Use of English JAMB Syllabus 2027/2028 Download PDF

The JAMB Use of English syllabus 2027/2028 shows the main areas you should study for the examination and the skills you should develop. It covers Comprehension and Summary, Lexis and Structure, and Oral Forms.

In this guide, you will see the important topics under each section and what you should understand or be able to do. You will also find the JAMB Use of English syllabus PDF download section, the examination structure, recommended texts, and simple tips for using the syllabus during revision.

Studying with the syllabus can help you organize your preparation and make sure you cover the required areas instead of reading without a clear direction.

Download JAMB Use of English Syllabus 2027/2028 PDF

You can use the JAMB Use of English syllabus PDF to check the topics, objectives, examination structure and recommended texts while studying.

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JAMB Use of English Syllabus Topics and Objectives

The JAMB Use of English syllabus is divided into three main areas:

• Comprehension and Summary
• Lexis and Structure
• Oral Forms

Each area tests a different part of your English Language ability. You need to understand written passages, use words and grammar correctly, and recognize important features of spoken English.

Comprehension and Summary

This section focuses on your ability to read a passage, understand its meaning and interpret the ideas presented by the writer.

The passages may involve:

• Description
• Narration
• Exposition
• Argumentation or persuasion

You should be able to read different kinds of passages and understand both the direct and implied meanings.

Main Points and Topic Sentences

You should know how to identify the main point of a passage or paragraph.

A topic sentence usually expresses the main idea around which the other sentences are built. You should also be able to separate important ideas from supporting details.

Meaning of Words and Expressions in Context

You need to understand the meaning of:

• words;
• phrases;
• clauses;
• sentences;
• figures of speech;
• idiomatic expressions.

The meaning of a word can change depending on how it is used in a passage. For this reason, do not depend only on the meaning you already know. Pay attention to the surrounding sentences and the writer’s intended meaning.

Coherence and Logical Reasoning

You should understand how ideas in a passage connect with one another.

This includes making deductions and inferences. An inference is a meaning you arrive at from the information in the passage even when the writer does not state it directly.

You should also be able to determine:

• the writer’s intention;
• the writer’s mood;
• the writer’s attitude towards the subject;
• the writer’s opinion.

Synthesis of Ideas

Synthesis of ideas means combining separate pieces of information to form a complete understanding.

You may need to bring together ideas from different parts of a passage instead of looking at each sentence separately.

Reading Text

The reading text included under this part of the syllabus is The Last Days at Forcados High School by A. H. Mohammed.

You should read the text carefully and understand its important events, characters and ideas well enough to answer questions from it.

Lexis and Structure

Lexis and Structure deals with vocabulary, grammar and correct English usage. You should understand how words and sentences work and how meaning can change according to the way language is used.

Synonyms

Synonyms are words that have the same or similar meanings.

You should be able to identify a word or expression that has a meaning similar to another word, especially according to the way it is used in a sentence.

Antonyms

Antonyms are words with opposite meanings.

You need to recognize the opposite meaning of words and expressions within their particular contexts.

Homonyms

You should also study homonyms. These are words that may have the same spelling or pronunciation but have different meanings.

Understanding the sentence in which the word appears will help you determine its intended meaning.

Clauses and Sentence Patterns

You should understand how clauses and sentences are formed and used.

This includes recognizing different grammatical patterns and understanding the role each part plays in conveying meaning.

Word Classes and Their Functions

You need to understand the different word classes and how they function in sentences.

This means being able to recognize how words are being used rather than depending only on their usual form.

Grammar and Correct Usage

The grammar areas you should study include:

• mood;
• tense;
• aspect;
• number;
• agreement or concord;
• degree, including positive, comparative and superlative forms;
• question tags.

You should understand how these grammatical features affect sentence construction and meaning.

Punctuation and Spelling

You need to distinguish between correct and incorrect punctuation and spelling.

This requires careful attention to how words are written and how punctuation marks are used in sentences.

Ordinary, Figurative and Idiomatic Usage

Words and expressions may be used in different ways.

Ordinary usage gives the normal or direct meaning of a word.

Figurative usage gives a meaning that is different from the literal meaning.

Idiomatic usage involves expressions whose meanings may not be clear from the individual words used.

The idioms covered are formal expressions used in standard British English.

You should be able to interpret words and expressions correctly according to the context in which they appear.

Oral Forms

The Oral Forms section deals with important features of spoken English. You need to recognize differences in sounds, pronunciation, stress and intonation.

Vowels

You should study vowel sounds, including:

• monophthongs;
• diphthongs.

A monophthong contains one vowel sound, while a diphthong involves a movement from one vowel sound towards another.

You should be able to distinguish between different vowel types.

Consonants

You should study consonant sounds, including consonant clusters.

A consonant cluster occurs when two or more consonant sounds appear together in a word.

You should be able to differentiate between different consonant types.

Rhymes and Homophones

You should understand rhymes and recognize words that have similar ending sounds.

You should also study homophones, which are words that sound alike but have different meanings.

Word Stress

Word stress refers to the part of a word that receives greater emphasis during pronunciation.

You should study stress in:

• monosyllabic words;
• polysyllabic words.

You need to recognize the correct accentuation of individual words and words used in connected speech.

Intonation and Emphatic Stress

Intonation refers to changes in the pitch of the voice when speaking.

You should also understand emphatic stress, which involves placing stress on a particular word in an utterance to give that word special emphasis.

Recognizing stress and intonation can help you understand the intended meaning of spoken English more accurately.

JAMB Use of English Examination Structure

The JAMB Use of English examination is divided into three sections:

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

Together, the examination contains 100 questions worth a total of 150 marks.

Section A: Comprehension/Summary

This section contains:

• 2 comprehension passages: 10 questions at 3 marks each = 30 marks
• 1 cloze passage: 10 questions at 2 marks each = 20 marks
• 1 reading text: 15 questions at 1 mark each = 15 marks

The total for Section A is 65 marks.

Section B: Lexis and Structure

This section contains:

• Sentence Interpretation: 10 questions at 2 marks each = 20 marks
• Antonyms: 10 questions at 2 marks each = 20 marks
• Synonyms: 10 questions at 1 mark each = 10 marks
• Sentence Completion: 20 questions at 1 mark each = 20 marks

The total for Section B is 70 marks.

Section C: Oral Forms

This section contains:

• 15 questions at 1 mark each = 15 marks

The total for Section C is 15 marks.

Altogether, the JAMB Use of English examination has 100 questions and 150 marks.

How to Use the JAMB Use of English Syllabus for Revision

The JAMB Use of English syllabus can help you organize your reading by showing you what to study and what you should be able to understand or do.

Start by dividing your revision into the three main areas:

• Comprehension and Summary
• Lexis and Structure
• Oral Forms

Work through them one after another instead of trying to study everything at once.

For Comprehension and Summary, practise reading passages and identifying the main ideas, topic sentences, meanings of words in context, figures of speech, idioms, deductions and inferences. Also pay attention to the writer’s mood, attitude, intention and opinion.

For Lexis and Structure, revise vocabulary and grammar carefully. Study synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, sentence patterns, word classes, tense, concord, degree, question tags, punctuation, spelling and idiomatic expressions.

For Oral Forms, practise identifying vowel and consonant sounds, rhymes, homophones, word stress, intonation and emphatic stress.

Do not study only the topic names. Pay attention to the objectives as well. The topics tell you what to study, while the objectives show you what you should be able to identify, explain, interpret or distinguish.

You can also use the recommended English textbooks to support areas you find difficult. They can help you practise grammar, vocabulary, comprehension and spoken English while you work through the syllabus.

Read also: JAMB Area of Concentration for Use of English Subject 2027/2028

Recommended Texts for JAMB Use of English

The following texts can support your JAMB Use of English revision:

• 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.

Read also: Full List of JAMB Recommended Textbooks for English 2027/2028

These books cover areas such as grammar, lexis, comprehension, communication skills, pronunciation and Oral English. You can use them alongside the syllabus when you need more explanation or practice in a particular area.

Key Points to Remember

• The JAMB Use of English syllabus has three main areas: Comprehension and Summary, Lexis and Structure, and Oral Forms.
• In Comprehension and Summary, you should be able to identify main ideas, understand words and expressions in context, make inferences, and recognize the writer’s intention, mood, attitude and opinion.
• Lexis and Structure covers areas such as synonyms, antonyms, homonyms, sentence patterns, word classes, tense, concord, question tags, punctuation, spelling and idiomatic usage.
• Oral Forms covers vowels, consonants, rhymes, homophones, word stress, intonation and emphatic stress.
• Do not study only the topic names. Use the objectives to understand what you should be able to identify, distinguish, interpret or explain.
• The examination contains 100 questions worth a total of 150 marks.
• Use the recommended texts where you need more practice in grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, pronunciation or spoken English.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

The JAMB Use of English syllabus 2027/2028 gives you a clear picture of the main topics and skills you should study. It covers Comprehension and Summary, Lexis and Structure, and Oral Forms, along with the objectives that show what you should understand and be able to do.

Use the syllabus as a guide during revision, and work through each section carefully instead of reading without direction. You can also return to the JAMB Use of English syllabus PDF whenever you need to check the topics, objectives, examination structure or recommended texts.

If you have any questions about the JAMB Use of English syllabus, you can leave a comment. You can also share this guide with other students who may find it useful.