Syllabus content and objectives
Official JAMB Use of English outline · Section A: Comprehension and Summary
Content
(a) Description
Objective
(i) Identify main points and topic sentences in passages; (ii) determine implied meanings; (iii) identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative or idiomatic expressions; and (iv) deduce or infer the writers' intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion.
Content
(b) Narration
Objective
(i) Identify main points and topic sentences in passages; (ii) determine implied meanings; (iii) identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative or idiomatic expressions; and (iv) deduce or infer the writers' intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion.
Content
(c) Exposition
Objective
(i) Identify main points and topic sentences in passages; (ii) determine implied meanings; (iii) identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative or idiomatic expressions; and (iv) deduce or infer the writers' intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion.
Content
(d) Argumentation and persuasion
Objective
(i) Identify main points and topic sentences in passages; (ii) determine implied meanings; (iii) identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases, clauses and figurative or idiomatic expressions; and (iv) deduce or infer the writers' intentions, including mood, attitude to the subject matter and opinion.
Content
(i) Three passages, one of which will be a cloze test, each reflecting various disciplines and approximately 200 words long
Objective
Demonstrate comprehension of passages drawn from various disciplines.
Content
(ii)(a) Comprehension of the whole or part of each passage
Objective
Understand the whole passage or specified parts of a passage.
Content
(ii)(b) Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech and idioms as used in passages
Objective
Identify the meanings and functions of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech and idioms in context.
Content
(ii)(c) Coherence and logical reasoning, including deductions and inferences
Objective
Determine implied meanings and make logical deductions and inferences from passages.
Content
(ii)(d) Approved reading text
Objective
Demonstrate comprehension of the approved reading text.
Content
(ii)(e) Synthesis of ideas from passages
Objective
Combine distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complete whole in the form of a summary.
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