Peter OgbemudiaThe Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has recently issued the Jamb Syllabus For English 2026 and every serious student planning to take the 2026 UTME should have a solid understanding of it as soon as possible.
You cannot avoid writing the English language paper, no matter the kind of student you are, be it a science, art, or commercial student. It is mandatory, and in the case of the majority of the students, it is either the difference between being accepted to the school of their preference or retrying the next year.
The JAMB 2026 syllabus in English is created to examine four key areas:
1. Comprehension and Summary
2. Lexis and Structure
3. Oral (Phonetics and Sound Recognition) Forms.
4. Literary Appreciation
The new update of 2025 focuses more on the comprehension and structure as compared to the past years. Most tutors won’t tell you that but it is obvious given the new flow of topics and the suggested titles.
Students who base their study on these areas and not random grammar drills have a greater chance of succeeding.
Breakdown of the JAMB Syllabus for English 2026
We will explore the various sections of the syllabus one by one.
1. Comprehension and Summary
This section is a test of reading, comprehension, and inference of passages.
You’ll be tested on:
– Central Ideas
– Supporting details
– Drawn conclusions
– Contextual meaning of words and phrases.
– Summarizing passages
Tips:
– Train on a single passage per day and time yourself.
– Do not think too hard over answers. In this section logical reasoning and not deep analysis are tested in JAMB.
2. Lexis and Structure
This part translates to everything vocabulary and grammar.
Topics include:
– Synonyms and antonyms
– Sentence completion
– Phrasal verbs
– Idioms
– Clauses and phrases
– Concord (subject-verb agreement)
– Prepositions
– Parts of speech
Pro tip: Study about how words work in context, not in isolation. It will not be much help to memorize words in the dictionary. Instead, focus on usage.
3. Oral Forms (Sound Systems)
This aspect of the syllabus can be a challenge to you in case you have always had a hard time distinguishing between the vowel sound and stress patterns. But all you need is practice.
Topics include:
– Vowels and consonants
– Diphthongs
– Stress patterns
– Intonation
– Rhymes
– Homophones and homonyms
Study Tip: watch YouTube channels that specialize in phonetics or locate audio flashcards. You must be able to train your ear there.
4. Literary Appreciation
This part remains a nightmare, as it is full of poetry, prose, and drama. However, it is very predictable after reading the designated texts.
Key focus areas include:
– Figures of speech: metaphor, simile, alliteration, and personification.
– Poems and short stories—themes and messages.
– Narrative voice and tone
– Cultural context
Reading of the suggested readings is not enough: analyze it.
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New Changes in the JAMB Syllabus for English 2026
This is where most of the students lack at this point. The overall frame has not evolved radically, but there are minor changes in focus:
1. Grammar is a more central place. There will be structure-based questions.
2. The contextual focus of lexical items is stressed rather than synonyms.
3. In a few of the recent practice tests, more than one comprehension passage is included.
4. Figures of speech are more difficult—they have now become involved in commentary, not distinct lines.
Hint: Questions have now been combined with grammar knowledge and interpretation ability.
Secret Study Techniques Not in the Official Syllabus
These are special methods that experienced students and teachers employ to get ready for English—things that are not on the list but which work mighty well:
1. Do Reverse Engineering
Rather than only practicing questions, rewrite your own questions from newspaper or blog articles as comprehension questions. It trains your thinking.
2. Audio Reading Sessions
Record articles, read them, and play them to yourself. This enhances oral understanding and pronunciation marks.
3. 2-1-1 Study Model
Spend:
– 2 hours on comprehension
– 1 hour on grammar
– 1 hour on oral skills
Do this consistently weekly. It creates moderate strength in all the sections that are tested.
Common Mistakes Students Make with the JAMB Syllabus for English 2026
Many students:
– Do not pay attention to the oral part at all.
– Just read and do not learn why an answer is correct or incorrect.
– Learn definitions and do not practice.
– Skip novel chapters.
Whether you are guilty of these or not, get yourself a new strategy.
How to Use the JAMB Syllabus for English 2026 During Revision
Do not simply read the syllabus and then put it away. Print it. Study it. Indicate every topic when you are good at it.
Make a checklist out of it with the following indicated:
– Topics understood ✅
– Subjects studied two or more times ✅✅
– Topics you’re still weak in ❌
Strategies That Can Boost Your Score
1. Leave difficult questions, and revisit them.
2. The initial 20 minutes should be spent on the comprehension—this consumes the most energy.
3. Don’t be too much of a second-guesser.
4. Sometimes read the questions first and then the comprehension. It gives focus.
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Conclusion
The Jamb Syllabus for English 2026 is not a document to be downloaded and forgotten. It is a clever roadmap by the examining body so as to know what to research precisely. Those students who take it seriously are always at an advantage.
As with grammar and comprehension and as with oral and literary texts, you have seen how JAMB develops its questions. The best part? Nothing is hidden. All you have to do is adhere to the outline, stick to a plan, and be consistent.
Start studying. There’s work to do.
Peter Ogbemudia
