JAMB 2026 English Language Topics and Smart Tips to Score 80+ in English Language

English Language is one of the most important subjects in the JAMB UTME exam. Every candidate, whether Science, Art, or Commercial student, must write it — and your performance in English can determine your total score.

Many JAMB candidates fear English because it seems long and confusing with comprehension, lexis, structure, and literature sections. But the truth is simple: if you understand the pattern, study the right topics, and practice smartly, you can score 80 marks or more in English Language easily.

In this detailed guide, you’ll learn:

• The complete JAMB 2025 English Language syllabus

• How to prepare effectively for the exam

• Smart tips to avoid mistakes

• How to practice and score above 80 marks with OliveLoaded.com resources

Let’s begin your journey to mastering JAMB English 2025!

🔹 PART 1: WHY JAMB ENGLISH LANGUAGE IS VERY IMPORTANT

English is the official language of instruction and communication in Nigeria. In JAMB, it serves as the foundation subject for every candidate.

Your JAMB English score affects your total score greatly because:

• It’s compulsory for all candidates.

• It carries a higher weight (usually 60 questions).

• It influences how well you perform in other subjects, since all instructions are in English.

A student may score well in Mathematics or Physics, but without a good score in English, it becomes difficult to reach 250+ total marks or gain admission into top universities.

That’s why learning how to understand questions, interpret passages, and use grammar correctly is key.

🔹 PART 2: STRUCTURE OF JAMB ENGLISH 2025 EXAM

JAMB English Language is divided into four major parts:

1. Passage/Comprehension

2. Lexis and Structure (Grammar and Vocabulary)

3. Oral English (Phonetics and Speech Sounds)

4. Summary and Reading Comprehension

Each section tests different skills — reading, reasoning, grammar, vocabulary, and sound recognition.

🔹 PART 3: JAMB 2025 ENGLISH LANGUAGE TOPICS (FULL SYLLABUS)

Below are the major areas JAMB sets questions from. You must study each part carefully.

1. Comprehension Passages

• Reading and understanding long and short passages

• Identifying main ideas and supporting details

• Inference and interpretation

• Tone, mood, and style of the writer

• Vocabulary and contextual meanings

Tip: Always read the questions first before the passage; it helps you know what to look for while reading.

2. Summary Writing

• Identifying key points in a passage

• Rewriting sentences using your own words (paraphrasing)

• Avoiding repetition and examples

• Understanding the theme of the passage

Note: JAMB will give a long passage and ask questions like:
“Summarize the writer’s opinion on education in three sentences.”
To answer correctly, focus on the main ideas only.

3. Lexis and Structure

This is the grammar and vocabulary part of English.
It includes:

• Parts of speech (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, pronoun, preposition, conjunction, interjection)

• Sentence structure and tenses

• Agreement between subject and verb

• Phrasal verbs and idiomatic expressions

• Synonyms and antonyms

• Word formation (prefixes, suffixes, roots)

• Collocations (correct word combinations)

• Concord and sentence correction

Example:
Choose the correct option:
“Neither John nor his friends (was / were) present.”
→ Correct answer: were, because the nearest noun is plural.

4. Oral English (Phonetics)

This section tests your understanding of English pronunciation and speech patterns.
Topics include:

• Vowel and consonant sounds

• Minimal pairs (ship/sheep, fit/feet)

• Stress patterns and intonation

• Syllable structure

• Consonant clusters

• Word stress and sentence stress

Example:
Which of the following words has the stress on the second syllable?
(a) Doctor
(b) Today
(c) Market
(d) Father
→ Correct answer: Today

5. Literature-in-English Section (for all candidates)

Although not as detailed as Literature subject, JAMB English includes questions from:

• General literary appreciation

• Figures of speech (metaphor, simile, personification, irony, hyperbole)

• Genres of literature (poetry, drama, prose)

• Themes and tone in short passages

Example:
“The sun smiled on the children” is an example of —
→ Personification

🔹 PART 4: EFFECTIVE STUDY TIPS TO SCORE 80+ IN JAMB 2025 ENGLISH LANGUAGE

Now that you know the topics, let’s go into real strategies that top scorers use to smash English.

1. Know the Syllabus Like Your Name

Don’t read aimlessly. JAMB questions always come from the official syllabus.
Download it from OliveLoaded.com and tick each topic as you cover it.

2. Read Every Day — Not Once in a While

English requires consistent exposure. Read storybooks, newspapers, and blogs daily.
This improves your grammar, spelling, and vocabulary automatically.

3. Learn 5 New Words Daily

Vocabulary questions in JAMB can be tricky.
Start a “word notebook” and write down new words with meanings and usage examples.
Example:

• Ambiguous — having more than one meaning.

• Obsolete — outdated or no longer in use.

• Magnanimous — generous or forgiving.

By exam day, you’ll know hundreds of strong vocabulary words.

4. Practice Past Questions Frequently

This is the secret of all JAMB high scorers.
JAMB repeats question patterns — not exactly the same questions, but similar styles.
Try at least 10 years of past questions.

👉 You can message the OliveLoaded.com CEO on WhatsApp to get free JAMB 2025 English past questions and answers.

5. Focus on Understanding, Not Cramming

Memorizing definitions won’t help much.
Understand why an answer is correct.
When you meet a new grammar rule, make your own examples.

Example:
Rule — “A singular subject takes a singular verb.”
Your example: “The boy runs fast.”
Then apply it in different sentences until it feels natural.

6. Study One Section per Day

Don’t mix everything.
Create a study plan like this:

• Monday: Comprehension

• Tuesday: Lexis and Structure

• Wednesday: Oral English

• Thursday: Summary

• Friday: Revision and Practice

• Saturday: Mock Test

By rotating the sections weekly, you’ll master all parts before exam day.

7. Time Management Is Key

English paper is usually long.
Don’t waste time on one passage.
Answer simple questions first before moving to the hard ones.

Example strategy:

• 15 minutes — Comprehension & Summary

• 20 minutes — Grammar (Lexis & Structure)

• 10 minutes — Oral English

• 10 minutes — Review answers

8. Avoid Common Grammar Mistakes

These are areas JAMB loves to test:
❌ “He did not went” → ✅ “He did not go.”
❌ “I am hearing you” → ✅ “I can hear you.”
❌ “She is more better” → ✅ “She is better.”
❌ “He is an hardworking boy” → ✅ “He is a hardworking boy.”

Always check your tenses and subject-verb agreement.

9. Listen to Proper English Daily

Watch English movies or listen to radio programs where people speak clearly (BBC, CNN, Channels TV).
This helps with Oral English and builds your pronunciation naturally.

10. Read and Summarize Passages

To master comprehension and summary, practice summarizing long passages into short points.
After reading a newspaper article, write 3 sentences summarizing it.
This builds your ability to find key ideas quickly — just like in JAMB.

11. Study Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

They often appear in Lexis questions.
Examples:

• “Cut corners” → do something cheaply or carelessly.

• “Spill the beans” → reveal a secret.

• “Break down” → stop working (for a machine) or start crying (for a person).

Knowing these expressions gives you extra marks easily.

12. Learn Figures of Speech

JAMB may ask:

“Identify the figure of speech in this sentence: ‘The night swallowed the city.’”
Answer → Personification.

Master metaphors, similes, irony, exaggeration, alliteration, and hyperbole.

13. Practice Pronunciation Questions

Some Oral English questions come with options like:

• Which word has a different vowel sound?

• Which has the same stress pattern?

You can practice these by listening to word pronunciations online (e.g., Google dictionary or YouTube phonetic tutorials).

14. Work on Your Reading Speed

Comprehension passages are long.
Practice skimming (reading quickly to get main ideas) and scanning (looking for specific information).
You can read OliveLoaded news articles daily to train your reading speed.

15. Attempt Mock Tests

Simulate JAMB exams on your phone or laptop.
Time yourself (60 questions in 60 minutes).
This helps you stay confident during the real CBT.

16. Learn to Eliminate Wrong Answers

If you’re unsure, remove the clearly wrong options first.
For example, if one answer is grammatically wrong, skip it.
Then choose the best from the remaining two.

17. Stay Calm During the Exam

Don’t panic if the first passage looks difficult.
Move to the next question and return later.
Panic wastes time and reduces your accuracy.

18. Revise Daily Before Exam

A week before your JAMB, focus on revision — not learning new topics.
Read your notes, practice 100 questions daily, and rest well.

19. Avoid Common Pitfalls

• Don’t pick an answer because it “sounds right.” Grammar is about rules.

• Don’t guess all answers — understand context first.

• Don’t skip oral English — many students ignore it and lose 10 easy marks.

20. Believe in Yourself

Positive mindset = better results.
Many students fail because they fear the subject.
Say to yourself: “I will score 80+ in JAMB English 2025.”
Confidence helps your brain think clearly and recall what you studied.

🔹 PART 5: SAMPLE JAMB 2025 ENGLISH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Below are examples of how JAMB sets questions (practice these regularly):

Question 1:
Choose the correct option to fill the gap:
He _______ to Lagos before the rain started.
A) has gone
B) had gone
C) goes
D) have gone
Answer: B) had gone

Question 2:
Find the word that is opposite in meaning to Generous:
A) Kind
B) Mean
C) Helpful
D) Friendly
Answer: B) Mean

Question 3:
In the passage, the author’s attitude towards corruption is best described as —
A) supportive
B) indifferent
C) disapproving
D) humorous
Answer: C) disapproving

Question 4:
Identify the figure of speech: “He fought like a lion.”
→ Simile

Question 5:
Which word has the same stress pattern as ‘Teacher’?
A) Report
B) Refuse
C) Doctor
D) Present
Answer: C) Doctor

Question 6:
What is the meaning of the idiom “to kick the bucket”?
→ To die.

Question 7:
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence:
A) My brother, who lives in Abuja is a pilot.
B) My brother who lives in Abuja, is a pilot.
C) My brother, who lives in Abuja, is a pilot.
D) My brother who lives, in Abuja is a pilot.
Answer: C

Question 8:
The word “Obsolete” means —
→ Out of date / no longer useful.

🔹 PART 6: COMMON AREAS JAMB REPEATS EVERY YEAR

If you check past questions, you’ll notice these repeating areas:

• Concord (subject-verb agreement)

• Synonyms and antonyms

• Comprehension tone and mood

• Phrasal verbs

• Idioms and figures of speech

• Stress pattern in words

• Summary passage

Focus more on them — they carry many marks.

🔹 PART 7: RECOMMENDED MATERIALS FOR JAMB 2025 ENGLISH

Here are top textbooks and materials to read:

• The Invisible Teacher’s JAMB English Guide

• Essential English by Ogundipe & Tregidgo

• Countdown to English

• Exam Focus English Language

• New Oxford Secondary English Course

• OliveLoaded JAMB Past Questions and CBT Practice App

👉 You can message OliveLoaded.com CEO on WhatsApp for free JAMB 2025 English past questions and answers, plus tips on using your laptop for CBT practice.

🔹 PART 8: HOW TO STUDY ENGLISH THE OLIVELOADED WAY

OliveLoaded.com offers:

• Free online CBT tests (to practice under real JAMB timing)

• PDF past questions for all subjects

• Tips from experts who scored above 300 in JAMB

• Daily English vocabulary updates and mock passages

When you combine these with consistent study, you’ll be far ahead of other candidates.

🔹 PART 9: CONCLUSION — YOUR SUCCESS IS IN YOUR HANDS

English is not hard. It’s about understanding, practice, and confidence.
If you read the topics above, follow the study plan, and practice with CBT software or OliveLoaded mock exams, scoring 80+ in JAMB 2025 English Language will be easy for you.

Remember:

• Study the syllabus thoroughly.

• Practice at least 100 questions weekly.

• Revise grammar rules, idioms, and oral sounds daily.

• Sleep well before your exam day.

• Believe you can do it — because you truly can!

👉 Bonus Tip: Message the OliveLoaded.com CEO on WhatsApp to get your free JAMB 2025 English past questions, summaries, and lexis notes.