Home » JAMB Syllabus » The Literature-in-English syllabus covers all you are expected to see in your examinations, including physical and human geography, the environment, economic activities, settlement, and more.
Having the syllabus will equally inform you of what you’re expected to know from each of the topics.
Geography is a must if you are hoping to study courses like Geography, Metallurgical Science, Aeronautics and other environmental science-related courses
The recommended texts for the exam are also outlined below
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) 2024 syllabus in Literature in English is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives, which are to:
| JAMB LITERATURE IN ENGLISH | ||
|---|---|---|
| SN | TOPICS | OBJECTIVES |
| 1 | DRAMA | |
| Types: i. Tragedy ii. Comedy iii. Tragicomedy iv. Melodrama v. Farce vi. Opera etc. Dramatic Techniques i. Characterization ii. Dialogue iii. Flashback iv. Mime v. Costume vi. Music/Dance vii. Décor/scenery viii. Acts/Scenes ix. Soliloquy/aside x. Figures of Speech etc Interpretation of the Prescribed Texts i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Socio-political context iv. Setting | Candidates should be able to: i. identify the various types of drama; ii. analyze the contents of the various types of drama; iii. compare and contrast the features of different dramatic types; iv. demonstrate adequate knowledge of dramatic techniques used in each prescribed text; v. differentiate between styles of selected playwrights; vi. determine the theme of any prescribed text; vii. identify the plot of the play; viii. apply the lessons of the play to everyday living ix. identify the spatial and temporal setting of the play. | |
| 2 | PROSE | |
| Types: i. Fiction – Novel – Novella/Novelette – Short story ii. Non-fiction – Biography – Autobiography – Memoir iii. Faction: a combination of fact and fiction Narrative Techniques/Devices: i. Point of view – Omniscient/Third Person – First Person ii. Characterisation – Round, flat, foil, hero, antihero, etc iii. Language Textual Analysis i. Theme ii. Plot iii. Setting (Temporal/Spatial) iv. Socio-political context | Candidates should be able to: i. differentiate between types of prose; ii. identify the category that each prescribed text belongs to; iii. analyze the components of each type of prose; iv. identify the narrative techniques used in each of the prescribed texts; v. determine an author’s narrative style; vi. distinguish between one type of character from another; vii. determine the thematic preoccupation of the author of the prescribed text; viii. indicate the plot of the novel; identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel. ix. identify the temporal and spatial setting of the novel x. relate the prescribed text to real-life situations. | |
| 3 | POETRY | |
| Types: i. Sonnet ii. Ode iii. Lyrics iv. Elegy v. Ballad vi. Panegyric vii. Epic viii. Blank Verse, etc. Poetic devices i. Structure ii. Imagery iii. Sound(Rhyme/Rhythm, repetition, pun, onomatopoeia, etc.) iv. Diction v. Persona Appreciation i. Thematic preoccupation ii. Socio-political relevance iii. Style. | Candidates should be able to: i. identify different types of poetry; ii. compare and contrast the features of different poetic types: iii. determine the devices used by various poets; iv. show how poetic devices are used for aesthetic effect in each poem; v. deduce the poet’s preoccupation from the poem; vi. appraise poetry as an art with moral values; vii. apply the lessons from the poem to real-life situations | |
| 4 | GENERAL LITERARY PRINCIPLES | |
| Literary terms: foreshadowing, suspense, theater, monologue, dialogue, soliloquy, symbolism, protagonist, antagonist, figures of speech, satire, stream of consciousness, etc., in addition to those listed above under the different genres. Literary principles i. Direct imitation in play; ii. Versification in drama and poetry; iii. Narration of people’s experiences; iv. Achievement of aesthetic value, etc. Relationship between literary terms and principles. | Candidates should be able to: i. identify literary terms in drama, prose, and poetry; ii. identify the general principles of Literature; iii. differentiate between literary terms and principles; iv. use literary terms appropriately. | |
| 5 | LITERARY APPRECIATION | |
| Unseen passages/extracts from Drama, Prose, and Poetry. | Candidates should be able to: i. determine literary devices used in a given passage/extract; ii. provide a meaningful interpretation of the given passage/extract; iii. relate the extract to true life experiences |
Drama:
African:
Non-African:
Prose
African:
Non-African:
Poetry:
African:
Non-African:
RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Asides The Use of English, each question in the remaining 3 subjects is graded 2.5 marks. Hence, the three subjects carry 300 marks. For example: If you get 28 questions right in your Literature-in-English exam, the calculation will be 28 x 2.5 = 70% (in percentage).
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam is a two-hour exam. You are expected to complete all 4 subjects within the stipulated time
Practice! Practice and more practice!!!. Study past questions daily. Go through the syllabus and read every single topic under it.
to prepare for JAMB Literature-in-English, study the recommended syllabus provided by JAMB, review textbooks and study past questions. You can equally attend tutorials if necessary so you can interact and learn from others.
There is no official pass mark, but scores above 50 are considered good. However, ensure to score as high as you can. The higher you score, the better your chances of admission for your choice course and institution.
Common mistakes people make at JAMB include inadequate time management, zero knowledge of how to operate a computer and not studying their past questions or even reading the syllabus. Most candidates just read their school notes forgetting that JAMB Is not organized by their school. You can avoid these mistakes by studying the syllabus as well as past questions, improving your time management skills, and seeking clarification on unclear concepts.
You will be tasked to answer 40 questions.
Not at all. You can read and ace your exams yourself. All you need to do is to have a consistent reading habit.
However, tutorials can also help you prepare better, connect with your peers, and gauge your confidence levels.
