The JAMB syllabus for Arabic is designed to help candidates understand the exact depth of knowledge required for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. Arabic combines grammar, comprehension, translation, vocabulary, literature, and the ability to interpret classical and contemporary texts, making it essential for students to know precisely what JAMB will test them on.
What is the Arabic Syllabus?
The JAMB Arabic syllabus is an official guide that outlines all the language skills and content areas candidates must study for the exam. It details the linguistic objectives, grammatical structures, comprehension skills, translation requirements, and literary expectations that students should acquire before sitting for the UTME. It is not simply a list of topics but a well structured document that explains what candidates must know and what they must be able to do with that knowledge.
JAMB Syllabus for Arabic Contents
The official JAMB syllabus for Arabic includes have sections being:
- Comprehension
- Translation
- Grammer
- Composition
- Arabic Literature
| S/N | TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SECTION A: COMPREHENSION It consists of a passage of seventy (70) words. Five multiple-choice questions are to be set on the passage. The contents should be within the experience of the candidates e.g. current affairs, sports, education, politics, economy, health, culture, and ethics. | Candidates should be able to: i. use appropriate words or phrases for specific thought; ii. deduce the lesson in the passage; iii. determine the main themes of the passage; iv. give an appropriate title to the passage; v. interpret the meanings of particular words. |
| 2 | SECTION B: TRANSLATION This section consists of ten (10) questions. Five of them are on translation from English into Arabic while the other five are on translation from Arabic into English. Translation into English includes key words and phrases in a sentence. Translated questions are to be based on standard Arabic and English usages. | Candidates should be able to: i. use an appropriate Arabic word or phrase to convey the meaning of an English word or phrase; ii. determine an appropriate English word or phrase for an Arabic statement; iii. interpret idiomatic expressions in both Arabic and English; iv. transfer ideas expressed in Arabic to English and vice versa; v. communicate effectively in Arabic and English. |
| 3 | SECTION C: GRAMMAR Major grammatical features in Arabic to be examined include: .1 أسماء اإلشارة والموصولة والشرط واالستفهام Demonstrative, relative, conditional and interrogative pronouns. .2 المذكر والمؤنث. Gender (Masculine and Feminine). .3 عالمات االسم. Characteristics of noun. .4 المثنى. Dual. .5 الجموع: Plurals: أ – جمع المذكر السالم. a. sound masculine plural ب – جمع المؤنث السالم b. sound feminine plural ج – جمع التكسير c. broken plural .6 المضاف والمضاف إليه. Construct phrases. .7 الضمائر المنفصلة و المتصلة Separable and inseparable pronouns. .8 التوابع: Appendants: أ – النعت. ;adjective .a ب – العطف. ;conjunction .b c. the permutative; .البدل – ج د – التوكيد. .emphasis .d .9 حروف الجر والنصب والجزم Prepositions. .10 الفعل الالزم والفعل المتعدي. Transitive & Intransitive verbs. .11 الفعل الماضي The perfect verb. .12 فعل المضارع: The imperfect verb: a. the indicative. المرفوع – أ b. the subjunctive. المنصوب – ب c. the jussive. .المجزوم – ج .13 فعل األمر. The imperative verb. .14 النواسخ: The modifiers: أ – كان و أخواتها a. Kana and its associates ب – إن و أخواتها b. Inna and its associates ج – ظن و أخواتها c. Zanna and its associates .15 الفعل الثالثي المجرد و المزيد فيه. Trilateral and derived verb. .16 المصدر. Verbal noun. المشتقات: 17- Derivatives: أ – اسم الفاعل. a. active participle. ب- اسم المفعول. b. passive participle. ج- اسم التفضيل. c. comparative/superlative. هـ – اسم اآللة. d. noun of instrument. و – اسما الزمان و المكان. e. nouns of time and place. ز – اسم النسبة. f. relative adjective. ح- اسم المبالغة g. hyperbole noun. .18 الجملة الشرطية Conditional sentence. .19 العدد )1 – 1000 فقط( Numeral (1 – 1000). .20 الفاعل و نائب الفاعل. Active and passive voices. .21 المبتدأ والخبر. Subject and predicate. .22 منصوبات األسماء: Nouns in the accusative أ – المفعول به. a. direct object; ب – المفعول فيه )ظرف(. b. adverbs of place and time; ج – الحال. c. adverb of circumstance; د – المستثنى بإال. d. the exempted with illa; هـ – التمييز. e. the specification; و – المنادى. f. the vocative. | Candidates should be able to: i. identify the various forms of demonstrative and relative pronouns; ii. compare gender markers in Arabic; iii. identify the characteristics of Arabic nouns; iv. differentiate between singular and dual forms of nouns; v. construct plural forms of singular nouns; vi. identify and construct phrases and their usages; vii. differentiate between separable and inseparable pronouns; viii. identify correct usage of adjectives, conjunctions, permutative and emphasis in Arabic sentences; ix. apply correct preposition particles in a given sentence; x. differentiate between transitive and intransitive verbs and use them in sentences; xi. identify the perfect verbs and their forms; xii. identify the imperfect verbs and their grammatical words in sentences; xiii. identify the imperative verbs and their forms; xiv. identify the kinds of modifiers and apply them in Arabic usage; xv. differentiate between trilateral and derived verbs; xvi. identify the types of derivatives; xvii. apply the rules governing conditional sentences, identify, construct and differentiate them in normal sentences; xviii. recognise and count Arabic numerals from 1 to 1000 and identify the intricacies involved in their usage; xix. distinguish between doer and doer-substitute and apply them in sentences; xx. identify different types of adverbial clauses, the exempted, specification and the vocative and use them in standard Arabi |
| 4 | SECTION D: COMPOSITION This section consists of five (5) questions on subjects relating to the lives and environment of the candidates, e.g. education, culture, health, politics, economy, sports and current affairs. | Candidates should be able to: i. use appropriate words for specific thoughts; ii. use correct idiomatic expressions in Arabic; iii. communicate effectively in Arabic; iv. express ideas clearly in Arabic; v. demonstrate the use of common Arabic idioms and proverbs. |
| 5 | SECTION E: ARABIC LITERATURE This section consists of ten (10) questions on notable literary figures and their works cutting across various periods which include the following: أ – المدخل إلى األدب العربي. a) Introduction to Arabic literature. األدب تعريفه وأقسامه وفنونه. العصور األدبية. الشعر تعريفه وأنواعه وأغراضه. النثر تعريفه وفنونه ب – العصر الجاهلي )حوالى 500 – 610 م (. a) The Pre-Islamic Period (500 – 610 C.E.). زهير بن أبي سلمى وقصيدته الحكمية الميمية. هاشم بن عبد مناف وخطبته في مكارم األخالق. ج – العصور اإلسالمية )610 – 1798م(. b) The Islamic Period (610 – 1798 C.E.). النبي )ص( وخطبته في فتح مكة. كعب بن زهير وقصيدته “بانت سعاد”. النقائض بين الفرزدق وجرير. المتنبي وقصيدته “سيف الدولة الباسل”. د – العصر الحديث )1798م إلى اليوم(. c) The Modern Period (1978 to date). محمود سامي البارودي وقصيدته في الفخر. ” أبى الدهر” حافظ إبراهيم وقصيدته “اللغة العربية”. مرتضى بدماصي وكتابه “مستقبل اللغة العربية” هـ – األدب العربي في غرب إفريقيا. d) Arabic Literature in West Africa. الشيخ عبد هللا بن فودي وقصيدته ” الرد على قصيدة غوني البرنوي “. محمد ثالث مي أنغوا وروايته ” لماذا يكرهوننا” الشيخ آدم عبد هللا اإللوري وخطبته في فضل العلم أ.د. عيسى ألبي أبوبكر وقصيدته ” آفة العصر” | Candidates should be able to: i. identify the essence of Arabic literature; poetry, prose and their periods. ii. identify pre-Islamic Arabic poetic and prosaic traditions and conventions; iii. identify and analyse the style of figurative expressions contained in a given Islamic literature; iv. describe the aesthetic features in literary texts and assess their modern cultural values; v. evaluate areas of successful use of Arabic as a medium of West African novel and drama; vi. analyse their contents and describe their major characteristics and plots. |
Download Arabic JAMB Syllabus 2026/2027
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Does the Arabic syllabus change every year
A: No. The core content remains largely the same, though slight adjustments may occur to strengthen clarity or reflect educational updates.
Q: What major areas does the Arabic syllabus focus on
A: It focuses on grammar, comprehension, translation, vocabulary building, sentence structure, morphology, syntax, and Arabic literature.
Q: Do I need advanced Arabic knowledge to perform well in the exam
A: No. The syllabus is designed for secondary school level Arabic. With consistent study, understanding of grammar, and practice in reading and translation, candidates can perform excellently.
Q: Is translation a significant part of the Arabic exam
A: Yes. Translation between Arabic and English is an important section, and students must understand vocabulary, grammar, and context to score well.
Q: What textbooks can I use to study the syllabus
A: Any standard Arabic textbook used in Nigerian secondary schools is suitable. JAMB also releases a list of recommended texts that align with the syllabus.
Q: Does the exam include literature questions
A: Yes. The syllabus includes basic Arabic literature, including prose, poetry, and important literary forms.
Q: Can past questions help me prepare effectively
A: Yes. Past questions help you understand patterns, familiarise yourself with common grammatical structures, and practise translation and comprehension skills.
Q: Do I need to memorise Arabic vocabulary lists
A: Vocabulary memorisation is helpful, but understanding usage in context is even more important. Focus on both recognition and application in sentences and passages.
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