Igbo Waec Syllabus

Below is this 2025 Waec Syllabus for Igbo. Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates.

Aims and Objectives

  • To enable candidates to speak, read and write Igbo properly and communicate effectively in it
  • To familiarize them with the sound system, grammatical structures and other features of the Igbo language
  • To expose the candidates to Igbo culture – customs, institutions, worldview, etc
  • To provide them with the necessary tools needed for creative writing and appreciation of Igbo language and literature

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 at one sitting. The rubrics of the papers shall be written in Igbo. Candidates will be required to answer all the questions in Igbo using the standard orthography metalanguage.

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

30 items

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 items

Drama       –                 3 items

                                                                             22 items

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

8 items

TOTAL: (30+22+8) = 60 items

PAPER 2: This will be a composition test and will also have three sections, Sections A, B and C.

The sections will cover the parts of the syllabus indicated below.

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 structure of the paper as well as its requirements, are given below.

Detailed Igbo Syllabus

Section A: Essay

  1. Part I: Composition/ Letter Writing

    Candidates are advised not to spend more than 45 minutes on this section. There will be five topics from the following essay types and candidates will be expected to write on one of them in about 300 words:

    • Narrative;
    • Descriptive;
    • Argumentative;
    • Expository;
    • Dialogue;
    • Debate;
    • Letter writing.
  2. Part II: Sound system

    Two questions will be set for candidates to answer of them. The questions will test the candidate’s basic knowledge of the following areas:

    • Igbo Phonemes: Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic nasal,
      • their production, and
      • their classification.
    • Syllable Structure.
    • Sound Processes: vowel harmony, vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonants elision
    • Tone and tone notation
    • The Igbo alphabet

     

  3. Part III: Grammar

    Two questions will be set for candidates to answer of them. The questions will test the candidate’s knowledge of the following areas:

    • Spelling rules.
    • Word formation.
    • Igbo dialects and Standard Igbo.
    • Loan words.
    • Igbo metalanguage (new words).
    • Word classes: Noun, verb, pronoun, conjunction, preposition, etc.
    • Grammatical categories: tense, number and person.
    • Phrases and Clauses: their types and functions.
    • Sentences:
      • their constituents and types.
      • Sentences containing Direct and Indirect Speech
    • Lexis and Structure.
    • Punctuation marks

Section B: Literature

  1. Part I: Oral Literature

    Three questions will be set for this part, and candidates will be required to answer only one of them. All questions in this section will be based on the prescribed texts.

    In this part, candidates will be required to have basic knowledge of the following:

    • Definition and characteristics of oral Literature
    • Classification and functions
    • Literary devices
    • Folktales (ifo)
    • Anecdotes (ụkabụilu)
    • Legends (nkọkịrịkọ/akụkọ dike)
    • Myths (nkọmịrịkọ/akụkọokike/mmalite)
    • Poems (abụ)
    • Songs (uri)
    • Proverbs (ilu)
    • Riddles (agwụgwa)
    • Chants (mbem)
    • Oral drama (ejije ọnụ)
    • Tongue twisters (okwuntụhi)
  2. Part II: Written Literature

    Three questions will be set for this part, and candidates will be required to attempt only one. All questions in this section will be based on the prescribed texts.

Section C: Culture

  1. Customs – Omenala
    • Njirimara ndị Igbo-asụsụ, ejiji, omenala, ekpemekpe , agbambọ, dg.
      • Ekele ndị Igbo n’oge dị icheiche.
    • Mmemme -ọjị, ịtụ nzụ, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ, dg
    • Nnabata ọbịa
    • Ọmụmụ nwa – ile ọmụgwọ, ibi ugwu, ikupụta nwa, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa, ịhụ eze, dg
    • Nkwenye – ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi/isi anụ, ịha/ịchụ mmiri, dg
    • Emume – ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji/iri ji, igbu ewuukwu,iru mgbede, ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgba mkpe, ịgụ afọ, mbarị, ụdara, dg
    • Egwuregwu – egwu ụmụaka, ịgba/ịchụ oro, ịtụ okwe, ịzụ nchọrọkọtọ, ịkpọ okwe, mgba, ịkpọ ọga, okoso, egwu ọnwa, dg
    • Nsọala/Arụ – ihensọ, ebensọ, anụnsọ, osisinsọ, ime ibeeṅe
  2. Institutions – Ewumewu
    • Ewumewu ọchịchị – ezinaụlọ, ndị eze ọdịnala, nze na ọzọ, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, otu ọgbọ, otu nzuzo, otu inyomdi, ụmụnna, ogbe, obodo.
    • Ewumewu mmekọrịta mmadụ na ibe ya – alụmalụ, ezinaụlọ, ịgọ ọgọ, nwanwa/nwadiala,    ịgba ndụ, ịgba orikọ
    • Echichi – Lọọlọ, Iyọm, Ọmụ, Ezeji, Jioke, Atama
    • Abamaba – Mmọnwụ,Ọkọnkọ, Ekpe, Ọmabe, Odo, Dibịa
    • Ewumewu akụnaụba – ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ala na ihe dị na ya
    • Akaọrụ – ịkpụ ụzụ, ịgba nta, ịkụ azụ, ọrụugbo, ịkwa nka, ịkpụ ite, dg
    • Ewumewu ofufe – ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, dg
    • Ngwa ofufe – ọfọ, ikenga, okpesi, ogu, ọtọnsi , dg
    • Ihe ofufe – Ndịichie, Arụsị, Ikenga, Ala, Mmụọ mmiri, Arụsị/ Agbaradịka Ogwugwu, Ahịajiọkụ, Agwụ, Amadịọha, Kamalụ, Agbala, Ibini Ụkpabị, Ojukwu, Igwekaala, Idemmili, dg

RECOMMENDED TEXTS FOR WASCCE IGBO

  1. 1981-83     Oral     Qmalinze Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
  2. 1987 Oral Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
  3. 1988 Written Obiefuna   AkpaUche AkxFechaa
  4. 1990 Written Xwad[egwu Nkemakqlam Obidiya
  5. 2002-2005 Oral Qmalinze  Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
  6. 2011-15 Oral   Mbediogu  Abu Na Egwuregwu

LIST OF IGBO TEXTS FOR CONSIDERATION: 2026-2030

  1. WRITTEN LITERATURE
    • Juo Obinna by Tony Ubesie
    • Otu Mkpisi Aka by JC Maduekwe
    • Akonuche by Inno Uzoma Nwadike

    Abu Ndi AHoputara (Selected Poems)

    1. Ochịchị
    2. Onye Ndu
    3. Nne Oma
    4. Oke Ochichọ
    5. Asila M Na O Dị Mma
    6. The Uwa
    7. Jiri Nwayoo
    8. 8. Eziokwu
    9. Mma
    10. Nwaanyi
    11.  Aja Ala
    12. Aal Igbo
    13. Ndụ MNuwa A
    14. Oji
    15. Uwa Emebighi
    16. Amamihe
    17. Ndu Nwaanyi
    18. Nna MOgoenyi
    19. Uloakwukwo
    20. Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere
  2. ORAL LITERATURE
    • Mbe Agaba by F. O. F. Onwudufor
    • Abụ Agurunony Ndi Igbo by G. I. Nwaozuzu

    Abu Ndi A Hoputara (Selected Poems)

    1. Utụ Chara N’elu
    2. Otu Ibiri
    3. Nnabe Akuwaala Akwa Okwa
    4. Onye Kugburu Nwankelu
    5. AgbagbuoMNwannunum- 0
    6. Onye Kọo Ji
    7. Anyi Agawa Mba
    8. Nnabe Agawa Nga Ebuleako
    9. O SaraAnya
    10. Mgbe O Suru
    11. Alụo MDi Poliis
    12. A Dị Ndụ
    13. Ndi Biara lje Unu Were Ekele
    14. Eluwa Bụ Olili
    15. Nwa Amaka
    16. Egwu Orimando
    17. Ihe Dị Mma
    18. 0 Rule, O Rule
    19. Ma Q Bụghị Ma Nwa
    20. Onye Wụ Engi Onwụ?


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