Aims and Objectives
- enable candidates to speak, read and write competently in Ibibio and communicate effectively within their environment
- expose the candidates to their culture, customs and institutions
- acquaint them with the necessary tools needed for creative writing and the appreciation of Ibibio language and literature
- familiarize candidates with the sound system, grammatical structures and other features of the Ibibio language
Scheme of Examination
The examination shall consist of two papers, Papers 1 and 2, both of which shall constitute a composite paper and shall be taken in one sitting. The rubrics of the papers shall be written in Ibibio. Candidates will be required to answer all the questions in Ibibio using the standard orthography metalanguage.
PAPER 1
Paper 1 will consist of sixty multiple-choice objective questions, all of which should be answered within 1 hour for 60 marks. The paper will have three sections, Sections A, B and C. The questions in the sections will cover the following aspects of the subject:
- Section A: Language
- Section B: Literature
- Section C: Culture
Section A: Language
This will contain thirty multiple-choice questions on language distributed as follows:
- Comprehension (2 short passages) – 10 items
- Composition/letter writing – 4 items
- Sound system – 6 items
- Grammar – 6 items
- Translation – 4 items
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- 30 items
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Section B: Literature
Will contain twenty-two multiple choice questions on literature distributed as follows:
- Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation – 4 items
- Oral Literature – Prose – 3 items Poetry – 3 items Drama – 3 items
- Written Literature – Prose – 3 items Poetry – 3 itemsDrama – 3 items
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- Total – 22 items
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In this section, all questions other than those on Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation will be based on the set books for Paper 2.
Section C: Culture
This will contain eight multiple-choice questions on culture distributed as follows:
- Customs – 4 items
- Institutions – 4 items
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- 8 items
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TOTAL: (30+22+8) = 60 items
PAPER 2:
Paper 2 will be a composition test and will also have three sections, Sections A, B and C.
This paper will consist of three sections as follows:
- Section A: Language
- Section B: Literature
- Section C: Culture
Candidates will be required to answer six out of the total of thirteen questions to be made available. The paper will take 2 hours to complete and carry 100 marks.
Further details on the requirements and structure of the paper are given below.
Detailed Ibibio Syllabus
Section A: Essay
- Part 1: Essay/Letter writing
Candidates are advised not to spend more than 45 minutes on this section. There will be 5 topics from the following essay types, and candidates will be expected to attempt only one topic in about 300 words.
- Narrative;
- Descriptive;
- Argumentative;
- Expository;
- Dialogue;
- Proverbial;
- Letter writing.
- Part 2: Sound system
Two questions will be set for candidates to attempt one. Questions will be set on these areas testing the candidate’s basic knowledge of
- Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic Nasal:
- their production in terms of place and manner of articulation
- their basic phonetic and phonemic classification
- Syllable Structure – the way consonants and vowels combine in the syllabus
- Sound Processes: vowel harmony
- Assimilation of loan words
- Tone and tone intonation
- high tone
- low tone
- falling tone
- rising tone
- Part 3: Grammar
Candidates will be required to answer one question from the two questions set.
- Word structure and word formation: root, affixes, suffixes, prefixes, compounding, borrowing, reduplication.
- Word classes: Noun, verb, adverb, pronoun, adjectives, conjunction, preposition.
- Grammatical categories: number, person, tense, negation.
- Phrases and Clauses: their structure and functions.
- Sentences: The structure -complex, compound and simple
Types of sentences in terms of function: interrogative, declarative and negative.
- Punctuation marks.
Section B: Literature
- Part 1: Oral Literature
- Prose ( Folktales, legends, proverbs, riddles)
- Poetry (Songs, ballads)
- Drama (Traditional drama)
- Part 2: Written Literature
- Prose
- Poetry
- Drama
Section C: Culture
This section will consist of topics on customs and institutions. Two questions will be set and candidates will be required to answer one.
Topics to be examined include:
- Mme ubqk utom – Traditional occupation
- Ukq iyak
- Utq i]wan
- Unyam urua
- Udom ut[m
- Uk[m ]kinya
- Utuak ekpad
- Udqk aya
- Utop ufqk
- Ufiaka ikpq
- Usio id[d
- Udqk ikad
- Udqk ]kikan
- Ukq] ubom
- Ubon/ekpÃk – Family Structure
- UsÃ] ukpono/S’ekpono – Religious Institution
- Abasi
- Ndem
- Ibqk
- Ndukpo
- Ndidia/utem ndidia nte – Traditional (Ibibio) Food
- Kadi
- Fufu
- Efere
- Ikpo – Funerals
- Mme usqrq/Mbre Ibibio – Traditional Festivals
- Usqrq Nsuuk Udia
- Usqrq idqk
- Usqrq Mmana mmq
- Usqrq uman
- Usqrq Usio mboppo
- Usqrq Eka Abasi
- UsqrqUyad Ntinya
- Ibed – Taboos
- Uduq obom
- Ibed ndq
- Ukaa]a Ada]a esed
- Afai
- Inq
- Ef[be/use
- Ekpo }ka-owo
- Uduwe mbed
- Edu uwem (ukpeep) –Traditional education
- Uyad ntinya – Coronation
- Mboppo – Maiden fattening
- NdutÃm IdÃ] – Traditional rites
- Mme ]ka Ibibio – Traditional societies
- UsÃ] da]a Ibibio ek[t unadot – Ibibio world view
- Eny[] ke Ibibio – Naming in Ibibio
LIST OF IBIBIO TEXTS FOR WASSCE 2026-2030
- ORAL LITERATURE
- Prose: Mbak anyan-idaha by Udonkwak, M. T.
- Poetry: Kap Toiyo: Mme uto Ibibio by Udoh, E. & Etim, G.
- Drama: Mbre ke Ibibio: Ma nkpo mfo by Umo, N.
- WRITTEN LITERATURE
- Prose: Ufoknwed idon by Udonkwak, M. T.
- Poetry: Mben idim anie adion by Ekpo, G., Solomon, N. C. & Benson, K. A.
- Drama: Uwa by Andy, E.
- CULTURE
- Edu uwem ke Ibibio by John, E. E. et. al.
- GRAMMAR
- Yak ikpeeb Ibibio by Urua, E. E. et. al.
- Tan nuan wet ke Ibibio by Iwoketok, U. et. al.
- Ayoho ifiok ke Ibibio by Ekpo, G. & Sunday, V.
- REFERENCE TEXT
- A grammar of the Ibibio language by Essien, O. E.
- Ibibio phonetics & phonology by Urua, E. E.
- Nwed usem Ibibio (Ibibio Dictionary) by Urua, E. E. et al
- Nke Ibibio (Iko ifiok eset mme ete nnyin) by Inyang, E. T.
- A study of the Ibibio language for schools & colleges by Imeh, E. E.
Download Complete PDF
The full Ibibio topic list is in text above. Use the buttons below to download the official WAEC PDF for offline use — one file for school candidates (WASSCE) and one for private candidates (GCE).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ibibio WAEC syllabus the same for SSCE and GCE candidates?
Yes. WAEC uses the same Ibibio syllabus for both SSCE (school) and GCE (private/external) candidates, so the topics, aims and scheme of examination are identical.
What does the Ibibio WAEC syllabus contain?
The Ibibio syllabus sets out the aims and objectives, the scheme of examination (papers, duration and marks) and the detailed list of topics and subtopics that your exam questions are drawn from.
Is the Ibibio syllabus the same in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia?
Yes. WAEC standardises the Ibibio syllabus across all member countries, so candidates in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, The Gambia and Liberia study the same content.
Can I download the Ibibio WAEC syllabus as a PDF?
Yes. You can download the complete Ibibio WAEC syllabus as a PDF using the SSCE and GCE download buttons above. The PDF works offline for both internal (SSCE) and external (GCE) candidates.
Is this the latest Ibibio WAEC syllabus for 2026?
Yes. This is the current Ibibio syllabus, covering the May/June, Nov/Dec and Jan/Feb WASSCE cycles. It was last reviewed on December 12, 2024.
How should I use the Ibibio syllabus to prepare for WAEC?
Work through every topic in the detailed syllabus above, match each topic to past questions, and use the aims and objectives to understand the skills examiners reward. Cover the whole syllabus, since WAEC sets questions from across all topics.