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JAMB Yoruba syllabus.

20 topics, with subtopics and objectives.

About this syllabus official

Summarised from the examining body's own published syllabus. 20 topics, verified 2026-10-24.

The document does not print a validity period for the syllabus as a whole. The prescribed poetry text (Àdéwọlé, Èdè Abínibí àti Àwọn Àròfò Mìíràn) is assigned page ranges per year: pp 1-50 (2026), pp 51-83 (2027), pp 84-116 (2028), pp 117-152 (2029), pp 153-216 (2030).

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/Yoruba.c9f0848e61ff86f1349b.pdf

General objectives

  • stimulate and sustain interest in Yorùbá language, literature and culture
  • acquire basic knowledge and skill in Yorùbá language, literature and material and non-material aspects of culture

Topics

1. Comprehension (SS 1-3)

  • prose
  • verse

You should be able to:

  • identify central issues in a passage and draw appropriate conclusions
  • determine basic assumptions and express ideas
  • identify the meanings and functions of given phrases and sentences

2. Essay writing (SS 1-3)

  • argumentative
  • descriptive
  • narrative
  • letter writing (formal and informal) etc.

You should be able to:

  • identify different types of essay
  • apply different types of techniques associated with each type

3. Sound system (SS 1-3)

  • production of sounds (consonants and vowels)
  • tones and tone change
  • syllable structure
  • sound processes: co-vowel occurrence, elision, deletion, etc.

You should be able to:

  • identify organs of speech, speech sounds and parameters for describing each speech sound
  • determine their correct usages
  • detect linguistic errors (pronunciations and wrong usages)
  • determine the syllable components of words
  • demonstrate knowledge of the basic principles underlying the relationship between sounds

4. Grammar (SS 1-3)

  • morphology: word-formation
  • loan-word integration
  • word classes: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions, etc.
  • phrases and clauses: types and functions
  • sentences: types, structures and functions

You should be able to:

  • demonstrate good knowledge of word derivation
  • demonstrate knowledge of word adoption
  • identify the appropriate class a word belongs to
  • demonstrate knowledge and understanding of Yorùbá syntax
  • identify the types, structures and functions of sentences

5. Current orthography (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

  • present ideas in acceptable written form

6. Translation (SS 1-3)

You should be able to:

  • interpret sentences and ideas in accordance with acceptable principles

7. Oral literature: Prose (Ìtàn Àròsọ) (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed text: Babalọlá, A. (2023). Àkójọpọ̀ Àlọ́ Ìjàpá (Apá Kejì). Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc.

You should be able to:

  • identify central issues, problems and the component parts of ideas presented in the work of art
  • draw moral lessons from the text
  • identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text
  • draw appropriate conclusions

8. Oral literature: Drama (Eré Oníṣe) (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed text: Ògúnníran, L. (2022). Eégún Aláré. Ìbàdàn: Golden Pen Publishers.

You should be able to:

  • identify the type of drama
  • extract the narrative techniques in the drama
  • identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the drama
  • identify the central theme of the work
  • interpret same in accordance with acceptable principles of the society

9. Written literature: Prose (Ìtàn Àròsọ) (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed text: Ìṣọ̀lá, A. (2023). Ogún Ọmọdé. Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc.

You should be able to:

  • demonstrate good knowledge of ideas in the work of art
  • draw moral lessons from the text
  • identify the narrative techniques in the text
  • identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text

10. Written literature: Poetry (Ewì) (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed text: Àdéwọlé, O. (2023). Èdè Abínibí àti Àwọn Àròfò Mìíràn. Ìbàdàn: University Press Plc.
  • pages by year: pp 1-50 (2026), pp 51-83 (2027), pp 84-116 (2028), pp 117-152 (2029), pp 153-216 (2030)

You should be able to:

  • deduce the import of written works of art and genres
  • identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poem

11. Written literature: Drama (Eré Onítàn) (SS 1-3)

  • prescribed text: Fádíyà, O. (2023). Ọ̀tẹ̀ Oyè. Ìbàdàn: Genius Books Publishers.

You should be able to:

  • identify the central theme of the work
  • interpret same in accordance with acceptable principles of the society
  • identify types of drama
  • identify the figurative and idiomatic expressions in the drama
  • extract the narrative techniques in the drama

12. Èrò àti Ìgbàgbọ́ (SS 1-3)

  • Olódùmarè
  • àkùdàáyà
  • emèrè
  • àjẹ́
  • àwọn irúnmọlẹ̀, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • distinguish traditional practices and acceptable ways of life from modern and common sense beliefs

13. Ètò Ìṣèlú àti Ààbò Ìlú (SS 1-3)

  • ẹgbẹ́ àti ọgbà
  • oyè jíjẹ àti àwọn ìjòyè
  • ogun jíjà, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • assess the functions and roles of individuals, chieftains and groups in ensuring peace, stability and continuity of society

14. Ètò Ìsìnkú àti Ogún Pínpín (SS 1-3)

  • òkú àgbà
  • òkú ọ̀fọ̀
  • òkú òòṣà
  • ìtúfọ̀
  • ilẹ̀ òkú gbígbẹ́
  • ìdí igi
  • mọ̀lẹ́bí
  • bàbá ìsìnkú, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • distinguish between traditional practices
  • relate them to funerals and inheritance

15. Òǹkà Yorùbá (SS 1-3)

  • oókan títí dé ọ̀kẹ́ kan (1–20,000)

You should be able to:

  • count in Yorùbá numerals
  • apply addition, deduction and division methods in Yorùbá

16. Ètò Ìgbéyàwó àti Ìsọmọlórúkọ (SS 1-3)

  • gbogbo ohun tó rọ̀ mọ́ ìgbéyàwó àti ìsọmọlórúkọ

You should be able to:

  • relate social activities and events to appropriate situations

17. Ètò Ìwòsàn (SS 1-3)

  • ìtọ́jú aláìsàn
  • ìtọ́jú àti ìgbẹ̀bí aboyún, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the best way of using the appropriate health care practices

18. Eré Ìdárayá (SS 1-3)

  • eré òṣùpá – àlọ́, bojúbojú, abbl.
  • eré ojúmọmọ – ìjàkadì, ayò, òkòtó, àrín, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • identify types of Yorùbá traditional games
  • identify rules and regulations guiding each game
  • mention values derived from each game

19. Iṣẹ́ Abínibí àti Oúnjẹ Ilẹ̀ Yorùbá (SS 1-3)

  • iṣẹ́-àgbẹ̀, ìṣọ̀nà, ìlù lílù, abbl.
  • oúnjẹ – àbàrí, iyán, ẹ̀wà, abbl.

You should be able to:

  • demonstrate adequate knowledge of the various traditional professions
  • compare various traditional professions
  • demonstrate knowledge of preparing each type of Yorùbá food
  • mention nutritional values of each food

20. Ẹ̀kọ́ Ilé (SS 1-3)

  • ìwà ọmọlúàbí àti àǹfààní rẹ̀

You should be able to:

  • identify acceptable patterns of behaviour and attitude that conform with societal norms and values

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