English Language is compulsory for every JAMB candidate, yet it remains one of the subjects where students lose the most marks. The reason is simple — many candidates study randomly instead of focusing on the specific topics JAMB actually tests. If you want to study smarter and score higher, understanding the area of concentration for JAMB English Language is the first step you should take.
This guide breaks down the complete area of concentration for JAMB English Language for the 2026/2027 UTME session. You will find the exact topics to study, how JAMB structures its 60 English questions, the approved novel to read, mark allocation per section, and practical tips to help you score above 80. Everything here is based on the official JAMB syllabus.
How JAMB Structures the English Language Paper
The JAMB Use of English paper contains 60 questions to be answered within a Computer-Based Test (CBT) format. The questions are drawn from three broad categories outlined in the official syllabus: Comprehension and Summary, Lexis and Structure, and Oral Forms. Each category carries a different weight, which means some sections contribute more to your total score than others.
Understanding how the paper is structured is fundamental to mastering the area of concentration for JAMB English Language. When you know which sections carry more marks, you can allocate your study time accordingly and avoid spending hours on topics that contribute very little to your final score.
Complete Topics Breakdown: What JAMB Tests in English
The table below presents a clear summary of the area of concentration for JAMB English Language for the 2026/2027 UTME. Each row shows what the topic covers and the estimated number of questions to expect.
| S/N | Topic Area | What It Covers | Est. Questions |
| 1 | Comprehension | Understanding passages, identifying main ideas, making inferences, deductions, and interpreting figures of speech | ~10–12 questions |
| 2 | Cloze Test (Summary) | Filling in missing words in a passage; tests vocabulary, grammar, and contextual understanding | ~10 questions |
| 3 | JAMB Novel — The Lekki Headmaster | Themes, characters, plot, setting, and literary devices in the approved novel by Kabir Alabi Garba | ~5–8 questions |
| 4 | Sentence Interpretation | Understanding the meaning of sentences in context, implied meanings, and idiomatic expressions | ~5–6 questions |
| 5 | Antonyms | Identifying words with opposite meanings from given options | ~5–6 questions |
| 6 | Synonyms | Identifying words with similar meanings from given options | ~3–5 questions |
| 7 | Sentence Completion | Choosing the correct word or phrase to complete a grammatically correct sentence | ~5–6 questions |
| 8 | Oral English (Vowels & Consonants) | Identifying English vowel and consonant sounds, phonetic transcription, and sound patterns | ~3–4 questions |
| 9 | Oral English (Stress & Intonation) | Recognising syllable stress patterns, word stress, emphatic stress, and sentence intonation | ~3–4 questions |
| 10 | Oral English (Rhymes & Sound Patterns) | Identifying rhyming words, similar sounds, and distinguishing between sound pairs | ~2–3 questions |
Section-by-Section Study Guide
1. Comprehension and Summary
This section is the backbone of the area of concentration for JAMB English Language. JAMB sets two passages — one standard comprehension passage and one cloze test (fill-in-the-blank passage). Each passage is approximately 200 words long and drawn from diverse disciplines including science, arts, social commentary, and current affairs. Questions test your ability to identify main ideas, understand vocabulary in context, make inferences, interpret figures of speech, and draw logical conclusions. Comprehension questions carry 3 marks each, making this the highest-scoring section. The cloze test questions carry 2 marks each and require strong grammar and vocabulary skills.
Study tip: Read at least two passages every day from newspapers, textbooks, or JAMB past questions. After reading, summarise the main idea in one sentence and identify any unfamiliar words. This daily habit sharpens both speed and comprehension accuracy.
2. The Approved JAMB Novel — The Lekki Headmaster
For the 2026/2027 UTME session, the approved novel is “The Lekki Headmaster” by Kabir Alabi Garba. JAMB typically sets 5 to 8 questions from this novel, covering themes (such as education, morality, and corruption), characters and their roles, the plot and major events, the setting, and literary techniques used by the author. Each novel question carries 1 mark.
Study tip: Read the novel at least twice. On your first reading, focus on the story. On the second reading, take notes on each chapter — list the characters introduced, major events, and any moral lessons. Pay attention to how the author uses language, as JAMB may ask about literary devices within the novel.
3. Lexis and Structure
Lexis and Structure is the section that tests your raw English language skills, and it forms a critical part of the area of concentration for JAMB English Language. It covers four sub-areas:
Sentence Interpretation: You are given a sentence and asked to choose the option that best explains its meaning. These questions test your understanding of idiomatic expressions, implied meanings, and contextual usage. They carry 2 marks each.
Antonyms: You identify words with opposite meanings. A word is highlighted within a sentence, and you select the option that is most opposite in meaning. These carry 2 marks each and are among the easiest to prepare for with consistent vocabulary study.
Synonyms: Similar to antonyms but in reverse — you find the word closest in meaning. These carry 1 mark each. Building a strong vocabulary through daily word lists is the most effective preparation strategy.
Sentence Completion: You fill in blanks with the correct word or phrase to make a grammatically complete sentence. This tests your knowledge of tenses, prepositions, concord (subject-verb agreement), articles, and phrasal verbs. Each question carries 1 mark.
4. Oral English (Oral Forms)
Oral English is the section many candidates overlook, yet it appears every year as part of the area of concentration for JAMB English Language. It covers three key areas:
Vowels and Consonants: You identify the correct vowel or consonant sound in a given word. English has 20 vowel sounds (12 pure vowels and 8 diphthongs) and 24 consonant sounds. JAMB tests your ability to distinguish between similar-sounding words and to correctly identify phonetic symbols.
Stress and Intonation: Word stress questions ask you to identify which syllable carries the primary stress in a word. Emphatic stress questions present a sentence and ask you to determine which word is stressed to convey a particular meaning. These require practice with multi-syllable words.
Rhymes and Sound Patterns: You identify pairs of words that share similar sounds (rhymes) or pick the word with a different sound pattern from a group. This tests your awareness of English pronunciation rather than spelling.
Mark Allocation per Section
Knowing how marks are distributed is just as important as knowing the area of concentration for JAMB English Language itself. The table below shows how each section contributes to your total score.
| Section | Marks Per Question | Estimated Total Marks |
| Comprehension Passages | 3 marks each | ~30–36 |
| Cloze Test / Summary | 2 marks each | ~20 |
| Novel Questions | 1 mark each | ~5–8 |
| Sentence Interpretation | 2 marks each | ~10–12 |
| Antonyms | 2 marks each | ~10–12 |
| Synonyms | 1 mark each | ~3–5 |
| Sentence Completion | 1 mark each | ~5–6 |
| Oral English | 1 mark each | ~8–11 |
| Total | — | ~100 |
As the table shows, Comprehension alone can account for over a third of your total score. This is why every serious student reviewing the area of concentration for JAMB English Language should prioritise comprehension passages and cloze tests above all other sections.
Key Grammar Topics to Master
Beyond the broad sections listed in the area of concentration for JAMB English Language, there are specific grammar concepts that appear repeatedly in JAMB questions. Make sure you study these thoroughly:
Tenses: Present simple, present continuous, past simple, past perfect, future tenses, and their correct usage in different contexts. JAMB frequently tests whether candidates can identify the correct tense in a sentence.
Concord (Subject-Verb Agreement): Rules for matching singular and plural subjects with the correct verb forms. Pay special attention to collective nouns, indefinite pronouns (everyone, nobody, each), and compound subjects.
Parts of Speech: Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, pronouns, and interjections — know how each functions in a sentence and how to identify them.
Figures of Speech: Simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, euphemism, and alliteration. JAMB tests these both in comprehension passages and in standalone questions.
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: Common English idioms (e.g., “to burn the midnight oil”, “a stone’s throw”) and phrasal verbs (e.g., “look into”, “put off”, “break down”) are tested frequently. Study at least 50 common idioms and 30 phrasal verbs.
Question Tags: Rules for forming correct question tags based on the main clause. Positive statements take negative tags and vice versa.
Recommended Textbooks
The JAMB syllabus recommends several textbooks to help you cover the full area of concentration for JAMB English Language. These include:
“Countdown English Language” (Revised Edition) by Ogunsanwo, O., Duruaku, A. B.C., Ezechukwu, J. and Nwachukwu, U. I. — published by Evans Brothers. This is one of the most widely used texts for JAMB preparation.
“Intensive English for Senior Secondary School 3” by Oluikpe, B. O. A. and others — published by Africana First Publishers.
“Objective Tests for School Certificate English” by Tomori, S. H. O. — published by Heinemann. Excellent for practice questions on lexis, structure, and idiom.
“Catch-up English for SSCE/UME” by Ukwuegbu, C. and others — published by Heinemann.
“The Lekki Headmaster” by Kabir Alabi Garba — the approved JAMB novel for the 2026/2027 session.
7 Practical Tips to Score 80+ in JAMB English
Mastering the area of concentration for JAMB English Language is only half the battle. Here are seven actionable strategies to convert your knowledge into a high score:
- Start with past questions. Work through JAMB English past questions from the last 10 years. You will notice repeated patterns in comprehension, antonyms, and oral English that help you predict what to expect.
- Read the novel early. Do not wait until a week before the exam. Read “The Lekki Headmaster” at least two months ahead so you have time to review and take notes.
- Build vocabulary daily. Learn 10 new words every day with their synonyms and antonyms. Use flashcards or a vocabulary notebook to reinforce what you learn.
- Practise oral English with audio. Listen to phonetic pronunciation guides online. Oral English is difficult to study from textbooks alone — hearing the sounds makes a significant difference.
- Time yourself during practice. You have a limited time window in the CBT. Practise answering 60 questions within the allotted time to build speed and confidence.
- Focus on comprehension first. Since comprehension questions carry the most marks (3 marks each), dedicate at least 30% of your study time to reading passages and answering questions.
- Avoid random guessing. If you are unsure, eliminate the options you know are wrong before selecting your answer. Strategic elimination improves your chances significantly.
Where to Access the Official JAMB Syllabus
You can download the official 2026/2027 JAMB Use of English syllabus in PDF format directly from the JAMB website at www.jamb.gov.ng. Navigate to the “Syllabus” section, select “Use of English” from the subject list, and download the PDF to your device. The syllabus is free and contains the complete list of topics, objectives, and recommended textbooks.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in JAMB English Language?
The JAMB Use of English paper contains 60 questions. These are distributed across comprehension, cloze test, the approved novel, sentence interpretation, antonyms, synonyms, sentence completion, and oral English.
What is the approved JAMB novel for 2026?
The approved novel for the 2026/2027 JAMB UTME is “The Lekki Headmaster” by Kabir Alabi Garba. Expect between 5 and 8 questions from this novel, covering characters, themes, plot, and literary devices.
Is Oral English difficult to prepare for?
Oral English can feel challenging if you rely only on textbooks. The best approach is to combine written study with audio resources. Learn the 44 English sounds (20 vowels and 24 consonants), practise identifying stress patterns in multi-syllable words, and use past JAMB questions focused on oral forms. This section is a consistent part of the area of concentration for JAMB English Language and should not be ignored.
Can I score 80+ by studying only the areas of concentration?
Studying the areas of concentration gives you a strong foundation, but combining it with consistent past question practice, daily reading, and vocabulary building is what pushes your score above 80. The areas of concentration tell you what to study — how well you study determines your score.
Does JAMB repeat English questions?
JAMB does not repeat questions word for word, but it frequently recycles similar question patterns, vocabulary, and grammar concepts from previous years. This is why practising past questions is one of the most effective preparation strategies.
How should I split my study time for JAMB English?
Based on the area of concentration for JAMB English Language, a practical split is: 30% comprehension and cloze test, 20% the approved novel, 25% lexis and structure (antonyms, synonyms, sentence completion, sentence interpretation), 15% grammar and figures of speech, and 10% oral English. Adjust based on your personal strengths and weaknesses.
Conclusion
Scoring high in JAMB English Language does not require luck — it requires focused, strategic preparation. This guide on the area of concentration for JAMB English Language for the 2026/2027 UTME session gives you a clear roadmap: the exact topics JAMB tests, how marks are distributed, the approved novel to read, recommended textbooks, and seven proven tips to boost your performance.
Start your preparation today. Download the official JAMB syllabus, get a copy of “The Lekki Headmaster,” work through past questions daily, and build your vocabulary consistently. With the right focus and effort, scoring 80 and above in JAMB English is absolutely within your reach. Good luck!