UTME syllabus
JAMB Use of English syllabus
Every topic JAMB can set Use of English questions on, with what you should be able to do for each. Open a topic to see its contents and objectives.
What the syllabus aims to do
It prepares candidates to:
- communicate effectively in both written and spoken English
- use English Language for learning at the tertiary level
Section A: Comprehension and Summary
Comprehension and Summary
Contents
- description
- narration
- exposition
- argumentation/persuasion
- (i) Each of the three 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 as used in the passages
- (c) Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc.)
- (d) Approved Reading Text
- (e) Synthesis of ideas from the passages
- NOTE: Synthesis of ideas means the art of combining distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complete whole as summary
Objectives: candidates should be able to
- identify main points/topic sentences in passages
- determine implied meanings
- identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative/idiomatic expressions
- deduce or infer the writers’ intentions including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion
Section B: Lexis and Structure
Lexis and Structure
Contents
- synonyms
- antonyms
- clause and sentence patterns
- word classes and their functions
- mood, tense, aspect, number, agreement/concord, degree (positive, comparative and superlative) and question tags
- mechanics
- ordinary usage, figurative usage and idiomatic usage
- NOTE: Idioms to be tested are those that are formal and expressed in Standard British English (SBE)
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 spellings
- identify various grammatical patterns in use
- interpret information conveyed in sentences
Section C: Oral Forms
Oral Forms
Contents
- Vowels (monophthongs, diphthongs and triphthongs)
- Consonants (including clusters)
- Rhymes (including homophones)
- Word stress (monosyllabic and polysyllabic)
- Emphatic stress (in connected speech)
- NOTE: Emphatic stress involves the placement of stress on words in an utterance for the purpose of emphasis
Objectives: candidates should be able to
- make distinctions among vowel types
- differentiate among consonant types
- identify correct pronunciation of individual words and articulation of connected speech
The structure of the examination
Section A: Comprehension and Summary
Contents
- 1 comprehension passage – 5 questions
- 1 summary passage – 5 questions
- 1 cloze passage – 10 questions
- 1 reading text – 5 questions
Section B: Lexis and Structure
Contents
- Sentence interpretation – 5 questions
- Antonyms – 5 questions
- Synonyms – 5 questions
- Basic Grammar – 10 questions
Section C: Oral Forms
Contents
- Vowels – 2 questions
- Consonants – 2 questions
- Rhymes – 2 questions
- Word Stress – 2 questions
- Emphatic Stress – 2 questions
- Total: 60 questions
Practise every Use of English topic
JambCBT sorts its Use of English past questions by these syllabus topics, so you can practise one topic at a time and see which ones need more work.
2 free practice quizzes. No card needed.