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Most Important Topics To Study In Jamb Use Of English Exam: Updated Guide (2025/2026)

The JAMB Use of English exam is a critical component of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Nigeria. It is compulsory for all candidates, regardless of their intended course of study, and carries the highest weight, contributing 100 marks to the total score.

The exam tests candidates’ proficiency in English and evaluates their understanding of grammar, comprehension, writing skills, and communication abilities. To excel in this section, it’s essential to focus on key topics that are frequently tested. This updated guide for the 2025/2026 academic session highlights the most important topics to study, preparation strategies, and tips for scoring high marks.

Overview of the JAMB Use of English Exam Structure

The JAMB Use of English exam comprises 60 questions divided into three sections:

1. Comprehension and Summary:

• Comprehension passage with 5-10 questions.
• Summary passage with 5-8 questions.

2. Lexis and Structure:

• 15-20 questions on grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure.

3. Oral English:

• 10-15 questions on phonetics, stress patterns, and intonation.

Each section focuses on different aspects of English proficiency, making it crucial to prepare holistically.

Most Important Topics to Study for the JAMB Use of English Exam

1. Comprehension Passages

Comprehension passages test your ability to read, understand, and analyze texts. Questions are designed to assess your grasp of the passage’s main idea, supporting details, tone, and vocabulary in context.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Identifying the main idea and theme of a passage.
• Understanding contextual meanings of words and phrases.
• Analyzing the tone and mood of the passage.
• Interpreting the author’s intent or purpose.

Preparation Tips:

• Practice reading comprehension passages daily from JAMB past questions and recommended textbooks.
• Use a dictionary to learn the meanings of unfamiliar words.
• Summarize passages in your own words to improve understanding.
• Time yourself while answering comprehension questions to build speed and accuracy.

2. Summary Writing

The summary section evaluates your ability to identify key points in a passage and condense them into concise sentences. This skill is essential for effective communication and writing.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Identifying main points in a passage.
• Writing clear and concise sentences.
• Avoiding repetition and unnecessary details.
• Understanding the context and focus of the passage.

Preparation Tips:

• Practice summarizing short articles and essays, focusing on their main ideas.
• Avoid lifting sentences directly from the passage during the exam.
• Use your own words while maintaining the meaning of the text.

3. Lexis and Structure

Lexis and structure test your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, and sentence construction. This section forms a significant part of the exam and requires focused study.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Grammar:
  • Parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs).
  • Concord (subject-verb agreement).
  • Tenses (present, past, future).
  • Clauses and phrases.
• Vocabulary:
  • Synonyms and antonyms.
  • Word meanings in context.
  • Idiomatic expressions and proverbs.
• Sentence Structure:
  • Correct sentence patterns.
  • Active and passive voice.
  • Direct and indirect speech.

Preparation Tips:

• Study grammar rules using textbooks like Current English Grammar by S. Adejumo.
• Learn at least 5 new words daily and practice using them in sentences.
• Solve past questions on lexis and structure to understand JAMB’s style of testing.

4. Oral English

Oral English tests your understanding of phonetics, stress, and intonation, which are essential for effective communication. This section includes questions on vowel sounds, consonant sounds, syllable stress, and sentence intonation.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Phonetics:
  • Types of vowel and consonant sounds.
  • Diphthongs and monophthongs.
  • Phonetic symbols and transcription.
• Stress Patterns:
  • Primary and secondary stress in words.
  • Sentence stress and rhythm.
• Intonation:
  • Rising and falling intonation patterns in sentences.

Preparation Tips:

• Use oral English textbooks like Countdown to English to learn phonetics and stress patterns.
• Practice pronouncing words using online tools like Forvo.
• Listen to English news broadcasts and podcasts to improve your intonation and rhythm.

5. Registers

Registers refer to words and phrases used in specific fields or professions, such as medicine, law, education, and sports. Questions in this area test your ability to identify and use context-appropriate vocabulary.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Common registers in law, health, education, sports, and technology.
• Contextual meanings of words in different fields.

Preparation Tips:

• Study registers from past JAMB questions and recommended textbooks.
• Memorize field-specific vocabulary and practice using them in sentences.

6. Literary Devices

Literary devices are often tested in comprehension passages or as standalone questions. Understanding these devices helps you interpret texts more effectively.

Key Areas to Focus On:

• Figures of speech (simile, metaphor, personification, irony).
• Poetic devices (rhyme, rhythm, alliteration).
• Stylistic devices (imagery, symbolism).

Preparation Tips:

• Familiarize yourself with definitions and examples of literary devices.
• Practice identifying literary devices in poems, essays, and past questions.

7. Sentence Completion

Sentence completion questions test your knowledge of grammar, vocabulary, and context. Candidates must choose the best word or phrase to complete a sentence meaningfully.

Preparation Tips:

• Focus on collocations and commonly used phrases.
• Study grammar rules and sentence patterns.
• Solve past questions to identify common sentence completion trends.

8. Idiomatic Expressions and Proverbs

Idiomatic expressions and proverbs are frequently tested in the Use of English exam. These questions evaluate your understanding of figurative language and cultural expressions.

Preparation Tips:

• Memorize common idioms and their meanings.
• Study Nigerian proverbs and their interpretations.
• Practice identifying idiomatic expressions in sentences.

General Tips for Excelling in the JAMB Use of English Exam

1. Start Early

Begin your preparation months before the exam to ensure adequate coverage of all topics.

2. Use Recommended Textbooks

Some recommended textbooks for the JAMB Use of English exam include:

• The Invisible Teacher by A.U. Akubue.
• New Concept English Series by L.G. Alexander.
• Essential Oral English by I.U. Udoka.

3. Practice Past Questions

Solve at least 10 years of past JAMB questions to identify patterns and repeated topics.

4. Take Mock Tests

Mock tests help simulate the exam environment and improve time management skills.

5. Improve Your Reading Speed

Read newspapers, novels, and online articles regularly to enhance your reading speed and comprehension skills.

6. Join Study Groups

Collaborate with peers to share knowledge and solve challenging questions.

7. Stay Consistent

Dedicate time daily to studying and reviewing key topics.

Conclusion

The JAMB Use of English exam is pivotal to your overall UTME performance, and excelling in it requires focused preparation. By concentrating on important topics such as comprehension passages, grammar, vocabulary, oral English, and literary devices, you can achieve a high score.

Use this guide as a roadmap, practice diligently, and maintain confidence in your abilities. With dedication and the right strategies, success in the JAMB Use of English exam is well within your reach. Best of luck!