JAMB Igbo Syllabus
Every section, topic and candidate objective in the official JAMB Igbo outline — 4 sections, 19 topics and 49 objectives.
- Sections
- 4sections
- Topics
- 19topics
- Objectives
- 49objectives
- 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: Languages (Asụsụ)
9 topics · 15 objectives
1Essay (Edemede)
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
Basic principles of essay writing: introduction, body and conclusion.
Objective
Identify the basic principles of essay writing.
Content
Basic essay types and their characteristics: Narrative (Akọmakọ); Descriptive and Expository (Nkọwa na Nkọwami); Argumentative (Mgbagha/Arụmarụụka); Speech making (Ekwumekwu); Letter Writing (Edemleta); Dialogue (Mkparịtaụka).
Objective
Differentiate between different essay types; describe the characteristics of essay types; compare different types of essay; criticize other people's essays.
Content
Appropriate use of words and expressions in essay writing.
Objective
Use words and expressions appropriate to a particular topic.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
2Comprehension (Aghọtaazaa)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
One passage of about one hundred and fifty (150) words.
Objective
Explain the meanings of difficult words; give correct answers; differentiate between figurative and idiomatic expressions from the passage; deduce conclusions based on the passage.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
3Sounds and Sound Patterns (Ụdaasụsụ na Usoro Ụdaasụsụ)
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
Vowels and Consonants (Ụdaume na Mgbochiume).
Objective
Identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals; distinguish between the speech sounds of the Igbo language.
Content
Sound patterns and processes: syllabic nasals (ụdaimi); semi-vowel (myiriụdaume); nasal homorganic assimilation (ndagba myiriụdaume); syllable structure (nkeji mkpụrụokwu); vowel harmony (ndakọrịta ụdaume); vowel assimilation (olilo ụdaume); vowel elision and consonant elision (ndapụ ụdaume na ndapụ mgbochiume).
Objective
Identify vowels, consonants and syllabic nasals; distinguish between Igbo speech sounds; recognise semi-vowels ('m' and 'n') and nasal homorganic assimilation; divide words into syllables; identify the vowel groups in Igbo; describe vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonant elision.
Content
Tone and tone marking (Ụdaolu na Akara ụdaolu).
Objective
Assign tone marks appropriately.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
4Spelling and Spelling Rules (Nsupe na Iwu Nsupe)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Correct spelling and word division in Igbo.
Objective
Detect words written correctly in Igbo; determine appropriate word division in Igbo.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
5Igbo Orthography (Mkpụrụedemede Igbo)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
The Igbo writing system and its orthography.
Objective
Indicate the Igbo orthography; distinguish between Igbo and English orthography.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
6Dialect and Standard Igbo (Olundị/Olumba na Igbo Izugbe)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Differences between Igbo dialects and Standard Igbo.
Objective
Differentiate between Standard Igbo and dialects; use Standard Igbo in writing.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
7Igbo Word Derivation (Usoro Mmụbaokwu n’Igbo)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Processes of word derivation: coinages, loans and loan-blends (mmụbawanye mkpụrụokwu site n’usoro mmepụta, mkpụpụta, mbite na mbiọgwa).
Objective
Differentiate between loan words and coined words; identify loan words and loan-blends in Igbo; spell Igbo words appropriately.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
8Grammar (Ụtọasụsụ)
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
Parts of speech (Nkejiasụsụ): nominals (mkpọaha), verbs (ngwaa), adjectives (nkọwa), adverbs (nkwuwa), affixes (mgbakwunye), enclitics (nsokwunye), and others.
Objective
Differentiate between grammatical categories; identify parts of speech and their functions; differentiate between types of affixes and their functions.
Content
The structure, types and characteristics of morphemes (Ndokọ, ụdị na njirimara mọfịm): free and bound morphemes (nnọọrọonwe na ndabe).
Objective
Determine the types and characteristics of morphemes.
Content
The word (Mkpụrụokwu), the phrase (Nkebiokwu), the clause (Nkebiahịrị), and the sentence (Ahịrịokwu). Clauses include nominal, adverbial and adjectival clauses (kemkpọaha, kenkwuwa na kenkọwa). Sentence types include simple (mfe), compound (ukwu) and complex (mgbagwọ), among others.
Objective
Identify words, phrases, clauses and sentences, including their types and characteristics.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
9Translation (Ntụgharị)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Translation between English and Igbo in both directions.
Objective
Translate English into Igbo and Igbo into English; communicate effectively in Igbo and English.
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2Section B: Literature (Agụmagụ)
5 topics · 6 objectives
1Literary Devices (Atụmatụokwu)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Literary devices including alliteration (bịambia mgbochiume), assonance (bịambia ụdaume), parallelism (kwunkwugha), metaphor (mbụrụ), simile (myiri), hyperbole (egbeokwu), personification (mmemmadụ), proverbs (ilu), and others.
Objective
Identify literary devices in passages; interpret literary devices; differentiate between types of literary devices; use Igbo literary devices appropriately.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
2Oral Literature (Agụmagụ Ọnụ/Agụmagụ Ọdịnala)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Folktales (ifo), myths (nkọmịrịkọ), legends (nkọkịrịkọ), poems (abụ), songs (uri), chants (mbem), riddles (agwụgwa), oral drama (ejije ọnụ), tongue-twisters (okwuntụhị), and others.
Objective
Create folk stories, chants, riddles and oral drama; analyse various genres of oral literature; present ideas and formulae in accordance with underlying principles; apply the lessons of oral literature to everyday life.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
3Written Literature: Prose (Agụmagụ Ederede — Iduuazị)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Tony U. Ubesie (1993), Jụọ Obinna. Oxford University Press.
Objective
Interpret the text; identify the characters; identify figurative and idiomatic expressions in the text; analyse the text; identify the author, publisher and date of publication; draw moral lessons from the text.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
4Written Literature: Poetry (Agụmagụ Ederede — Abụ)
2 content items · 2 objectives
Content
Inno Ụzọma Nwadike (2014), Akọnuche. Obosi: Pacific Publishers Ltd.
Objective
Compare the types and themes of the poems; relate the poet's ideas to the contents of the poems; compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poems; analyse the structures of the poems; apply acquired knowledge and moral lessons from the poems to daily life.
Content
Selected poems: Ọchịchị (pp. 18–19); Onye Ndu (pp. 22–23); Nne Ọma (pp. 29–30); Oke Ọchịchọ (pp. 40–41); Asịla M Na Ọ Dị Mma (pp. 53–54); Ihe Ụwa (pp. 60–61); Jiri Nwayọ (pp. 62–63); Eziokwu (pp. 65–66); Mma (pp. 67–69); Nwanyị (pp. 92–94); Aja Ala (pp. 101–103); Ala Igbo (pp. 108–111); Ndụ M N’ụwa A (pp. 131–132); Ọjị (pp. 150–151); Ụwa Emebighi (pp. 151–154); Amamihe (pp. 168–169); Ndụ Nwaanyị (pp. 178–180); Nna M Ọgọenyi (pp. 181–184); Ụlọakwụkwọ (pp. 192–193); Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere (pp. 249–252).
Objective
Compare the types and themes of the poems; relate the poet's ideas to the contents of the poems; compare figurative and idiomatic expressions in the poems; analyse the structures of the poems; apply acquired knowledge and moral lessons from the poems to daily life.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
5Written Literature: Drama (Agụmagụ Ederede — Ejije)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
J. C. Maduekwe (1979), Otu Mkpịsị Aka. Longman Nigeria (Learn Africa).
Objective
Identify the type of drama to which the text belongs; determine the themes in the text; identify the storylines and characters; appreciate the language style of the play; appraise the social problems raised by the author; apply acquired knowledge to personal life; identify the moral lessons from the drama text.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
3Section C: Customs and Institutions (Omenala na Ewumewu)
1 topic · 18 objectives
1Igbo Customs and Institutions
18 content items · 18 objectives
Content
Ekele dị iche iche: greetings for morning, afternoon, evening, meals, visiting the sick, bedtime, work, and other occasions.
Objective
Describe the customs of the Igbo people; determine the rules and regulations guiding specified aspects of Igbo culture and tradition; describe the importance of aspects of Igbo culture; identify changes resulting from civilization; explore the environment for a better appreciation of Igbo culture.
Content
Marriage and divorce (Alụmdi na nwunye, ịgba alụkwaghịm).
Objective
Describe Igbo marriage and divorce customs; determine the rules and regulations guiding these aspects of Igbo culture; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Childbirth and related customs: childbirth and postnatal care (ọmụmụ na ile ọmụgwọ), presenting a child to the community (ikupụta nwa), circumcision (ibi ugwu), naming (ịgụ aha), trading for a child (ịzụ ahịa nwa), and seeing the king (ịhu eze).
Objective
Describe these customs; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization; explore the environment to appreciate Igbo culture.
Content
Titles and chieftaincy: Nze na Ọzọ, Eze/Obi/Igwe, Iyọm/Lọọlọ.
Objective
Describe the customs relating to titles and chieftaincy; determine their rules and regulations; explain their cultural importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ịkwa ozu, ịgba mkpe.
Objective
Describe these customs; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Ụmụnna, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, iyomdi, nwadiala.
Objective
Describe these kinship and community institutions; determine their rules and regulations; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Ọgbọ/ebiri/uke, ọhanaeze, ezinaụlọ.
Objective
Describe these social institutions; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Arụ na nsọala: tabooed things (ihe nsọ), tabooed animals (anụ nsọ), sacred trees (osisi nsọ), and sacred places (ebe nsọ).
Objective
Describe these customs and beliefs; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Traditional government: Igwe/Eze, Nze na Ọzọ, ụmụnna, ezinaụlọ, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, and age grades (otu ọgbọ).
Objective
Describe the structures of traditional Igbo government; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Welcoming visitors, presenting kola nut and white chalk (ọji na ịtụ nzu), naming, morning handwashing (ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ), and invoking the ọfọ (ịgọ ọfọ).
Objective
Describe these customs; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Religious practices: divination (ịgba afa), offering sacrifices (ịchụ aja), invoking spirits (ịgọ mmụọ), and worship (ofufe).
Objective
Describe Igbo religious practices; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Religious objects: ọfọ, ikenga and okpesi.
Objective
Describe the uses and cultural significance of religious objects; determine the rules and regulations guiding their use; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Beliefs and practices: ịdụ isi/ịṅụ iyi, ịgba ndụ, orikọ, ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi anụ, ịha/ịchụ mmiri, and others.
Objective
Describe Igbo beliefs and practices; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Economic activities and wealth: land ownership, ike ala, iri ekpe, elulu, and animal husbandry such as rearing chickens and goats.
Objective
Describe these economic customs; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Associations and groups: Mmọnwụ, ọkọnkọ, ekpe, ọmabe, odo, dibịa, and others.
Objective
Describe these associations and groups; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Games and recreation: wrestling (mgba), moonlight games (egwu ọnwa), ikpọ ọga, ịzụ ǹchọ, ịzụ okwe, ịgba/ịchọ oro, and others.
Objective
Describe Igbo games and recreational customs; determine their rules and regulations; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Traditional Igbo occupations: farming (ọrụ ugbo), fishing (ịkụ azụ), blacksmithing (ịkpụ ụzụ), trading (ịzụ ahịa), carving (ịtụ ihe ọtụtụ), hunting (ịchụ nta), traditional healing (ime dibịa), pottery (ịkpụ ite), and others.
Objective
Describe traditional Igbo occupations; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization.
Content
Festivals and ceremonies: Ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji/iri ji, igbu ewu ukwu, iru mgbede, ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgụ afọ, and others.
Objective
Describe Igbo festivals and ceremonies; determine the rules and regulations guiding them; explain their importance; identify changes resulting from civilization; explore the environment to appreciate Igbo culture.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.
4Section D: General and Current Affairs (Ihe Ndị na-eme Ugbua)
4 topics · 10 objectives
1Topical Issues in Igbo Language, Literature and Culture
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Topical issues in Igbo language, literature and culture, including Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo lectures and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo.
Objective
Identify some dates, themes and functions of Ahịajiọkụ, Odenigbo and Ọhaneze Ndị Igbo lectures.
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3Igbo Studies Association (ISA)
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
The Igbo Studies Association (ISA), its functions and contributions.
Objective
Become familiar with the functions and contributions of the Igbo Studies Association (ISA).
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4Current Issues (Okwuakpụnọnụ)
7 content items · 7 objectives
Content
HIV/AIDS, cancer and coronavirus (Ọrịa Mmịnwụ/Obirinaajaọcha, awa eto and ọrịa koro).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Drug abuse (Ịṅụ Ọgwụ Agharaaghara).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Cultism (Otu Nzuzo).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Rights of women and children (Oruuru Ụmụnwaanyị na Ụmụaka).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Human rights violation and child abuse (Ịnapụ Mmadụ Ikike na Mmetọ Nwata).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Religious conflicts (Nsogbu Ndọkụrịta Ekpemekpe Ụka).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Content
Kidnapping (Ntọrọ Mmadụ).
Objective
Become familiar with current issues; examine their effects; suggest remedies to the problems.
Opens the CBT engine with Igbo past questions and answers.