100+ Free JAMB Use of English Practice Questions
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Key Facts: JAMB Use of English Exam
60 questions
Use of English has 60 objective questions worth 100 marks in the UTME
JAMB UTME Use of English syllabus
Compulsory
Use of English is required of every UTME candidate regardless of course
JAMB UTME guidelines
3 areas
Comprehension/summary, lexis and structure, and oral forms (spoken English)
JAMB Use of English syllabus 2026
About 2 hours
The UTME CBT session of about 120 minutes covers all four subjects
JAMB UTME exam guidelines
Out of 400
UTME is scored out of 400 across four subjects; institutions set cut-offs
JAMB UTME scoring
N7,200
2026 UTME registration fee (N8,700 with optional Mock-UTME)
JAMB 2026 UTME guidelines
The Lekki Headmaster
2026 prescribed novel by Kabir Alabi Garba; about 10 questions from it
JAMB 2026 recommended text
100
Free original practice questions here
OpenExamPrep
JAMB UTME Use of English is the compulsory English subject of Nigeria's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, administered by JAMB for entry into tertiary institutions. It contains 60 objective multiple-choice questions worth 100 marks, the highest weighting of any UTME subject, taken inside the single CBT session of about 2 hours that covers all four subjects. Content spans comprehension and summary (including a prescribed novel, 'The Lekki Headmaster' for 2026), lexis and structure (grammar and vocabulary), and oral forms (spoken English). There is no fixed subject pass mark; the UTME is scored out of 400 and each institution sets its own cut-off. This 100-question bank gives original practice modelled on the official syllabus areas.
Sample JAMB Use of English Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your JAMB Use of English exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the passage: 'Although the market was crowded, Ada moved quickly between the stalls, her eyes fixed on a single goal: the bookseller at the far corner.' What can we infer about Ada?
2Passage: 'The new bridge cut the journey from two hours to forty minutes, and traders who once arrived exhausted now reached the city with energy to spare.' What is the main idea of this sentence?
3In the sentence 'The diligent student revised every night, so her excellent results surprised no one,' the word 'diligent' most nearly means:
4Passage: 'Critics praised the film's stunning images but complained that its story dragged in the middle.' What is the writer's attitude to the film?
5Passage: 'Rainfall this year was far below average. As a result, the reservoirs ran low and the town introduced water rationing.' What is the relationship between low rainfall and rationing?
6Passage: 'The headmaster spoke softly, yet every pupil in the noisy hall fell silent at once.' What does this suggest about the headmaster?
7Which sentence best summarises this passage? 'Solar lamps are cheaper to run than kerosene lamps, give brighter light and do not produce harmful smoke. Many rural families have therefore switched to them.'
8Passage: 'When the results were announced, Tunde's hands trembled and he read his name three times before he dared to believe it.' What emotion is Tunde feeling?
9Passage: 'The committee neither approved nor rejected the plan; instead, it asked for more information.' What did the committee do?
10Passage: 'The old farmer planted trees he would never sit beneath, knowing the shade was for his grandchildren.' What does this reveal about the farmer?
About the JAMB Use of English Exam
JAMB UTME Use of English is the compulsory English component of Nigeria's Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for entry into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education. Every UTME candidate sits Use of English alongside three other subjects in one computer-based test (CBT) session. The paper contains 60 objective multiple-choice questions worth a combined 100 marks, the highest weighting of any single UTME subject. Content is drawn from three areas: comprehension and summary (including questions on a prescribed novel, 'The Lekki Headmaster' by Kabir Alabi Garba for 2026), lexis and structure (grammar, word classes, concord, punctuation, sentence interpretation, synonyms, antonyms and idioms), and oral forms or spoken English (vowels, consonants, stress, rhyme and intonation). The syllabus aims to test candidates' ability to communicate effectively in standard written and spoken English for tertiary study.
Assessment
60 objective multiple-choice questions worth 100 marks, drawn from comprehension and summary (including the prescribed novel), lexis and structure (grammar and vocabulary), and oral forms (spoken English).
Time Limit
Use of English is sat within the single UTME CBT session of about 2 hours (120 minutes) that covers all four subjects; candidates allocate their own time across the subjects.
Passing Score
No fixed subject pass mark. The UTME is scored out of 400 across four subjects and each tertiary institution sets its own aggregate cut-off for admission to a given course.
Exam Fee
The 2026 UTME registration fee is N7,200 (or N8,700 with the optional Mock-UTME); Use of English is included as a compulsory subject and is not charged separately. (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB))
JAMB Use of English Exam Content Outline
Comprehension and Summary
Reading passages and an extract-based set on the prescribed novel test main idea, inference, supporting detail, vocabulary in context, summary, and the writer's purpose, tone and attitude. Practice here builds the skill of locating evidence in the text and condensing it into a single accurate answer.
Lexis and Structure
Grammar and vocabulary items cover word classes, tenses, concord (subject-verb agreement), pronouns, punctuation, sentence interpretation, synonyms, antonyms, idioms, collocations and registers. Practice here focuses on choosing the correct standard-English form and interpreting the meaning of complete sentences.
Oral Forms (Spoken English)
Spoken-English items, presented in writing, test vowel and consonant sounds, word stress, syllable structure, rhyme, emphatic (contrastive) stress and intonation. Practice here trains recognition of which words share a sound or stress pattern and where the main stress falls.
How to Pass the JAMB Use of English Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: No fixed subject pass mark. The UTME is scored out of 400 across four subjects and each tertiary institution sets its own aggregate cut-off for admission to a given course.
- Assessment: 60 objective multiple-choice questions worth 100 marks, drawn from comprehension and summary (including the prescribed novel), lexis and structure (grammar and vocabulary), and oral forms (spoken English).
- Time limit: Use of English is sat within the single UTME CBT session of about 2 hours (120 minutes) that covers all four subjects; candidates allocate their own time across the subjects.
- Exam fee: The 2026 UTME registration fee is N7,200 (or N8,700 with the optional Mock-UTME); Use of English is included as a compulsory subject and is not charged separately.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
JAMB Use of English Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are in JAMB Use of English?
Use of English has 60 objective multiple-choice questions worth a combined 100 marks. This is the highest weighting of any single UTME subject, since the other three subjects each carry 40 to 50 questions.
Is Use of English compulsory in the UTME?
Yes. Every UTME candidate must take Use of English regardless of their intended course, then choose three other subjects relevant to their programme, making four subjects in total.
What topics does JAMB Use of English cover?
It covers comprehension and summary (including a prescribed novel), lexis and structure (grammar, word classes, concord, punctuation, synonyms, antonyms and idioms), and oral forms or spoken English (vowels, consonants, stress, rhyme and intonation).
Is there a recommended novel for 2026?
Yes. For the 2026 UTME the prescribed Use of English text is 'The Lekki Headmaster' by Kabir Alabi Garba, and candidates can expect around 10 comprehension questions based on it.
How long is the UTME and how is Use of English timed?
The UTME is a single computer-based session of about 2 hours (120 minutes) covering all four subjects. Use of English is not separately timed; candidates manage their own time across the four subjects on screen.
Are these official JAMB past questions?
No. These are original OpenExamPrep practice questions modelled on the official JAMB Use of English syllabus areas. They do not reproduce JAMB past questions or the text of the prescribed novel.