Every year, thousands of Nigerian students sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with hopes of securing admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Among the four compulsory subjects, Use of English stands as a foundational paper for every candidate, regardless of their course of study. Ironically, it’s also the subject that many students underestimate,ountil it becomes the difference between a competitive score and a missed opportunity.
The JAMB Use of English exam is not just a test of grammar and vocabulary; it assesses comprehension, critical thinking, communication skills, and the ability to apply language in various contexts. As the first subject you’ll encounter in your UTME, it sets the tone for the rest of your performance. Whether you’re a science student aiming for medicine, or an arts student eyeing mass communication, mastering Use of English can significantly raise your aggregate score. Here are the proven strategies to help you score 70 and above in JAMB Use of English.
1. Understand the JAMB Syllabus
Before diving into any material, download and study the official JAMB syllabus for Use of English. It outlines all the topics you are expected to cover—comprehension, lexis and structure, summary, registers, oral English, and literature texts. Studying blindly without the syllabus is like preparing for a journey without a map.
2. Focus on Comprehension and Summary
These sections carry significant marks and test your ability to read, understand, and interpret passages. Practise reading comprehension under timed conditions, and learn how to identify main ideas, inferences, tone, and supporting details.
3. Study the Recommended Novel
Each year, JAMB recommends a novel which forms a large portion of the literature-related questions. Read the book thoroughly and understand the plot, themes, characters, and setting. Don’t rely on summaries alone, JAMB often asks nuanced questions that require in-depth knowledge.
4. Master Lexis and Structure
This section tests your grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. Learn word meanings, synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and figures of speech. Pay attention to common errors in sentence construction and practise with past questions to get used to the style.
5. Practise Oral English Questions
Many students ignore this part, but oral English (test of sounds, rhymes, stress and intonation) can fetch easy marks if well-prepared. Use JAMB past questions and listen to pronunciation videos to help you recognise correct intonation and vowel/consonant sounds.
6. Answer Past Questions Consistently
Past questions are a goldmine. They help you familiarise yourself with JAMB’s question patterns, difficulty level, and time constraints. Use them not just for revision, but for evaluation. Time yourself and simulate exam conditions regularly.
7. Build Your Vocabulary Daily
Read newspapers, novels, magazines, and informative blogs. Make it a habit to learn new words daily and use them in sentences. A wide vocabulary bank makes answering questions on lexis and structure much easier. Remember that your passage could from.any field and from any topic.
8. Improve Your Reading Speed and Accuracy
Since the exam is timed, the ability to read and understand quickly is key. Practise speed-reading while maintaining comprehension. Don’t spend too much time on a single question, move on and come back if needed.
9. Take Note of Commonly Confused Words
Words like affect vs effect, complement vs compliment, their vs there are often tested. Have a list of such tricky words and go over them frequently to avoid careless mistakes.
10. Work on Your Time Management
The Use of English paper often contains 60 questions to be answered within an hour. Allocate time to each section. Practise skipping difficult questions and returning to them later to avoid getting stuck.
Scoring high in JAMB Use of English is not about how many hours you study, but how smartly you prepare. It’s about understanding the structure, familiarising yourself with past questions, and sharpening your language skills consistently. Self-confidence also affect performance. Prepare well and trust your ability. Enter the exam hall knowing you’ve done your part. Confidence can help you recall information faster and stay calm under pressure. Remember, Use of English is the only compulsory subject for every JAMB candidate, it carries weight and can significantly influence your total score.
