Every UTME candidate writes Use of English, so it can quietly decide your final score. A weak result here can pull down even a strong science or arts combination.
The good news is that the paper has a clear structure. Once you know the sections, you can practise each one on purpose.
Table of Contents 11 sectionsShowHide
- What the paper looks like
- Section A: comprehension, summary and cloze
- How to improve your reading speed
- Section B: lexis and structure
- A simple way to learn vocabulary
- Section C: oral forms
- A weekly plan you can keep
- Mistakes to avoid
- Keep a simple progress record
- Bringing it together
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What the paper looks like
Use of English has 60 questions, and it is the only subject with that many. The syllabus groups them into three parts: comprehension and summary, lexis and structure, and oral forms.
Sources that publish the syllabus give slightly different question counts for each part. So treat the numbers as a guide, and check the official JAMB syllabus before you plan your time.
Section A: comprehension, summary and cloze
This part tests whether you can read a passage and understand it. It covers description, narration, exposition and argument, and may include a cloze passage where you fill gaps.
It also tests inference, figures of speech and how ideas connect. These are skills you build by reading, not by memorising.
How to improve your reading speed
Read one good article every day, from a newspaper or a magazine. After each one, write a two-line summary of what the writer is saying.
In practice tests, read the questions before you read the passage. You will know what to look for, and you will save time.
Section B: lexis and structure
This part checks vocabulary and grammar. It includes synonyms, antonyms, sentence meaning and basic grammar such as tense, agreement and clause patterns.
Many candidates lose marks here because they guess. A short daily routine of five new words and five grammar questions is more useful than a weekend of cramming.
A simple way to learn vocabulary
Keep a small notebook with the word, its meaning, its opposite and one sentence you wrote yourself. Writing the sentence is what makes the word stay.
Revise the notebook every Sunday. After a month you will have around 100 words you really know.
Section C: oral forms
This part is about sound, and it surprises many candidates. It tests vowels, consonants, rhymes and stress, where you must choose the word that sounds different or has the same stress.
You cannot learn it by silent reading. Say each word aloud, and listen to good pronunciation on a dictionary app or a news broadcast.
A weekly plan you can keep
Use this plan as a base, and adjust it to your own time. It takes less than an hour a day.
- Monday and Thursday: comprehension passages, timed.
- Tuesday and Friday: vocabulary and grammar questions.
- Wednesday: oral forms, with spoken practice.
- Saturday: a full 60-question timed paper.
On Sunday, review your mistakes and write down what to fix next. Progress comes from fixing mistakes, and not from doing more questions.
Mistakes to avoid
Do not spend half your time on the first passage. If a question is hard, move on and return to it before you submit.
Avoid guessing patterns, such as always choosing the same option. Read each option and remove the ones that are clearly wrong.
Keep a simple progress record
Every Sunday, do one timed set of 20 English questions and write down your score. Do not just look at the number, look at the type of question you missed.
If the same kind of error shows up three weeks in a row, that is your next study topic. This way you stop guessing and start fixing real weak spots.
Keep the record in the back of an exercise book. After a month, flip through it and you will see how far you have come, which is a good boost before exam week.
Bringing it together
English rewards steady habits. Read daily, learn words with sentences, say the sounds aloud and practise under time.
When you are ready to test yourself, use our JAMB CBT guide and our plan on how to score high in JAMB. Your English score will rise if you keep going.
Looking for past questions to practise with? We sell them, so reach out through our contact page and tell us your subjects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers to common questions about this guide
1How many questions are in JAMB Use of English?
There are 60 questions, the largest number for any UTME subject.
2What are the sections of the JAMB English syllabus?
Comprehension and summary (including cloze), lexis and structure, and oral forms. Question counts per section vary between published guides, so check the official syllabus.
3Is English compulsory in JAMB?
Yes. Use of English is compulsory for every course and every candidate.
4How can I improve my English for JAMB quickly?
Read one article a day, learn five words a week with your own sentences, practise grammar daily, say oral forms aloud and take a timed 60-question paper weekly.
5How do I handle oral forms questions?
Practise by speaking. Say each word aloud and listen to good pronunciation, because silent reading does not train your ear for sounds and stress.
6Should I read the passage or the questions first?
Many candidates save time by reading the questions first, so they know what to look for in the passage. Try it in practice and see if it suits you.
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