USE OF ENGLISH

GENERAL OBJECTIVES
The aim of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Use of English is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives,
which are to:

(1) communicate effectively in both written and spoken English;

(2) have a sound linguistic basis for learning at the tertiary level.

The syllabus consists of two sections

SECTION A: Comprehension/Summary

SECTION B: Lexis, Structure and Oral Forms

DETAILED SYLLABUS

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES

1. Comprehension/Summary
(a) description.
(b) narration.
(c) exposition.
(d) argumentation/persuasion.

(i) Each of the four passages to be set (one will be a close test) should reflect various disciplines and be about 400 words long.

(ii) Questions on the passages, The last day at forcados high school, will test the
following:

(a) Comprehension of the whole or part of each passages.

(b) Comprehension of words, phrases, clauses, sentences, figures of speech and idioms as used in the passages.

(c) Coherence and logical reasoning (deductions, inferences, etc.)

(d) Synthesis of ideas from the passages.

NOTE:
By synthesis of ideas is meant the art of combining distinct or separate pieces of information to form a complex whole, that is;” the ability to make generalizations from specific ideas mentioned in the passages, such generalizations involve identifying the mood or tone of the writer, his attitude to the subject matter, his point of view, etc. In this regard, synthesis is a higher-level skill than summary.

OBJECTIVES

Candidates should be able to:

i. identify main points in passages;
ii. determine implied meaning;
iii. identify the grammatical functions of words, phrases and clauses and figurative idiomatic expression;
iv. deduce or infer the writer’s opinion, mood, attitude to the subject