JAMB Subject Combination for English and Literary Studies

If you want to study English, or English and Literary Studies as some universities call it, your UTME subjects are Use of English, Literature in English and two other Arts subjects, according to two 2026 guides to JAMB's list. They differ slightly on how they describe the last two slots, so this page sets out both and tells you what to confirm. The JAMB brochure on IBASS is the final authority.

The combination at a glance

The UTME is a computer-based test. You register for four subjects, Use of English plus three tied to your course, and it is scored out of 400.

What the sources say, and where they disagree

The two lists agree on the core. BusinessDay is more specific about the last two slots and includes Economics, which some people would call a social science. Myschoolnews says only "two other Arts subjects". Because the wording differs, confirm the exact list in the brochure before choosing, especially if you plan to pick Economics.

Note also the course name. Some universities offer "English Language", "English and Literary Studies" or "English" as separate or combined degrees. Check the brochure entry that matches the exact name on your target school's list.

Why these subjects

English and Literary Studies is a reading and writing degree. Literature in English is on the list because the course is built on close reading of texts, and Use of English is the other half: grammar, vocabulary and clear expression are tested in the exam and then used in every assignment. The two Arts subjects you add, such as Government or Religious Studies, give you wider reading and different styles of argument.

Choose the two extra subjects you can score in. Do not choose them only because they look easy; the examiners' questions test understanding, not memory of the subject's name.

Avoid combination mistakes

A wrong subject combination is one of the most avoidable reasons for trouble. A few habits help:

1. Write the four subjects down before you go to the centre. Do not rely on an agent's memory.
2. Check them against the brochure on jamb.gov.ng and against the admission requirements of each university you choose.
3. Do not drop a required subject because you find it hard. If the university requires it, a different choice can make you ineligible.
4. Recheck your slip. Confirm all four subjects are correct before you leave the registration centre.

Nairametrics reported in February 2026 that candidates who had picked the wrong subjects, or wanted to change them, could do so at an accredited centre during that year's registration period. Do not assume the same window will exist for 2027. Watch jamb.gov.ng and read our guide to changing your course.

Our general guide to JAMB subject combinations shows the logic behind combinations for other courses.

O'level requirements are separate

Your WAEC, NECO or NABTEB result matters alongside the UTME. Universities set their own O'level requirements for each programme. For English you should expect English Language and often Literature in English to feature, but the exact subjects and grades are each institution's decision, so read the admission requirements on its website. We do not print a universal O'level rule here because we could not source one.

What is the score you need?

That is a different question. JAMB sets a national minimum for universities (reported as 150 for 2026/2027), but schools can set higher requirements for individual courses. Read our guide to the JAMB cut-off mark for English and Literary Studies for what is and is not published, and what JAMB score you need to get admission for the wider picture.

How to prepare the four subjects

From 29 October 2026 to the proposed UTME window of 15 to 25 March 2027 there are 137 days. That window is a proposal, not a final date. See the JAMB 2027 UTME date and timetable for the latest. A plan that works for many candidates:

• Read for the exam, not just for fun. Practise comprehension passages against the clock.
• Make a short list for your literature texts: plot, characters, themes and setting, in your own words. Use the official JAMB list of recommended texts, which you can find on jamb.gov.ng.
• Keep an error log for Use of English: tense, concord, lexis, structure.
• Do timed, four-subject practice in the final weeks.

Always work from the official JAMB syllabus for each subject, which you can find on jamb.gov.ng.

If you change your mind

If you later prefer a related course, you may be able to apply for a change of course, depending on JAMB's rules at the time. Read the guide on changing your course first. If you are weighing English against teaching it, compare the Education combination, which is different.

Topic areas to cover in each subject

Use the official JAMB syllabus as your checklist. As a rough guide, broad areas you are likely to meet are:

A sample weekly split

This is advice, not an official plan. Adjust it to your timetable and strengths.

Confirm it on IBASS

Every list on this page is press-reported. JAMB's own brochure is on its IBASS portal at ibass.jamb.gov.ng/brochure, and we could only open its landing page, not the course entries. Look up your course there, then check your target university's admission page, before you register.

ExamPadi has 46,182 practice questions across JAMB, WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, with a timed CBT mode. Free practice is available, with a Pro tier, on Android, iOS, web and Windows.

Practise JAMB Literature in English on ExamPadi, then add your other subjects to cover the full combination.