Use of English is on of the major subject every UTME candidate must write before gaining admission into universities, and it carries 100 of your 400 marks. That makes it the most important paper subject in the whole examination. A good grade of your English score can help increase your aggregate, and a low mark can bring you below the cut-off mark for your course, no matter how well you do in your other subjects.
Now, the Past questions are the best material for you to study while preparing for this paper Subject. It give you clone on how JAMB set their examination test and asks questions, which most topics comes repeatedly, and how quickly you must work. But past questions only help if you use them very well to prepare for your exam. Listen carefully, reading a long list of questions and answers will not raise your score.
This article will shows you how to make use of JAMB English past questions in a rightful way. And you will also learn the structure of the paper materials, the most repeated topics that matter, how to build a study plan, and how to review your mistakes. You will also find an original practice test at the end, with every answer explained, so you can test yourself straight away.
Why JAMB Use of English Matters So Much
Every UTME candidate writes four subjects: Use of English and three subjects related to the course they want to study. Each subject is scored out of 100, so your total is out of 400. English is compulsory for everyone, which means it is the one subject where all candidates compete on equal ground.
It also affects your admission chances in a practical way. Universities set their own cut-off marks and post-UTME requirements, but a low English score makes it much harder to reach them. Candidates who ignore English because it feels “easy” often lose valuable marks they could have secured with only a few weeks of focused practice.
JAMB English Exam Format at a Glance
JAMB sets the UTME as a computer-based test (CBT). The English paper is entirely objective, which means every question is multiple choice. There is no essay or letter writing in the UTME English paper, although some older guides still mention it.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Subject status | Compulsory for all UTME candidates |
| Number of English questions | 60 multiple-choice questions |
| Marks for English | 100 out of 400 |
| Other subjects | 40 questions each for three other subjects |
| Total questions | 180 across all four subjects |
| Total time | About 2 hours for the whole paper |
| Question type | Objective only (no essay) |
| Format | Computer-based test at approved CBT centres |
Because the time covers all four subjects, you do not get a separate two hours for English. You must manage your time across the whole paper. We cover this in the time management section.
JAMB can adjust details from year to year, so always confirm the current format and rules on JAMB’s official website (jamb.gov.ng) and in the official information bulletin.
What the Syllabus Covers
JAMB’s Use of English syllabus is organised into three broad areas. Studying according to the syllabus helps you avoid wasting time on topics that will not be tested.
1. Comprehension and Summary
You read passages and answer questions about them. These questions test whether you can:
- Identify the main idea of a passage
- Find specific details
- Understand the meaning of words and phrases from context
- Draw conclusions and make inferences
- Recognise the writer’s tone and attitude
- Summarise a paragraph or a section
2. Lexis and Structure
This section covers vocabulary and grammar, and it typically carries a large share of the questions. Expect:
- Synonyms and antonyms
- Sentence completion
- Concord (subject-verb agreement)
- Tenses and verb forms
- Prepositions and phrasal verbs
- Idioms and figurative expressions
- Word classes (parts of speech)
- Sentence interpretation, which asks what a sentence means or implies
3. Oral Forms
This section tests your knowledge of spoken English, even though the exam is written. Typical questions cover:
- Vowel sounds and consonant sounds
- Rhymes
- Word stress (which syllable is emphasised)
- Emphatic stress in sentences
- Intonation patterns
Download the latest official syllabus from JAMBup website or read it in the latest information bulletin, and tick off each topic as you complete it.
The Prescribed Novel
JAMB includes a reading text in the Use of English syllabus. For the 2026 UTME, the prescribed text was The Lekki Headmaster by Kabir Alabi Garba. JAMB changes the text every few years, and some sources say it remains in use for the next cycle, but candidates should confirm the current prescribed text on JAMB’s official site before buying any book.
If the novel is part of your syllabus, read it at least twice. On the first read, follow the story. On the second, take notes on characters, themes, settings, key events, and the author’s style. Questions on the text may ask about plot, character roles, motifs, or the meaning of specific passages.
Why Past Questions Work
Past questions are valuable for several reasons:
- They reveal the style. JAMB writes questions in a recognisable way. After you practise enough, you start to see what the examiner wants.
- They show repeated topics. Certain concord rules, idioms and sound patterns appear again and again across years.
- They build speed. Timed practice trains you to answer quickly without panic.
- They expose weaknesses. When you keep missing the same type of question, you know what to revise.
- They build confidence. A familiar-looking paper feels less frightening.
Be careful with one thing. Questions are rarely repeated exactly. What repeats is the pattern. If you only memorise answers, you will struggle when the wording changes. Focus on understanding the rule or reasoning behind each answer.
Where to Get Genuine Past Questions
Many websites advertise large “free PDF” collections of JAMB past questions and answers spanning decades. Some are fine, but many are poorly checked, contain wrong answers, or hide the real download behind pop-ups, forced sign-ups or payments. Wrong answers are dangerous because you may learn mistakes as rules.
Safer options include:
- Reputable published past-question books from known Nigerian educational publishers, which are edited and answer-checked.
- Official JAMB resources. Check jamb.gov.ng for the syllabus, brochure and any official practice information.
- CBT practice platforms that simulate the real exam interface. Choose well-reviewed ones and avoid any platform that asks for sensitive details such as your JAMB profile password.
- Your school, teachers and tutors, who often have verified question banks and can explain the answers.
- Study groups, where members test one another and discuss difficult questions.
Whatever source you use, cross-check doubtful answers with a grammar reference, a dictionary or your teacher. Never trust an answer you cannot explain.
How to Use Past Questions the Right Way
- Learn first, then practise. Spend the first few weeks revising the rules: concord, tenses, prepositions, vocabulary and sound patterns. Then start working through questions.
- Practise by topic. Do ten concord questions in a row, then ten synonym questions. This lets you spot patterns quickly.
- Switch to full papers later. Once you are comfortable, attempt complete 60-question sets under timed conditions.
- Keep an error log. Write down every mistake, the correct answer and why it is correct. Review the log weekly.
- Explain each answer aloud. If you can teach it to a friend, you understand it.
- Learn from the wrong options. Ask why each wrong option is wrong. This sharpens your elimination skills.
- Repeat weak areas. Return to topics where you scored badly until they become strengths.
- Practise on a computer. Get used to reading on screen, scrolling through passages and clicking options, because you will do this in the exam hall.
A 12-Week Study Plan
If you have more time, stretch the plan. If you have less, compress it but keep the order.
| Weeks | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Syllabus and basics | Read the syllabus, review parts of speech, tenses and concord, and start the novel |
| 3 to 4 | Lexis | Study synonyms, antonyms, idioms, phrasal verbs and word meanings in context; build a vocabulary notebook |
| 5 to 6 | Comprehension | Read passages daily, practise main-idea, inference and context questions |
| 7 to 8 | Oral English | Learn vowel and consonant sounds, rhymes and word stress using a pronouncing dictionary |
| 9 to 10 | Past questions by topic | Solve topic sets, update your error log, finish the novel |
| 11 | Timed full papers | Attempt full 60-question sets, then review every mistake |
| 12 | Final revision | Revise your error log, vocabulary notebook and novel notes; rest properly before the exam |
Try to study English for at least 30 to 45 minutes every day. Short, regular sessions beat one long weekend session.
Topic-by-Topic Tips
Comprehension
- Read the questions first so you know what to look for.
- Read the passage once for the general idea and once for details.
- For vocabulary-in-context questions, replace the word with each option and see which fits the sentence.
- Be careful with “except” and “not” questions, which reverse the logic.
- Do not choose an answer because it sounds true in real life. Choose what the passage supports.
Synonyms and Antonyms
- Read the whole sentence, because the same word can mean different things in different contexts.
- Check whether the question asks for the word that is nearest in meaning or opposite in meaning. Candidates lose marks by mixing them up.
- Learn word roots, prefixes and suffixes to guess unfamiliar words.
Concord and Grammar
- Find the true subject and ignore words that come between the subject and the verb.
- With “neither…nor” and “either…or,” the verb usually agrees with the closer subject.
- “Each,” “every,” “everyone” and “nobody” take singular verbs.
- “The number of” takes a singular verb, while “a number of” takes a plural verb.
- Match tenses to time words such as “by the time,” “since” and “yesterday.”
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
- Learn them in groups, such as idioms about money, time or emotion.
- Write each one in your own sentence, because meaning sticks better when you use it.
- Do not translate idioms word for word.
Oral English
- Learn the symbols for the main vowel sounds and practise saying the example words aloud.
- For rhyme questions, compare the final sound, not the spelling. “Height” and “site” rhyme even though they are spelled differently.
- For stress questions, remember that many two-syllable nouns are stressed on the first syllable and many verbs on the second.
- Use a pronouncing dictionary, such as the Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, to check unfamiliar words.
Free Practice Test (13 Questions)
These questions are original and written in the style of the UTME. Set a timer for 15 minutes, choose one answer for each question, and then check the explanations below. No peeking.
Section A: Lexis and Structure
1. Choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word: The manager gave a candid opinion about the project.
A. secretive B. frank C. harsh D. shy
2. Choose the word opposite in meaning to the underlined word: Clean water is scarce in the village.
A. rare B. plentiful C. costly D. useful
3. Neither the teacher nor the students ___ aware of the change in the timetable.
A. was B. were C. is D. has been
4. Each of the girls ___ a certificate at the ceremony.
A. receive B. receives C. have received D. were receiving
5. The number of applicants ___ increased this year.
A. have B. has C. are D. were
6. By the time the rescue team arrived, the flood ___ many houses.
A. destroyed B. has destroyed C. had destroyed D. destroys
7. After years of quarrelling, the two families decided to bury the hatchet. This means they decided to ___.
A. start a fight B. make peace C. move away D. sell their property
8. The little boy is allergic ___ dust.
A. with B. to C. of D. at
Section B: Oral Forms
9. Choose the word that rhymes with “height.”
A. weight B. site C. eight D. wait
10. Choose the word that has the stress on the second syllable.
A. doctor B. believe C. happy D. table
11. Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one in “seat.”
A. sit B. feet C. set D. sat
Section C: Comprehension
Read the passage and answer questions 12 and 13.
Amina had always believed that success came to those who simply waited. Then she met Mr. Okoro, her new teacher, who told her that opportunities are like buses: they stop only briefly, and only passengers who are ready can board. From that day, Amina began to prepare every night, so that when her chance finally arrived, she would be ready for it.
12. Mr. Okoro’s comparison suggests that opportunities ___.
A. are always free B. last forever C. are brief and require readiness D. come to the lazy
13. Before meeting Mr. Okoro, Amina believed that success ___.
A. came to those who waited B. required hard work C. was impossible D. was inherited
Answers and Explanations
- B (frank). “Candid” means honest and direct. A candid opinion is a frank one.
- B (plentiful). “Scarce” means in short supply, so the opposite is plentiful. “Rare” is a synonym, not an antonym.
- B (were). With “neither…nor,” the verb agrees with the nearer subject. “Students” is plural, so use “were.”
- B (receives). “Each” is singular, so it takes a singular verb. The phrase “of the girls” does not change that.
- B (has). “The number of” refers to one total, so the verb is singular. Compare “A number of applicants have applied,” which is plural.
- C (had destroyed). The past perfect shows an action completed before another past action, which here is the arrival of the rescue team.
- B (make peace). To “bury the hatchet” is an idiom for ending a conflict and becoming friendly again.
- B (to). The correct collocation is “allergic to.”
- B (site). “Height” ends with the sound /aɪt/, and so does “site.” The other options end in /eɪt/.
- B (believe). It is stressed on the second syllable: be-LIEVE. The others are stressed on the first syllable.
- B (feet). “Seat” and “feet” share the long vowel /iː/. The others have short vowel sounds.
- C (are brief and require readiness). The teacher says opportunities stop only briefly and only prepared passengers can board.
- A (came to those who waited). The first sentence says Amina believed success came to those who simply waited.
How did you score?
- 11 to 13: Excellent. Move on to timed full papers.
- 8 to 10: Good. Review the topics you missed and practise more by topic.
- Below 8: Go back to the basics. Revise the rules, then try again.
Time Management in the CBT Hall
Since the whole UTME runs for about two hours, many candidates do not plan time well. A sensible approach is to treat English as a block of roughly 30 minutes, though you may adjust it based on your strengths. Here are some tactics:
- Do the questions you find easy first, then return to the harder ones.
- Do not spend more than a minute on any single question on the first pass.
- Read the comprehension passage quickly, then answer the questions by scanning back for evidence.
- Keep an eye on the timer, but do not stare at it.
- Answer every question. There is no reason to leave blanks.
- Use any remaining time to review flagged questions.
Practise this pacing in your mock tests so it feels natural on exam day.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Memorising answers instead of rules. The wording changes, and the answer changes with it.
- Using unchecked answer keys. Wrong answers teach wrong rules.
- Ignoring the novel. Free marks are lost when candidates skip the prescribed text.
- Neglecting Oral English. Many candidates skip it because it is hard to study silently, but it is a reliable source of marks if you practise aloud.
- Rushing comprehension. Careless reading leads to avoidable errors.
- Starting too late. English is a skill, and skills take time to improve.
- Practising only on paper. Get comfortable with computer-based practice.
- Trusting “expo” or leaked questions. This is risky and unreliable, and JAMB takes examination malpractice seriously. Spend the time on real practice instead.
Exam Day Checklist
- Print and bring your exam slip, and carry the identification JAMB requires.
- Know the location of your CBT centre and arrive early.
- Sleep well the night before. Last-minute cramming rarely helps.
- Eat a light meal and drink water.
- Follow the centre’s rules about what you may bring into the hall.
- Stay calm. If you meet a hard question, move on and return to it later.
- Read every instruction on the screen before you begin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Use of English compulsory in JAMB?
Yes. Every UTME candidate must write Use of English, plus three other subjects relevant to their course.
How many questions are in JAMB English?
The English paper has 60 multiple-choice questions, each subject is scored out of 100, and the total UTME score is out of 400.
Is there an essay in the UTME English paper?
No. The UTME is objective. Essay and summary writing belong to other examinations such as WAEC and NECO.
Do JAMB questions repeat?
Exact questions seldom repeat, but topics and patterns do. That is why understanding the rule behind an answer matters more than memorising the answer.
How many years of past questions should I practise?
Quality matters more than quantity. Working carefully through the most recent several years, and reviewing every mistake, is usually more useful than rushing through decades of questions.
Do I need to read the novel?
If JAMB lists a reading text in the current syllabus, yes. Check the official syllabus for the text for your exam year.
What is a good JAMB English score?
That depends on your course and school, because cut-off marks differ. As a general target, many candidates aim for 70 and above in each subject, but check the requirements of the institution you are applying to.
How can I improve my vocabulary quickly?
Read newspapers and good fiction every day, keep a notebook of new words, learn them in sentences, and revise them often. Using the words in speech and writing helps them stick.
Can I practise on my phone?
Yes, for revision and short quizzes. But you should also practise on a computer, because the real exam uses a computer-based format.
Should I pay for past questions?
Not necessarily, but be careful with free downloads of unknown origin. A properly edited book or a reputable practice platform is often worth the cost because the answers are checked.
Check also:
Conclusion
JAMB Use of English rewards steady, informed practice. Know the structure of the paper, study the syllabus, read the prescribed text, and use past questions to find and fix your weak areas rather than just to collect answers. Keep an error log, practise under timed conditions, and make sure every answer you rely on has been checked.
Start with the practice test above, review your results honestly, and build a study plan that fits the time you have left. Share this guide with a friend who is also preparing for the UTME, and drop a comment below if you want us to cover any topic in more detail. We wish you success in your examination.