JAMB French Syllabus
Every section, topic and candidate objective in the official JAMB French outline — 4 sections, 13 topics and 36 objectives.
- Sections
- 4sections
- Topics
- 13topics
- Objectives
- 36objectives
- Category
- Languagescategory
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Syllabus sections
4 sectionsTap a section to open it, then tap a topic to see its content and objectives.
1Section A: Written Comprehension in French
1 topic · 1 objective
1Written Comprehension in French
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Text 1 and Text 2 covering topics of general and emerging interest, such as love, life, death, politics, marriage, health, communication, child trafficking, cultism, travel, corruption, money-laundering, and other contemporary issues.
Objective
Deduce answers to questions on the content, intent, and style of the proposed texts (Text 1 and Text 2), and apply reasoning skills.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
2Section B: Principles Governing the Structure and Use of Written French
5 topics · 25 objectives
1Identification of Basic Form Classes
9 content items · 9 objectives
Content
Nouns: simple and compound nouns; singular and plural forms; masculine and feminine forms.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Pronouns: personal, impersonal, demonstrative, possessive, and relative pronouns.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Verbs: reflexive and non-reflexive verbs, their moods, and tenses.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Adjectives: qualifying, possessive, interrogative, demonstrative, indefinite (e.g., nul), numeral (e.g., dix), and ordinal adjectives (e.g., dixième).
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Adverbs: common forms ending in -ment (e.g., lentement); adverbial expressions formed with a preposition and noun (e.g., par avion, à cheval, en voiture, par bateau); special forms (e.g., bien, vite, mal, mieux, le mieux, pire, le pis, ne…que); adverbs of manner (e.g., debout, facilement); purpose (e.g., pour + infinitive, afin de + infinitive); cause and consequence (e.g., pour + perfect infinitive, à cause de + noun); concession (e.g., malgré + noun); place (e.g., y, en, ici, là, là-haut, partout); and time (e.g., hier, aujourd’hui, avant-hier, après, demain, la veille, le matin, dans un mois).
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Prepositions: simple prepositions (e.g., à, de, avec, avant, sur, dans) and compound prepositions (e.g., à côté de, au milieu de).
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Conjunctions: coordinating conjunctions (e.g., mais, ou, et, donc, car, cependant, ne…ni) and subordinating conjunctions (e.g., afin que, quoique, à condition que, pour que, parce que).
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Articles: definite, indefinite, and partitive articles.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Contraction of articles and prepositions, such as à + le = au and à + les = aux.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use the principles governing written French to determine acceptability and transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
2Assessment of Vocabulary Span
2 content items · 2 objectives
Content
Words used in contemporary contexts, including their meanings, usage, opposites, and synonyms.
Objective
Identify the meanings of words, identify meaningful constructed sentences, and apply communicative skills.
Content
Faux amis (false friends), such as librairie/library, rester/to rest, and blesser/to bless.
Objective
Identify the meanings of words, identify meaningful constructed sentences, and apply communicative skills.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
3Importance of Word Order
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Word order in affirmative sentences.
Objective
Identify meaningful constructed sentences and apply the principles governing the structure and use of written French.
Content
Word order in interrogative sentences.
Objective
Identify meaningful constructed sentences and apply the principles governing the structure and use of written French.
Content
Word order in imperative sentences.
Objective
Identify meaningful constructed sentences and apply the principles governing the structure and use of written French.
Content
Word order in the formation of the passive voice.
Objective
Identify meaningful constructed sentences and apply the principles governing the structure and use of written French.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
4Identification and Application of Basic Processes in Language Structure
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Conjugation of verbs in all tenses except l’imparfait du subjonctif, le passé composé du subjonctif, and le plus-que-parfait du subjonctif.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use structural principles to determine acceptability, transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Negation, including ne…pas, ne…plus, ne…rien, nul ne, ne…ni…ni, ne…personne, personne…ne, aucun…ne, and rien ne…
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use structural principles to determine acceptability, transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Agreement, including examples such as les beaux arts, il les a vues, and les photos.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use structural principles to determine acceptability, transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Pluralisation, including cheval/chevaux, beau/beaux, and belle/belles.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use structural principles to determine acceptability, transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Content
Derivation: from adjective to adverb (e.g., lent → lentement); from adjective to adjective (e.g., un → premier); from adjective to noun (e.g., bon → bonté, riche → richesse); and from one degree of comparison to another using plus…que, moins…que, and aussi…que (e.g., plus grand que). Special comparative and superlative forms include bon, meilleur, le meilleur, la meilleure, mauvais, pire, and le pire.
Objective
Identify the basic structures of written French, use structural principles to determine acceptability, transform one form or class into another, and apply the structures to convey diverse messages.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
5Use of French in Set Expressions
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Proverbs, such as tel père, tel fils and petit à petit l’oiseau fait son nid.
Objective
Complete common French proverbs and idioms, deduce their meanings, and make appropriate use of these special terms.
Content
Idioms, such as avoir une faim de loup, crier sur le toit, and mourir de peur.
Objective
Complete common French proverbs and idioms, deduce their meanings, and make appropriate use of these special terms.
Content
Conventional expressions used in common speech, such as enchanté, c’est dommage, c’est formidable, and stationnement interdit.
Objective
Complete common French proverbs and idioms, deduce their meanings, and make appropriate use of these special terms.
Content
Common figures of speech, including metaphor (e.g., Mon père est un lion), simile (e.g., Elle est maigre comme un clou), and hyperbole (e.g., Il avait tellement faim qu’il a mangé toute une vache).
Objective
Deduce the meanings of common expressions and figures of speech and make appropriate use of these special terms in French.
Content
Speech acts, including proposer, conseiller, regretter, admirer, espérer, interroger, reprocher, and s’accorder.
Objective
Complete common French proverbs and idioms, deduce their meanings, and make appropriate use of these special terms.
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3Section C: Workings of French Sounds
6 topics · 6 objectives
1Sound Discrimination
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Discrimination between similar French sounds, such as tout/tu and fais/fée.
Objective
Discriminate between French sounds, deduce meanings from sound combinations, and use sound discrimination to enhance effective communication.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
2Letter-Sound Correspondence
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Correspondence between letters or letter combinations and sounds, such as ai pronounced /e/ and eau pronounced /o/.
Objective
Discriminate between French sounds, deduce meanings from sound combinations, and use sound discrimination to enhance effective communication.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
3Syllabification
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Division of words into syllables, such as con/tente/ment.
Objective
Assess sound groupings in terms of syllabification, liaison, e-caduc, pauses, intonation, and other relevant features to enhance effective communication.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
4Liaison
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
The linking of sounds between words, such as trois animaux and des enfants.
Objective
Assess sound groupings in terms of syllabification, liaison, e-caduc, pauses, intonation, and other relevant features to enhance effective communication.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
5Sense Groups in Reading
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Identification of sense groups and pauses in spoken or read French, as illustrated by J’ai mal à la tête. J’ai mal/pas à la tête/mais au dos. Comment vas-tu, Carol? Comment vas-tu demain?
Objective
Assess sound groupings in terms of syllabification, liaison, e-caduc, pauses, intonation, and other relevant features to enhance effective communication.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
6Identification of Sounds to Determine Similarity
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Identification and comparison of similar or contrasting sounds in words, such as maison/saison, dents/don, and fond/fonde.
Objective
Discriminate between French sounds, deduce meanings from sound combinations, use sound discrimination to enhance effective communication, and assess sound groupings in terms of syllabification, liaison, e-caduc, pauses, and intonation.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.
4Section D: Culture and Civilization
1 topic · 4 objectives
1Characteristics of Francophone Africa and France
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Characteristics, aspects, similarities, and differences of the educational systems of Francophone Africa and France, with reference to Nigeria where possible.
Objective
Identify specific cultural features of Francophone Africa and France, compare them with those of Nigeria where possible, and apply reasoning skills.
Content
Socio-economic life in Francophone Africa and France, including greetings, dressing, food, leisure, marriage, festivals, art, and professions, with reference to Nigeria where possible.
Objective
Identify specific cultural features of Francophone Africa and France, compare them with those of Nigeria where possible, and apply reasoning skills.
Content
Political organization in Francophone Africa and France, including its characteristics and relevant similarities and differences with Nigeria where possible.
Objective
Identify specific cultural and political features of Francophone Africa and France, compare them with those of Nigeria where possible, and apply reasoning skills.
Content
Cultural life in Francophone Africa and France, including greetings, dressing, food, leisure, marriage, festivals, art, and professions, with reference to Nigeria where possible.
Objective
Identify specific cultural features of Francophone Africa and France, compare them with those of Nigeria where possible, and apply reasoning skills.
Opens the CBT engine with French past questions and answers.