whole sentence or paragraph.
• Skipping details: Some questions ask for specific facts mentioned in the passage.

Tip: Practice past questions and review mistakes carefully. Most exam errors happen from carelessness, not lack of knowledge.

Unit 9: Tips for Preparing for JAMB Arabic

Studying Arabic for UTME can seem challenging, but if you study smart and follow a plan, you can do very well.

Study Strategies

1. Follow the Syllabus – Focus only on topics listed in the 2026 JAMB Arabic syllabus.
2. Daily Practice – Spend 20–30 minutes on letters, vocabulary, and grammar.
3. Use Flashcards – Write Arabic words on one side and English meanings on the other. This helps memorization.
4. Practice Past Questions – Familiarize yourself with exam style and common question types.
5. Read Aloud – Pronunciation improves reading, comprehension, and translation skills.

Tip: Make a revision timetable. Short daily sessions are better than cramming at the last minute.

Exam Day Tips

1. Read Questions Carefully – Look for keywords like “not,” “always,” or “example.”
2. Time Management – You have 2 hours; don’t spend too long on one question.
3. Answer Easy Questions First – Build confidence and save time for difficult ones.
4. Eliminate Wrong Options – Even if unsure, cross out clearly wrong answers to improve your chances.

Quick Example: If a question asks “Which of these is a verb?” and you see: كتاب, يقرأ, مسجد, المدرسة — the correct answer is يقرأ (he reads).

Read also: JAMB Registration 2026: Dates, Requirements, How to Apply, and Full Guide

FAQs About JAMB Arabic

Tip: Combine textbooks, syllabus notes, and past questions for effective and efficient preparation.

Conclusion

Preparing for JAMB Arabic 2026 doesn’t have to be stressful. If you follow the syllabus, practice daily, and focus on key topics, you can score well.

Here’s what to remember:

• Start with the basics – Arabic letters, pronunciation, and vocabulary.
• Master grammar – Nouns, verbs, particles, and sentence structure.
• Practice reading and translation – Comprehension and conversion between Arabic and English.
• Learn common Islamic and cultural phrases – These appear frequently in exams.
• Use past questions – They help you understand question patterns and boost confidence.

The thing is, success in JAMB Arabic comes from understanding concepts, not just memorizing words. Study consistently, revise often, and apply what you learn in practice questions.

By following this guide, you can enter the exam confident, focused, and ready to score high.