AdminEnglish Language is the one subject every UTME candidate must write, so practising it well pays off for everyone, whatever course you want. Reading about the syllabus is useful, but you only truly improve when you answer questions, check your answers and learn from your mistakes. That is the purpose of this guide: to give you original practice questions in the style of the JAMB English paper, with answers and short explanations, plus a clear method for using practice questions to raise your score.
The questions below were written for this article. They are not copied from any exam paper, and they are meant to train the same skills that the UTME tests: vocabulary, grammar, sentence structure, oral English and comprehension. Work through them under timed conditions, then read the explanations carefully. For a full breakdown of what the paper covers, see our guide on the JAMB syllabus for English Language and how to study it.
Please note: The real exam format, number of questions and prescribed texts can change. Check the current syllabus on jamb.gov.ng, and use these questions as practice material rather than a prediction of what will appear.
How to Use This Practice Set
- Set a timer. Give yourself about one minute per question at first, then reduce the time as you improve.
- Cover the answers. Write down your choices before you look at the explanations.
- Mark honestly. Count your score, and write a note for every mistake.
- Repeat after two days. Try the questions you missed again, and make sure that you can explain why the correct answer is right.
- Make your own questions. Writing questions for a friend is a powerful way to learn rules.
Section A: Lexis and Structure (Vocabulary and Grammar)
Question 1
Choose the word that is closest in meaning to the underlined word: The engineer was meticulous in checking every detail of the plan.
A. careless B. careful C. hasty D. lazy
Answer: B. Meticulous means very careful and precise about details.
Question 2
Choose the option that best completes the sentence: Neither the teacher nor the students ___ present at the meeting.
A. was B. is C. were D. has been
Answer: C. When two subjects are joined by neither and nor, the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it. Here that subject is students, which is plural, so the verb is were.
Question 3
Choose the option that best completes the sentence: She has been living in this town ___ 2015.
A. for B. since C. from D. at
Answer: B. Since is used with a point in time, such as a year, while for is used with a length of time, such as five years.
Question 4
Choose the word that is opposite in meaning to the underlined word: Food was scarce during the long drought.
A. rare B. plentiful C. expensive D. cheap
Answer: B. Scarce means not enough, so its opposite is plentiful or abundant.
Question 5
Choose the option that best completes the sentence: He is the tallest ___ the three brothers.
A. among B. between C. of D. from
Answer: C. After a superlative such as tallest, we commonly use of when we refer to a group, as in the tallest of the three brothers.
Question 6
Choose the option that best explains the idiom: The new employee let the cat out of the bag about the surprise party.
A. cooked a meal B. revealed a secret C. made a mistake in counting D. lost a pet
Answer: B. The idiom let the cat out of the bag means to reveal a secret accidentally.
Question 7
Choose the option that best completes the sentence: The news ___ shocking to everyone in the village.
A. were B. are C. is D. have been
Answer: C. News is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb, so the correct form is is.
Question 8
Choose the option that has a grammatical error: Each of the boys have finished his work.
A. Each of the boys B. have finished C. his work D. there is no error
Answer: B. Each is singular and takes a singular verb. The correct sentence is Each of the boys has finished his work.
Section B: Oral English
Question 9
Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as the one in seat.
A. sit B. beat C. set D. bet
Answer: B. The vowel in seat is a long ee sound, and beat has the same sound. The other words have short vowel sounds.
Question 10
Choose the word that has the main stress on the second syllable.
A. table B. begin C. doctor D. mother
Answer: B. In begin, the stress falls on the second syllable. The other words have the stress on the first syllable.
Question 11
Choose the word that rhymes with light.
A. lit B. bite C. bit D. late
Answer: B. Bite has the same ending sound as light. Rhymes depend on sound, not spelling.
Section C: Comprehension
Read the passage and answer the questions that follow.
Amina walked to the market before sunrise because she wanted to buy fresh vegetables at lower prices. By the time the sun rose, her basket was already full, and she hurried home to prepare breakfast for her family.
Question 12
Why did Amina go to the market early?
A. She wanted to meet friends B. She wanted fresh vegetables at lower prices C. The market closed early D. She was late for work
Answer: B. The passage states directly that she wanted to buy fresh vegetables at lower prices.
Question 13
What did Amina do after her basket was full?
A. She stayed at the market B. She sold vegetables C. She hurried home D. She visited a friend
Answer: C. The passage says she hurried home to prepare breakfast.
Question 14
The word hurried in the passage is closest in meaning to ___.
A. walked slowly B. rushed C. wandered D. rested
Answer: B. To hurry is to move quickly, so rushed is the nearest meaning.
How to Score Your Practice
- 13 to 14 correct: Excellent. Move to harder passages and timed mixed sets.
- 10 to 12 correct: Good. Review the topics you missed and repeat.
- 7 to 9 correct: Fair. Spend time on grammar rules, vocabulary and oral English basics.
- Below 7: Start with the fundamentals, and practise a small set of questions each day.
What These Questions Teach You
Subject-verb agreement
Questions 2, 7 and 8 test whether the verb agrees with the subject. Learn the rules for nearer subjects, uncountable nouns and words such as each, every and either, which are singular.
Prepositions and time words
Questions 3 and 5 test common prepositions. Learn short rules, such as since for a point in time and for for a duration, and read plenty of examples.
Vocabulary and idioms
Questions 1, 4 and 6 test meaning. Build your vocabulary by learning a few words daily with opposites and sentences, and keep an idiom notebook.
Sounds and stress
Questions 9 to 11 test oral English. Practise saying words aloud, learn the basic vowel sounds and use a dictionary with pronunciation guides.
Reading for meaning
Questions 12 to 14 test comprehension. Read the passage once for the main idea, then return to the lines you need for each question.
Study Tips for Each Section
For lexis and structure
- Learn five words a day, with meaning, opposite and example.
- Revise concord, tenses, articles, prepositions and conjunctions.
- Keep a list of your most frequent errors and review it weekly.
For oral English
- Learn the symbols for vowels and consonants from a good dictionary.
- Practise stress by saying words aloud and tapping on the stressed syllable.
- Listen to clear speakers on news programmes.
For comprehension
- Read a passage every day and say the main idea in one sentence.
- Practise inference by asking what the writer suggests but does not say.
- Time your reading and aim to improve gradually.
Common Mistakes in English Practice
- Memorising answers. The exam uses new sentences, so you need rules and understanding.
- Ignoring explanations. A correct guess teaches you little, so always ask why.
- Practising without a timer. Speed matters in a computer-based exam.
- Skipping oral English. It is easier to improve than many candidates think.
- Practising only on paper. Use a CBT practice app as well. Our guide on choosing and using a JAMB CBT practice app explains how.
Build a Weekly English Practice Routine
- Monday: 15 lexis and structure questions, then review
- Tuesday: One comprehension passage with questions
- Wednesday: Oral English practice and new vocabulary
- Thursday: Grammar rules and error spotting
- Friday: Mixed timed set of 30 questions
- Saturday: Full mock test including English
- Sunday: Review mistakes and read for pleasure
Link Your Practice to Your Course
English matters for every course, but some courses lean on it heavily. Law, Mass Communication and many humanities programmes expect excellent English. See our guide on the JAMB subject combination for Law for an example. Health and science courses also depend on strong English, as shown in our guides on Nursing and Pharmacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find real JAMB English questions?
Look for official or reputable educational sources, and always check that the material follows the current syllabus. This article provides original practice questions in the same style.
How many English questions should I practise daily?
Twenty to thirty well-reviewed questions a day is a good target, with a full timed test once a week.
Is memorising past questions enough?
No. Questions change, so you need to understand the rules and the vocabulary behind the answers.
How do I improve my vocabulary fast?
Read widely, learn a few words every day with example sentences, and review them regularly.
How can I get better at comprehension?
Read daily, summarise what you read, practise inference and time yourself.
Is the prescribed literature text part of every exam?
Not necessarily. Check the official syllabus for your exam year.
Final Thoughts
Practice questions are most valuable when you treat each one as a lesson. Work under time, check every answer, understand every explanation and repeat the questions you missed. Combine daily vocabulary building, grammar revision, oral English practice and comprehension reading, and use a CBT app to rehearse the real exam format. Steady effort will lift your English score and strengthen your total.
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