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JAMB Hausa syllabus.

23 topics, with subtopics and objectives.

About this syllabus official

Summarised from the examining body's own published syllabus. 23 topics, verified 2026-10-24.

The set-text list is headed 'List of set texts for the UTME 2026-2030'; the rest of the syllabus does not state applicable years.

Structure (sections, topics, contents and objectives) summarised from JAMB's publicly published UTME syllabus, with citation and link. The document itself is not reproduced or redistributed.

Source: https://ibass.jamb.gov.ng/static/media/Hausa.ca90bfcfca9f88527acf.pdf

Source: https://ibass.jamb.gov.ng/e-syllabus

General objectives

  • acquire the ability to read and write competently in the Hausa language
  • know the basic features of the Hausa language (syntax, phonology, morphology and semantics)
  • have basic knowledge of oral and written Hausa literature
  • appreciate the culture, customs and institutions of the Hausa people
  • translate competently from English to Hausa

Topics

1. Ƙa'idojin Rubutu (Orthography) (SS 1-3)

  • alphabetization
  • spelling
  • rules of word merger and division
  • punctuation and paragraphing, in line with standard Hausa

You should be able to:

  • recognize the basic Hausa orthographical rules
  • apply the Hausa orthographical rules
  • identify linguistic errors such as grammar, wrong choice of words, wrong spelling etc.

2. Auna Fahimta (Comprehension) (SS 1-3)

  • contextual questions from short unseen passages of about 200 words

You should be able to:

  • read written Hausa texts
  • comprehend Hausa text in a given context
  • interpret various meanings and functions of words in a given text
  • acquire sufficient vocabulary
  • recognize central issues in a given text
  • draw conclusions based on available evidence in a given text

3. Tsarin Rubutun Insha'i (Composition Techniques) (SS 1-3)

  • argumentative, descriptive, dialogue, expository, narrative and letter writing

You should be able to:

  • acquire the knowledge and techniques of composition writing in Hausa
  • recognize the different segments of composition in Hausa
  • recognize the different types of Hausa composition

4. Fassara (Translation) (SS 1-3)

  • ire-iren fassara (types of translation)
  • ƙa'idojin fassara (rules of translation)
  • matsalolin fassara (problems of translation)
  • dabarun fassara (techniques of translation)

You should be able to:

  • translate proverbial and idiomatic expressions and new words from English to Hausa
  • recognize the different types of translation
  • understand the basic techniques of translating proverbial and idiomatic expressions and new words into Hausa
  • identify the problems of translation into Hausa

5. Tsarin Sauti (Phonology) (SS 1-3)

  • consonants: production and classification by phonation, place and manner of articulation
  • vowels: production and classification by position of tongue and lips; monophthongs and diphthongs
  • tone, e.g. high, low and falling tones
  • syllable structure: open and closed, light and heavy syllables; monosyllabic, disyllabic words etc.
  • vowel length: long and short vowels
  • phonological processes: assimilatory (palatalization, labialization, vowel harmony); non-assimilatory (insertion and deletion)

You should be able to:

  • analyse the process of sound production and combination of sounds to form meaningful words in Hausa
  • appraise the importance of vowels in determining meaning
  • distinguish between the phonetic attributes of sounds
  • recognize the number of syllables and their types in a word
  • analyse the phonological processes in Hausa

6. Ƙirar Kalma (Morphology) (SS 1-3)

  • roots and stems
  • affixation: prefix, infix, suffix and their derivational and inflectional functions
  • gender and number inflections
  • derivation of nouns and adjectives from verbs; adjectives and verbs from nouns

You should be able to:

  • explain the roots and stems of Hausa words
  • explain the inflectional process in Hausa word formation
  • explain the derivational process of word formation in Hausa
  • differentiate between the two morphological processes

7. Ginin Jumla (Syntax) (SS 1-3)

  • word classes: nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and ideophones
  • grammatical categories: tense and aspect (general and relative past; general and relative continuous; first and second future; habitual); mood (subjunctive and negative); gender (masculine, feminine, neuter); number (singular and plural)
  • sentence structure: verbal sentence (nominal phrase + verbal phrase); non-verbal sentence (nominal phrase + stabilizer; nominal phrase + complement + stabilizer; nominal phrase + continuous frame (yana../yake...) (+da) + nominal phrase)
  • sentence types: simple, compound and complex
  • clauses: types (relative, subjunctive); functions (main, subordinate)

You should be able to:

  • analyse the processes governing word combination to form phrases, clauses and sentences in Hausa
  • detect linguistic errors in the grammar
  • recognize ideas or thoughts in written form
  • construct grammatical sentences for effective communication
  • use the appropriate tenses in spoken and written Hausa
  • use the appropriate gender and number in spoken and written Hausa
  • differentiate between types of sentence structure
  • distinguish between nominal and verbal phrases
  • distinguish between types of sentences
  • compare types of clauses

8. Ma'ana (Semantics) (SS 1-3)

  • lexical aspects of word meaning: ambiguity, synonym and antonym
  • figures of speech: specialized meanings of words and phrases, e.g. idioms, proverbs

You should be able to:

  • analyse the mechanisms of generating meanings in Hausa
  • build up their vocabulary
  • recognize the various meanings and functions of sentences in communication
  • use words and sentences suitable for a particular purpose
  • construct meaningful sentences for effective communication

9. Rayuwar Hausawa (Hausa customs) (SS 1-3)

  • haihuwa (birth): ɗaukar ciki, goyon ciki, haihuwa, shayarwa, al'adun makon farko, wanka, ɓanti, yaye, kaciya, samartaka
  • aure (marriage): ire-irensa, nema, baiko, ɗaurin aure, biki, zaman aure, saki, zawarci
  • mutuwa (death): faɗar mutuwa, wanka, salla, jana'iza, zaman makoki, sadaka, takaba, gado
  • tasirin zamani akan rayuwar Hausawa (influence of modernity)

You should be able to:

  • bayyana al'adun da ke tattare da ɗaukar ciki har zuwa samartaka
  • bayyana tasirin zamani a kan haihuwa
  • bayyana al'adun neman aure har zuwa zawarci
  • bayyana tasirin zamani akan aure
  • bayyana hanyoyin faɗar mutuwa zuwa rabon gado
  • bayyana tasirin zamani akan mutuwa
  • tantance ma'ana da ire-iren tasirin zamani

10. Zamantakewa (Social Institutions) (SS 1-3)

  • tsarin zaman iyali, zaman gandu, dangantakar kishiyoyi, 'yan uwantaka, barantaka, agolanci
  • maƙwabtaka
  • aikin gandu da na gayya
  • abota da ƙawance
  • gaisuwa da karamci
  • tasirin zamani a kan zamantakewa

You should be able to:

  • bayyana tsarin dangantaka da mu'amala tsakanin iyali
  • bayyana muhimmancin zamantakewa a tsakanin Hausawa
  • tantance ire-iren tasirin zamani a kan al'adun zamantakewa

11. Sana'o'in Gargajiya (Traditional Occupations) (SS 1-3)

  • ire-irensu: noma, ƙira, jima, kasuwanci, wanzanci, sassaƙa, farauta, dukanci, saƙa, kitso, rini, fawa, fafar ƙorai da sauransu
  • yanayinsu: hanyoyin gadonsu, kayayyakin yinsu, matakan tafiyar da su, muhimmancinsu
  • kayayyaki ko amfanin da suke samarwa
  • sarautunsu
  • sana'o'i masu dangantaka da jinsi: aikatau da ƙwadago; kitso da aski
  • tasirin zamani a kan sana'o'in gargajiya

You should be able to:

  • tantance ɗabi'un masu sana'a
  • tantance kayayyakin da ake sana'antawa
  • tantance sana'o'in maza da na mata
  • zayyana kayayyakin sana'o'in
  • tantance hanyoyin gadon sana'o'in
  • zayyana amfanin kayayyakin sana'o'in
  • bayyana sarautun sana'o'in
  • bayyana muhimmancin sana'o'in
  • tantance tasirin zamani akan sana'o'in

12. Kayayyakin Buƙatun Rayuwa (Material Culture) (SS 1-3)

  • na buƙatun cikin gida (household): tufafi da karikitan cikin gida
  • na sauran buƙatu (others): gine-gine da girke-girke da sauransu
  • tasirin zamani a kan kayayyakin buƙatuwa

You should be able to:

  • tantance kayayyakin buƙatun rayuwa na Hausawa
  • tantance amfanin kayayyakin buƙatun rayuwa na Hausawa
  • tantance tasirin zamani a kan kayayyakin buƙatun rayuwa na Hausawa

13. Bukukuwa da Wasanni (Hausa festivities and recreational activities) (SS 1-3)

  • na addini (religious): bikin salla, takutaha (sallar gani), cika-ciki, saukar karatu
  • na gargajiya (traditional): kalankuwa, buɗar dawa, bikin shan kabewa
  • na sana'a (occupational): bikin kamun kifi, dambe, kokawa, wasan farauta, wasan maƙera, hawan ƙaho
  • na nishaɗi: sukuwa
  • na yara (children's games): shalle, kulli-kurciya, a-sha-ruwan-tsuntsaye, gaɗa, carafke
  • tasirin zamani kan bukukuwa da wasanni

You should be able to:

  • zayyana ire-iren wasanni da bukukuwan Hausawa
  • nuna mahimancinsu
  • nuna yadda za a adana su kada su ɓace
  • nuna yadda ake gudanar da su
  • nuna tasirin zamani a kan bukukuwa da wasanni

14. Camfe-camfe da Bauta (Traditional Beliefs and Worship) (SS 1-3)

  • camfe-camfe: kangida, camfi, kambun baka, maita
  • bauta: bori da tsafi
  • tasirin zamani a kan camfe-camfe da bauta

You should be able to:

  • tantance ire-ire da hanyoyin aiwatar da su
  • bayyana amfaninsu
  • bayyana rashin amfaninsu
  • bayyana tasirin zamani a kansu

15. Sarautun Gargajiya (Traditional Authority) (SS 1-3)

  • ire-irensu: sarakuna, hakimai, dagatai, masu unguwanni
  • na bayin sarki: shantali, jakadiya, baraya da sauransu
  • masu alaƙa da addini: liman, alƙali
  • ayyukansu
  • tasirin zamani a kan sarautun gargajiya

You should be able to:

  • zayyana su ta fuskar ire-iren muƙamai
  • zayyana matakan muƙamai
  • tantance aikin kowane mai muƙami
  • tantance mahimmancin kowane muƙami
  • bayyana tasirin zamani a kansu

16. Magungunan Gargajiya (Traditional Medicine) (SS 1-3)

  • na gargajiya: sassaƙe-sassaƙe, sawyoyi, na gari, na ruwa
  • na addini: layu, rubutu, ɗibbu, duba
  • hanyar amfani da su: sha, shafawa, surace, turare, shaƙawa, taunawa, tsotsawa, ɗaurawa, liƙawa, ratayawa
  • tsarin amfani da su: awo da kimantawa
  • ayyukansu: riga-kafi da warkarwa
  • tasirin zamani a kansu

You should be able to:

  • karkasa ire-iren magunguna
  • zayyana hanyoyin amfani da su
  • fito da amfaninsu
  • nuna tasirin zamani a kansu

17. Zuben Baka (Narratives) (SS 1-3)

  • tatsuniya, almara, hikaya, ƙissa, tarihi da sauransu

You should be able to:

  • tantance nau'o'in zuben baka
  • amfani da kalmomin da suka dace da kan labari

18. Maganganun Azanci (Folk-sayings) (SS 1-3)

  • take, kirari, habaici, zambo, karin magana, kacici-kacici, salon magana, adon magana da sauransu

You should be able to:

  • tantance sigogi da bayyana hanyoyin amfani da su
  • naƙalta da amfani da kalmomin da suka dace da maganganun azanci

19. Waƙoƙin Baka (Oral songs) (SS 1-3)

  • ire-irensu: na fada, na jama'a, na maza, na sha'awa da sauransu
  • turke (jigo), salo, zubi, tsari, mawaƙi, kayan kiɗa, abin da aka waƙe
  • waƙoƙin aiki: na niƙa, daɓe, daka, talla da sauransu
  • waƙoƙin yara (maza da mata): na aure, na dandali da sauransu

You should be able to:

  • tantance ire-iren waƙoƙin baka
  • tantance masu yin ire-iren waƙoƙin
  • rarrabe siga da turke (jigo) da salo da zubi da kayayyakin aiwatar da su
  • tantance nau'o'in waƙoƙin aiki
  • tantance masu yin waƙoƙin aiki
  • bambance sigogin waƙoƙin yara

20. Wasannin Kwaikwayo na Gargajiya (Traditional Drama) (SS 1-3)

  • na yara: ire-irensu (langa, wasan 'yartsana, tashe, wasan gauta, dokin kara da sauransu); yadda ake yinsu; muhimmancinsu
  • na manya: ire-irensu ('yan kama, kalankuwa, hoto, wowwo, tashe da sauransu); yadda ake yinsu; muhimmancinsu

You should be able to:

  • tantance sigogin wasannin kwaikwayo na gargajiya
  • tantance hanyoyin gudanar da wasannin kwaikwayo na gargajiya
  • fito da muhimmancin wasannin kwaikwayo na gargajiya
  • fayyece bambancin wasan kwaikwayo na yara da na manya

21. Zube (Prose): Maraya (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed prose text: Maraya (Mahe, I. A.)

You should be able to:

  • tantance siga da tsari da jigo da salo da taurarin cikin littafin zube tare da nazarinsu
  • naƙaltar ƙa'idojin rubutu yayin karanta rubutun zube
  • naƙaltar ma'anonin kalmomi da na jumloli domin fahimtar labari
  • tantance muhimman saƙonni a cikin labari da yanke hukunci game da labarin

22. Waƙa (Poetry): Waƙoƙin Wayar Da Kai Don Manazarta Hausa Na Ɗaya (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed poetry text: Waƙoƙin Wayar Da Kai Don Manazarta Hausa Na Ɗaya (Anwar, A.)

You should be able to:

  • fahimtar jigo da salo da siga da zubi wajen nazarin zaɓaɓɓiyar waƙa
  • yin la'akari da ƙa'idojin rubutu musamman na waƙa
  • tantance ma'anonin kalmomi da na jumloli wajen nazarin waƙa
  • danganta amfani da kalmomi da jumloli da saƙon waƙa
  • tantance muhimman saƙonni a cikin waƙa da yanke hukunci game da ita

23. Wasan Kwaikwayo (Drama): Malam Zalimu (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed drama text: Malam Zalimu (Gidan Dabino, A. H.)

You should be able to:

  • tantance yanayin wurin wasa da jigo da salo da 'yan wasa da siga da tsarin rubutaccen wasan kwaikwayo da aka zaɓa don nazari
  • la'akari da muhimmancin ƙa'idojin rubutu wajen fitar da ma'ana
  • naƙaltar ma'anar kalmomi domin fahimtar wasa
  • tantance muhimman saƙonni a cikin wasa da yanke hukunci game da saƙonnin

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