JAMB Igbo syllabus.

About this syllabus official

Summarised from the examining body's own published syllabus. 17 topics, verified 2026-10-24.

Current UTME syllabus as served by IBASS on 2026-10-24; JAMB does not print the applicable years in this document. The prescribed prose, poetry and drama texts carry publication years only, not years of application.

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/e-syllabus

Source: https://ibass.jamb.gov.ng/static/media/Igbo.7a09449bbeefc39b4f44.pdf

General objectives

• communicate and read effectively in Igbo
• analyse issues in the language
• interpret and explain figurative and idiomatic expressions in Igbo
• apply Igbo literature to daily life experiences and demonstrate Igbo cultural values

Topics

1. Essay (Edemede) (SS 1-3)

• basic principles of essay writing: introduction, body and conclusion
• basic essay types and their characteristics: narrative (Akọmakọ); descriptive and expository (Nkọwa na Nkọwami); argumentative (Mgbagha/Arụmarụụka); speech making (Ekwumekwu); letter writing (Edemleta); dialogue (Mkparịtaụka)

You should be able to:

• identify the basic principles of essay writing
• use words and expressions appropriate to a particular topic
• differentiate between different essay types
• describe the characteristics of essay types
• compare different types of essay
• criticize other people's essays

2. Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa) (SS 1-3)

• one passage of about one hundred and fifty (150) words

You should be able to:

• explain the meanings of difficult words
• give correct answers
• differentiate between figurative and idiomatic expressions from the passage
• deduce conclusion(s) based on the passage

3. Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ) (SS 1-3)

• vowels and consonants (Ụdaume na mgbochiume)
• syllabic nasals (ụdaimi)
• semi-vowel (Myiriụdaume)
• nasal homorganicity (ndagba myiriụdaume)
• syllable structure (nkeji mkpụrụokwu)
• vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume)
• vowel assimilation (olilo ụdaume)
• vowel elision and consonant elision (ndapụ ụdaume na ndapụ mgbochiume)
• tone and tone marking (Ụdaolu na Akara ụdaolu)

You should be able to:

• identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals
• distinguish between the speech sounds of the Igbo language
• recognise semi-vowels ('m' & 'n') and nasal homorganicity
• divide words into syllables
• identify the vowel groups in Igbo
• describe vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonant elision
• assign tone marks appropriately

4. Spelling and Spelling Rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe) (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

• detect words written correctly in Igbo
• determine appropriate word division in Igbo

5. Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo) (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

• indicate the Igbo orthography
• distinguish between the Igbo and English orthography

6. Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe) (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

• differentiate between standard Igbo and dialects
• use standard Igbo in their writings

7. Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n'Igbo) (SS 1-3)

• processes of word derivation: coinages, loans and loan-blends (Mmụbawanye mkpụrụokwu site n'usoro mmepụta, mkpụpụta, mbite na mbiọgwa)

You should be able to:

• differentiate between loan and coined words
• identify loan words and loan-blends in Igbo
• spell Igbo words appropriately

8. Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ) (SS 1-3)

• parts of speech (Nkejiasụsụ): nominals (mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye), dgz.
• the structure, types and characteristics of morpheme (Ndokọ, ụdị na njirimara mọfịm): free and bound (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe)
• the word (mkpụrụokwu)
• the phrase (nkebiokwu)
• the clause (nkebiahịrị): nominal, adverbial and adjectival (kemkpọaha, kenkwuwa na kenkọwa)
• the sentence (ahịrịokwu): simple (mfe), compound (ukwu), complex (mgbagwọ), dgz.

You should be able to:

• differentiate between grammatical categories
• identify parts of speech and their functions
• differentiate between types of affixes and their functions
• determine types and characteristics of morphemes
• identify words, phrases, clauses, sentences, their types and characteristics

9. Translation (Ntụgharị) (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

• translate English into Igbo and vice versa
• communicate effectively in Igbo and English

10. Literary devices (Atụmatụokwu) (SS 1-3)

• alliteration (bịambịa mgbochiume)
• assonance (bịambịa ụdaume)
• parallelism (kwunkwugha)
• metaphor (mbụrụ)
• simile (myiri)
• hyperbole (egbeokwu)
• personification (mmemmadụ)
• proverbs (ilu), dgz.

You should be able to:

• identify all literary devices in the passages
• interpret literary devices
• differentiate between types of literary devices
• use Igbo literary devices appropriately

11. Oral Literature (Agụmagụ Ọnụ/Agụmagụ Ọdịnala) (SS 1-3)

• folktales (ifo)
• myths (nkọmịrịkọ)
• legends (nkọkịrịkọ)
• poems (abụ)
• songs (uri)
• chants (mbem)
• riddles (agwụgwa)
• oral drama (ejije ọnụ)
• tongue-twister (okwuntụhị), dgz.

You should be able to:

• create folk stories, chants, riddles, oral drama etc.
• analyse various genres of oral literature
• present ideas/formulae in accordance with underlying principles
• apply the lessons of oral literature to their everyday life

12. Written Literature: Prose (Iduuazị) (SS 1-3)

• prescribed text: Tony U. Ubesie (1993). Jụọ Obinna. Oxford University Press.

You should be able to:

• interpret the text
• isolate the characters in the book
• identify figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text
• analyse the text
• identify the author, publisher and date of publication
• draw moral lessons from the text

13. Written Literature: Poetry (Abụ) (SS 1-3)

• prescribed text: Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014). Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd.
• Abụ ndị a họpụtara (selected poems):
• 1. Ọchịchị (pp 18-19)
• 2. Onye Ndu (pp 22-23)
• 3. Nne Ọma (pp 29-30)
• 4. Oke Ọchịchọ (pp 40-41)
• 5. Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma (pp 53-54)
• 6. Ihe Ụwa (pp 60-61)
• 7. Jiri Nwayọ (pp 62-63)
• 8. Eziokwu (pp 65-66)
• 9. Mma (pp 67-69)
• 10. Nwanyị (pp 92-94)
• 11. Aja Ala (pp 101-103)
• 12. Ala Igbo (pp 108-111)
• 13. Ndụ M N'ụwa A (pp 131-132)
• 14. Ọjị (pp 150-151)
• 15. Ụwa Emebighi (pp 151-154)
• 16. Amamihe (pp 168-169)
• 17. Ndụ Nwaanyị (pp 178-180)
• 18. Nna M Ọgọenyi (pp 181-184)
• 19. Ụlọakwụkwọ (pp 192-193)
• 20. Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere (pp 249-252)

You should be able to:

• compare the types and themes of the poems
• relate the poet's idea to the contents of the poems
• compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poems
• analyse the structures of the poems
• apply acquired knowledge and moral lessons from the poems to their daily lives

14. Written Literature: Drama (Ejije) (SS 1-3)

• prescribed text: J. C. Maduekwe (1979). Otu Mkpịsị Aka. Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa).

You should be able to:

• identify the type of drama the text belongs to
• determine the themes in the text
• identify the story lines
• find out the characters in the book
• appreciate the language style of the play
• appraise the social problems raised by the author in the play
• apply acquired knowledge to their personal lives
• identify the moral lessons from the drama text

15. Igbo customs and institutions (SS 1-3)

• 1. Ekele dị iche iche: ekele ụtụtụ, ehihie, anyasị, nri, onye nọ n'ọrịa, nlakpu, ọrụ, dg.
• 2. Alụmdi na nwunye, ịgba alụkwaghịm
• 3. Ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ, ikupụta nwa, ibi ugwu, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze
• 4. Echichi: Nze na Ọzọ, Eze/Obi/Igwe, Iyọm/Lọọlọ
• 5. Ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe
• 6. Ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala
• 7. Ọgbọ/ebiri/uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ
• 8. Arụ na nsọala: ihe nsọ, anụ nsọ, osisi nsọ, ebe nsọ
• 9. Ọchịchị Ọdịnala: Igwe/Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, ụmụnna, ezinaụlọ, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, otu ọgbọ
• 10. Nnabata ọbịa, ọji na ịtu nzu, itu aha, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ
• 11. Ihe ofufe: ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, ịgọ mmụọ, ofufe
• 12. Ngwa ofufe: ọfọ, ikenga, okpesi
• 13. Nkwenye: ịdụ isi/ịṅụ iyi, ịgba ndụ, orikọ, ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi anụ, ịha/ịchụ mmiri, dg.
• 14. Akụnaụba: inwe ala, ike ala, iri ekpe, elulu (ịkpa ọkụkọ, ewu, dg.)
• 15. Abamaba: mmọnwụ, ọkọnkọ, ekpe, ọmabe, odo, dibịa, dg.
• 16. Egwuregwu: mgba, egwu ọnwa, ikpọ ọga, ịzụ ǹchọ, ịzụ okwe, ịgba/ịchọ oro, dg.
• 17. Akaọrụ ndị Igbo: ọrụ ugbo, ịkụ azụ, ịkpụ ụzụ, ịzụ ahịa, ịtụ ihe ọtụtụ, ịchụ nta, ime dibịa, ịkpụ ite, dg.
• 18. Emume: Ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji/iri ji, igbu ewu ukwu, iru mgbede, ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgụ afọ, dg.

You should be able to:

• describe the customs of their people
• determine the rules and regulations guiding specified aspects of the culture and tradition of the Igbo people
• describe the importance of the aspects of Igbo culture
• identify changes that have occurred as a result of civilization
• explore their environment for a better appreciation of their culture

16. General and current affairs (SS 1-3)

• topical issues in the Igbo language, literature and culture, e.g. Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo lectures and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo
• authors, publishers, dates and places of publication of works in Igbo
• Igbo Studies Association (ISA)

You should be able to:

• identify some dates, themes and functions of Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo lectures
• identify authors, publishers and dates of publication of various textbooks in Igbo
• acquaint themselves with the functions and contributions of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA)

17. Current issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ) (SS 1-3)

• item writers choose comprehension topics from current issues such as:
• HIV/AIDS, cancer and coronavirus (Ọrịa Mmịnwụ/Obirinaajaọcha, Awa eto na Ọrịa koro)
• drug abuse (Ịṅụ Ọgwụ Agharaaghara)
• cultism (Otu Nzuzo)
• rights of women and children (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka)
• human rights violation and child abuse (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike na Mmetọ Nwata)
• religious conflicts (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka)
• kidnapping (Ntọrọ Mmadụ)

You should be able to:

• acquaint themselves with current issues
• examine their effects
• suggest remedies to the problems