Igbo Waec Syllabus
Below is this 2026 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
- 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.
- 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
- Igbo Phonemes: Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic nasal,
- 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
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- Njirimara ndị Igbo-asụsụ, ejiji, omenala, ekpemekpe , agbambọ, dg.
- 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
- 1981-83 Oral Qmalinze Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
- 1987 Oral Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
- 1988 Written Obiefuna AkpaUche AkxFechaa
- 1990 Written Xwad[egwu Nkemakqlam Obidiya
- 2002-2005 Oral Qmalinze Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala
- 2011-15 Oral Mbediogu Abu Na Egwuregwu
LIST OF IGBO TEXTS FOR CONSIDERATION: 2026-2030
- WRITTEN LITERATURE
Prose
- Juo Obinna by Tony Ubesie
Drama
- Otu Mkpisi Aka by J. C. Maduekwe
Poetry
- Akonuche by Inno Uzoma Nwadike
Abu Ndi A Hoputara (Selected Poems):
- Ochichi
- Onye Ndu
- Nne Oma
- Oke Ochicho
- Asila M Na O Di Mma
- Ihe Uwa
- Jiri Nwayoo
- Eziokwu
- Mma
- Nwaanyi
- Aja Ala
- Ala Igbo
- Ndu M N’uwa A
- Oji
- Uwa Emebighi
- Amamihe
- Ndu Nwaanyi
- Nna M Ogoenyi
- Uloakwukwo
- Akwa Nnabuenyi Ugonna Bere
- ORAL LITERATURE
Akomako
- Mbe Agaba by F. O. F. Onwudufor
Poetry
- Abu Agurunonu Ndi Igbo by G. I. Nwaozuzu
Abu Ndi A Hoputara (Selected Poems):
- Utu Chara N’elu
- Otu Ibiri
- Nnabe Akuwaala Akwa Okwa
- Onye Kugburu Nwankelu
- Agbagbuo M Nwannunu m – o
- Onye Koo Ji
- Anyi Agawa Mba
- Nnabe Agawa Nga Ebuleako
- O Sara Anya
- Mgbe O Suru
- Aluo M Di Poliis
- A Di Ndu
- Ndi Biara Ije Unu Were Ekele
- Eluuwa Bu Olili
- Nwa Amaka
- Egwu Orimando
- Ihe Di Mma
- O Rule, O Rule
- Ma O Bughi Ma Nwa
- Onye Wu Enyi Onwu?
Download Complete PDF
View the Igbo Waec Syllabus as text above or download the syllabus as a PDF below. Please use the buttons below to download offline PDF files for external or internal Waec.