GUIDELINES FOR PASSING USE-OF-ENGLISH IN UTME (JAMB) COMPUTER-BASED TEST Special Edition for UTME (JAMB) Candidates In Nigeria


GUIDELINES FOR PASSING USE-OF-ENGLISH
IN UTME (JAMB) COMPUTER-BASED TEST

Special Edition for UTME (JAMB) Candidates In Nigeria

                With the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) billed to hold in March, 2019, it has become expedient to use this article to provide guidelines to the candidates, some of whom are our readers, on how to prepare for, and excel in the USE OF ENGLISH paper. 
Needless to say, USE OF ENGLISH is compulsory for all UTME entrants (candidates) irrespective of the programme they wish to pursue in tertiary institutions, and so, it is important to prepare well for it.
COMPUTER-BASED-TEST (CBT)
          For about four years now, UTME (JAMB) examination has been completely changed from manual-based type in which answers to multi-choice questions were shaded with pencil, to computer-based type in which computer mouse is used to tick answers.  This is why it is now called CBT (Computer-Based Test).  As candidates writing the UTME soon, you are expected to have familiarized yourself with appreciable use of the computer.  Importantly, however, you should master how to click with the mouse effectively, before your examination day.
          In the same vein, you should try to read very fast (preferably twice) so that you can quickly understand the questions and tick the right answers before you submit, or before a particular section closes, as the papers and their sections are timed electronically.
STRUCTURE OF THE JAMB (UTME) USE OF ENGLISH TEST
You should take note that JAMB’s Use of English paper consists of two main

sections, namely:

Section A:   Comprehension and Summary

Section B:   Lexis, Structure and Oral Forms

Section A:  Comprehension and Summary

The first part of this section contains three passages, namely, Passage I,

Passage II and Passage III.  The aim of JAMB in presenting these three

passages is to know your level of comprehension,  or level of understanding a

given message.  The three passages carry 15 marks, and each question carries 3

marks, making a total of 45 marks.

What You Should Note and Do:         You should read the passages carefully

with an undivided attention, preferably twice; take note of all the important facts,

and use such to answer the  questions by ticking the right answers.

          The second part of this section is a summary passage.  What JAMB is

looking for in this passage, is your knowledge of English Registers or the

appropriate English words used in specific industries, professions or situations. 

Beside the registers, it is also common to ask candidates to replace certain words or

phrases with other synonymous ones.    You are expected to answer 10 questions in

in this sub-section, and each question carries 2 marks, making a total of 20.

What You Should Note and Do:         You should endeavour to take note of

the right registers that are applicable to the industry, profession or situation

under discussion.  You should also take note of the context in which certain italicized words or phrases are used, so that when you are asked to replace them with synonyms, the synonyms you use, could convey the same meaning which the replaced words or phrases have in the passage.
Section B:   Lexis, Structure and Oral Forms

Lexis:         The Lexis section contains questions on:

(i)                Idioms,

(ii)             Synonyms or words that are nearest in meaning to those marked,

(iii)           Antonyms or words that are opposite in meaning to those marked.

The aim of this sub-section is to test your knowledge of reasoning in English language, your knowledge of communication and your knowledge of vocabulary.
Each question in this section carries 1 mark.
What You Should Note and Do:         In the case of idioms, you should use idiomatic expressions in the sense of idioms, and not the other way round.  For example, ‘the old man kicked the bucket’ as an idiom, means ‘the old man is dead’, which is different from literally hitting one’s leg on the bucket.  Also, the words you choose as synonyms or antonyms should be the ones that have the strongest sense of such.
Structure:   Structure sub-section of the JAMB’s Use of English, is aimed at

testing your  knowledge in:

Formation of English sentences,

Part of sentences,

Semantics,

Syntax,

Tenses,

Phrasal verbs, and

Prepositions.

What You Should Note and Do:      The above mentioned areas have been explained in various articles published on this platform, and you are advised to read them beforehand. You also advised to consult your library and pertinent English textbooks available to you.
Oral: The Oral sub-section is the last part of Section B.  This sub-section usually contains only few questions, and the aim is to test your elementary knowledge of Oral English. 
What You Should Note and Do:      You are advised to use a good dictionary to learn or remind yourself of the symbols used to indicate pronunciations of some frequently used words.  Also, endeavour to compare and contrast the rhythm of words which you may be so questioned on, during the examination, before you tick your answers.  

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