The JAMB Use of English paper is compulsory for all candidates writing the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Regardless of your course of study—Medicine, Law, Engineering, or Education—you must sit for this subject.
The English paper is divided into four key sections, and certain topics appear almost every year. In this blog post, you'll discover the most repeated Use of English topics, their format, and expert tips on how to answer them correctly in the 2025/2026 UTME.
Overview of the JAMB Use of English Exam Structure
The JAMB Use of English exam is structured into three major parts:
- Comprehension and Summary
- Lexis and Structure
- Oral Forms
There are typically 60 questions distributed among these sections.
Highly Repeated Topics in JAMB Use of English
Here are the most frequently tested and highly repeated topics based on past JAMB trends:
1. Comprehension Passages
- Usually 3 to 4 passages per paper
- Questions based on context, inference, and meaning
JAMB Focus:
- Understanding the main idea
- Word meaning in context
- Drawing inferences
- Tone and purpose of the writer
Tip: Practice skimming and scanning techniques to save time.
2. Cloze Test (Gap-Filling Passage)
- A passage with 10 gaps to be filled with appropriate words
JAMB Focus:
- Knowledge of grammar, structure, and vocabulary
- Logical flow and sentence construction
Tip: Read the whole passage before filling in the blanks to maintain coherence.
3. Synonyms and Antonyms
- Questions testing your understanding of word meanings
JAMB Focus:
- Word substitution in context
- Vocabulary strength
Tip: Practice with flashcards and past questions to boost your word power.
4. Sentence Completion
- Filling in missing parts of sentences
JAMB Focus:
- Verb agreement
- Pronouns
- Punctuation and logical flow
5. Lexis and Structure
- Most extensive section; covers grammar, idioms, and usage
Frequently Repeated Areas:
- Parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.)
- Concord (subject-verb agreement)
- Tenses
- Prepositions
- Articles
- Tag questions
- Question forms
- Reported speech
- Active and passive voice
- Idiomatic expressions
- Collocations
Tip: Study with a standard English grammar textbook or WAEC/JAMB past questions.
6. Registers and Word Association
- Vocabulary specific to fields such as medicine, law, journalism, etc.
JAMB Focus:
- Understanding word usage in various professional contexts
Examples:
- Medical: diagnosis, symptoms
- Legal: affidavit, court
- Journalism: editor, headline
7. Oral Forms (Phonetics)
- 10 questions testing pronunciation, intonation, and stress
Most Repeated Topics:
- Rhyming words
- Vowel and consonant sounds
- Syllable stress
- Word stress vs sentence stress
- Identification of correct pronunciation
Tip: Use YouTube or JAMB phonetics guides to familiarize yourself with sounds.
8. Summary Passages
- A prose passage with questions on summary skills
JAMB Focus:
- Identifying main points
- Paraphrasing
- Avoiding repetition
Tip: Always focus on key ideas, not examples or illustrations.
Summary Table of Most Repeated Topics
|
Topic |
Subtopics |
Frequency |
|
Comprehension |
Main idea, inference, vocabulary |
Very High |
|
Cloze Test |
Vocabulary, grammar |
Very High |
|
Synonyms/Antonyms |
Contextual meaning |
High |
|
Sentence Completion |
Grammar, logic |
High |
|
Lexis & Structure |
Tenses, concord, idioms |
Very High |
|
Registers |
Specialized vocabulary |
High |
|
Oral English |
Phonetics, intonation |
High |
|
Summary |
Paraphrasing, main ideas |
Moderate |
How to Prepare for JAMB Use of English 2025/2026
- Study with JAMB Past Questions
- Focus especially on the last 10 years.
- Repetition helps you predict future patterns.
- Build Vocabulary Daily
- Learn 5–10 new words each day.
- Practice synonyms, antonyms, and contextual use.
- Practice Comprehension and Summary
- Read articles from newspapers or novels.
- Summarize paragraphs in your own words.
- Improve Grammar Skills
- Study English grammar rules thoroughly.
- Use apps or textbooks tailored for UTME.
- Master Phonetics
- Listen to English news or watch educational phonetics videos.
- Practice sound recognition and word stress.
FAQs – JAMB Use of English 2025/2026
1. How many questions are in JAMB Use of English?
There are usually 60 multiple-choice questions covering comprehension, lexis, structure, summary, and oral forms.
2. Is Use of English hard in JAMB?
It depends on your preparation. With consistent practice and understanding of repeated topics, you can score very high.
3. Are past questions repeated in JAMB Use of English?
Yes. JAMB often repeats similar questions or formats, especially in lexis, structure, and oral English.
4. Can I score 70+ in JAMB English?
Absolutely! Focus on the high-yield topics, revise regularly, and test yourself with timed practice.
5. Is oral English compulsory?
Yes. Phonetics and pronunciation form an essential part of the Use of English section.
Conclusion
The key to success in JAMB Use of English 2025/2026 lies in focusing on repeated and high-priority topics. Practice past questions, build your vocabulary, understand grammar rules, and master phonetics. This official guide is designed to make your preparation smarter and more focused.
