The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Use of English exam is a crucial subject for all candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Nigeria. This section assesses a student’s proficiency in English, including grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, and writing skills. Mastering this subject is essential for securing a high JAMB score and gaining admission into a preferred university.
This guide provides an A to Z breakdown of the JAMB Use of English exam, including topics covered, exam format, preparation strategies, and tips for success.
A Antonyms and Synonyms
A strong vocabulary is essential for JAMB Use of English. Candidates must understand antonyms (opposite meanings) and synonyms (similar meanings), which are commonly tested in the exam.
Example Question:
Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word:
- The teacher gave a concise explanation.
-
- Brief
-
- Short
-
- Lengthy ?
-
- Clear
-
B Basic Grammar Rules
JAMB tests fundamental grammar principles, including subject-verb agreement, tenses, prepositions, conjunctions, and sentence structure. Understanding these rules helps candidates avoid common errors.
Example:
Incorrect: She go to school every day.
Correct: She goes to school every day.
C Comprehension Passages
Candidates will answer questions based on a given passage. This section tests reading skills, inference, and understanding of the passages theme.
Tips for Answering Comprehension Questions:
- Read the passage carefully before looking at the questions.
- Identify the main idea and key points.
- Use context clues to interpret difficult words.
D Determiners
Determiners such as articles (a, an, the), possessives (my, your), and demonstratives (this, that) are frequently tested.
Example:
Choose the correct determiner:
- I saw ___ elephant at the zoo.
-
- a
-
- an ?
-
- the
-
- those
-
E Error Detection
JAMB often includes questions where candidates identify grammatical mistakes in sentences.
Example:
Find the incorrect part:
- The book which you borrowed (A) from the library (B) is more interesting (C) than the one I bought (D).
- Answer: No error ?
F Figure of Speech
Understanding metaphors, similes, personification, hyperbole, and irony is essential for literary appreciation.
Example Question:
Identify the figure of speech:
- The world is a stage.
-
- Metaphor ?
-
- Simile
-
- Hyperbole
-
- Personification
-
G Gap-Filling Exercises
JAMB includes fill-in-the-blank questions to test grammar and vocabulary.
Example:
- She ____ the letter before leaving the office.
-
- wrote
-
- writes
-
- written
-
- writing
-
Correct Answer: A) wrote
H Homophones and Homonyms
Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings, while homonyms are words with the same spelling but different meanings.
Example:
- Their/There/They’re going to the market. (Correct answer: They’re)
I Idiomatic Expressions
Idioms are commonly tested in the JAMB Use of English exam. Candidates should understand their meanings rather than their literal translations.
Example:
- The politician kicked the bucket last night.
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- Retired
-
- Traveled
-
- Died ?
-
- Won an election
-
J JAMB Recommended Texts
JAMB prescribes literature texts that students must read. Candidates should familiarize themselves with themes, characters, and literary devices in these books.
K Key Strategies for High Scores
To excel in JAMB Use of English, candidates should:
- Practice past questions regularly.
- Improve reading speed and comprehension skills.
- Expand vocabulary by learning new words daily.
- Master basic grammar rules and essay writing.
L Lexis and Structure
This section tests knowledge of word usage, sentence structure, and expressions in English.
Example Question:
Choose the correct word:
- The student was ____ by the news.
-
- Excite
-
- Exciting
-
- Excited ?
-
- Excitation
-
M Main Ideas in Passages
Candidates should learn to identify the central theme of passages and understand the author’s purpose.
N Narrative Essay Writing
JAMB often requires candidates to write an essay (e.g., narrative, argumentative, descriptive, or expository).
Tips for Essay Writing:
- Use correct grammar and punctuation.
- Organize ideas logically.
- Provide relevant examples.
- Keep the introduction and conclusion clear.
O Oral English
JAMB includes phonetics, vowel and consonant sounds, stress patterns, and intonation in its syllabus.
Example:
- Choose the word with a different sound:
-
- Ship
-
- Sheep ?
-
- Slip
-
- Sip
-
P Past Questions and Practice Tests
Regularly solving past JAMB questions improves familiarity with question patterns and boosts confidence.
Q Qualitative Adjectives
These describe the quality of a noun (e.g., beautiful, tall, intelligent). Understanding their usage is essential.
R Reading Speed and Time Management
Practicing speed reading helps candidates complete the comprehension section faster.
S Sentence Completion
This tests grammar, tenses, and word usage.
Example:
- She _____ to the market every Saturday.
-
- go
-
- goes ?
-
- gone
-
- going
-
T Tenses and Their Uses
Candidates must understand past, present, and future tenses to avoid common grammatical errors.
Example:
- By this time tomorrow, I ____ finished the assignment.
-
- will have ?
-
- has
-
- will has
-
- have
-
U Understanding Parts of Speech
Candidates must master nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, and conjunctions.
V Vocabulary Building
Expanding vocabulary improves performance in synonyms, antonyms, and comprehension.
W Writing Skills
Good writing skills are essential for essay writing and answering comprehension questions.
X Exam Day Preparation
- Get enough sleep before the exam.
- Arrive early at the exam center.
- Read each question carefully before answering.
Y Your JAMB Score Matters
A high JAMB Use of English score increases your chances of gaining admission into your desired university.
Z Zero Errors Approach
Avoid spelling and grammatical mistakes to maximize your score.
JAMB Use of English is an essential subject that requires strong grammar skills, vocabulary knowledge, and reading comprehension. By following this A to Z guide, candidates can improve their performance and achieve a high score in the UTME.
