JAMB Literature in English: How To Prepare

Literature in English is a natural choice for candidates going into English, Law, Mass Communication, Theatre Arts and other Arts courses. If you enjoy reading and discussing stories, it can be a rewarding subject.

The UTME Literature paper has 40 questions. To do well, you need to read the recommended texts properly and understand the main ideas of drama, prose and poetry.

Start with the official syllabus and text list

JAMB publishes the syllabus and the list of recommended texts. Always check the latest list on the JAMB website, because texts can change from time to time.

Do not rely on what a friend or a past-question book says about the texts. Use the official list to choose what to read.

Read the texts, not only summaries

Summaries can help you revise, but they cannot replace reading the actual book or play. Questions often test small details, characters and how the writer says things.

Set a daily reading target, for example twenty pages a day. After each section, write three or four lines about what happened.

Know the main literary terms

Terms like theme, plot, setting, characterisation, irony, metaphor and simile come up often. Write each term in your own words and add one example from a text you have read.

Revise this list every few days. These marks are easy to win if you know the meanings well.

Study each genre in a different way

For drama, think about characters, conflict and how the play ends. For prose, follow the plot and the narrator. For poetry, ask what the poem is about and what feelings it brings out.

Keep a small page for each text with the story, main characters, themes and a few key lines in your own words.

Practise with unseen passages

Some questions ask about passages you may not have seen. Practise reading short pieces and answering questions on their meaning, tone and language.

This builds the habit of reading closely, which also helps your English paper.

How to study each week

Read your texts on weekdays and revise earlier ones on weekends. After each text, answer past questions that relate to it.

Keep a notebook of mistakes. Read it every Sunday so that you stop repeating the same errors.

Handling the exam itself

Read each question twice, especially those with the word "not" or "except". Eliminate options that clearly do not fit and pick the best of what remains.

Do not spend too long on one question. Mark it and return if you have time.

Rest and routine matter too

A tired brain forgets quickly. Sleep well, eat proper meals and take ten-minute breaks between study blocks so your Literature revision stays in your head.

Pick a fixed study time every day, even if it is only one hour. A steady routine beats a few long, tiring sessions and keeps you calm as the exam gets closer.

Your last two weeks

In the final two weeks, stop starting new topics. Go back over your short notes, your list of mistakes and the key points for Literature in English.

Do two or three timed sets, then spend the rest of the time fixing the errors. Sleep well, eat properly and keep your mind calm before the exam.

Mistakes to avoid

Do not wait until the last month to start reading. Books take time, and rushing leads to shallow understanding.

Also avoid depending on films or videos alone. They may leave out parts of the story that appear in the exam.

Bringing it together

Literature in English rewards reading, clear notes and regular practice. Use the official text list, learn your terms and answer past questions often.

Read how to score high in JAMB UTME for the full plan and using JAMB past questions for practice tips. If you are still choosing subjects, see JAMB subject combinations.

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