The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has developed a comprehensive syllabus for the English Language to guide candidates preparing for the examination. The NABTEB Syllabus for English Language outlines the key areas and skills students need to master to succeed, including grammar, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and oral communication.
For effective study and exam preparation, all candidates are encouraged to use this syllabus as one of their key tools. In this article, we have provided the NABTEB English Language syllabus, helping candidates focus on what matters most to achieve excellent results. You will also find the list of recommended textbooks for the NABTEB English Language.
Examination Structure
Paper I (Objective Test): Consists of 100 multiple-choice questions, with 40% focusing on vocabulary and idioms, and 60% on grammar and sentence structure. The paper is marked out of 75 and lasts for 1 hour.
Paper II (Essay, Comprehension, Summary): This paper carries 100 marks and lasts 1 hour and 45 minutes. It includes:-
- Essay Writing (40 marks, 45 minutes): Candidates write one essay of 350 to 400 words from a choice of four topics. Essays are assessed based on clarity, organization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Reading Comprehension (20 marks, 25 minutes): Based on a prose passage of 350 to 400 words, questions test understanding of literal meaning, word class, figures of speech, punctuation, grammar, and contextual vocabulary.
- Summary Writing (30 marks, 35 minutes): Candidates summarize a passage of 400 to 500 words, focusing on conciseness, relevance, and avoiding redundancy.
Paper III (Oral English) – 25 marks: Candidates demonstrate their listening comprehension, reading aloud, and speech production skills.
- Alternative A (for school candidates): Includes a listening test, plus reading and oral composition.
- Alternative B (for both school and private candidates): A multiple-choice test covering pronunciation, stress, intonation, and phonetics.
NABTEB Syllabus For English Language
| Section | Topics Covered |
|---|---|
| A. Grammar and Structure | – Parts of Speech: Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, interjections. – Sentence Structure: Simple, compound, and complex sentences; sentence transformation. – Verb Tenses: Present, past, future tenses, and their aspects. – Voice: Active and passive constructions. – Direct and Indirect Speech: Conversion and usage. – Clause Analysis: Independent and dependent clauses; coordination and subordination. |
| B. Vocabulary and Idioms | – Word Formation: Prefixes, suffixes, and roots. – Synonyms and Antonyms: Understanding and usage. – Phrasal Verbs: Commonly used phrasal verbs and their meanings. – Idiomatic Expressions: Interpretation and usage in context. |
| C. Reading Comprehension | – Literal Comprehension: Understanding the explicit meaning of the text. – Inferential Comprehension: Drawing conclusions based on the information provided. – Vocabulary in Context: Understanding the meaning of words based on the context. – Figures of Speech: Identifying and interpreting metaphors, similes, personification, etc. |
| D. Essay and Report Writing | – Essay Writing: Narrative, descriptive, argumentative, and expository essays. – Report Writing: Writing reports on various topics, including events, experiments, and surveys. – Letter Writing: Formal and informal letters, including applications, complaints, and invitations. |
| E. Summary Writing | – Extracting Main Ideas: Identifying the central theme and supporting details. – Paraphrasing: Rewriting information in one’s own words. – Condensation: Reducing the length of a passage while retaining essential information. |
| F. Oral English | – Listening Comprehension: Understanding spoken English through various audio materials. – Reading Aloud: Pronunciation, intonation, and stress patterns. – Speech Production: Delivering speeches on various topics. – Phonetics: Understanding and producing sounds in English. |
Recommended Textbooks for NABTEB English Language
- The New Testament of the Use of English by Joseph Omofomah (Son of Man)
- Dandy English
- English Lexis and Structure for Senior Secondary Schools and Colleges (Revised Edition) by A. Bamgbose
- Essential Oral English for Schools and Colleges by O. J. Caesar
- Mastering English Usage and Communication Skills by D. I. Egbe
- Common Errors in English by S. Nnamonu and D. Jowitt
- Catch-up English for SSCE/UME by C. Ukwuegbu et al.
- University Matriculation Use of English (Fourth Edition) by M. F. Obinna
- Comprehensive English
Candidates are strongly encouraged to thoroughly study every topic outlined in the NABTEB Syllabus for English Language. Your exam questions will be based directly on these areas, so ensure you don’t overlook any section.
Be sure to make good use of the recommended textbooks and past question papers during your revision. These materials will give you a clear understanding of the exam format and help you prepare confidently.
If you have any questions or need further explanations on any part of the syllabus, please leave your queries in the comments section, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Please share this post with fellow candidates who may find it helpful. For syllabi of other NABTEB subjects, visit our page.
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