Preparing for Hausa in the 2026/2027 UTME just got easier. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the updated Hausa syllabus, and every candidate aiming for a high score should make this syllabus their starting point. With the new syllabus now available, you can clearly see the topics JAMB expects you to study and how to prepare the right way.
Syllabus Overview
| Examination Type | UTME / Direct Entry |
| Examination Year | 2026/2027 |
| Syllabus | Hausa |
| File Format | |
| File Size | 288KB |
General Objectives
By the end of your preparation, you should be able to:
- Acquire the ability to read and write competently in the Hausa language;
- Know the basic features of Hausa language (syntax, phonology, morphology and
semantics). - Have the basic knowledge of oral and written Hausa literature;
- Have the ability to appreciate the culture, customs and institutions of the Hausa people;
- Have the ability to translate competently from English to Hausa.
JAMB Syllabus for Hausa 2026
| TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES | OBJECTIVES |
|---|---|
| 1. Harshe (Language) (a) Ƙa’idojin Rubutu (Orthography); alphabetization, spelling, rules of word merger and division, punctuation and paragraphing all in line with standard Hausa. (b) Auna Fahimta (Comprehension); contextual questions from short unseen passage of about 200 words. (c) Tsarin Rubutun Insha’i (Composition Techniques); argumentative, descriptive, dialogue, expository, narrative and letter writing. (d) Fassara (Translation) i. Ire-iren fassara (types of translation) ii. Ƙa’idojin fassara (rules of translation) iii. Matsalolin fassara (problems of stranslation) iv. Dabarun fassara (techniques of translation). (e) Tsarin Sauti (Phonology) i. consonants – production and classification in terms of phonation, place and manner of articulation; ii. vowels – production and classification in terms of position of tongue and lips; monophthongs and dipthongs; iii. tone – e.g. high, low and falling tones; iv. syllable structure – syllable types, e.g. open and close syllables, light and heavy, syllables; syllabic categories of words – monosyllabic, disyllabic, etc. v. vowel length – long and short vowels; vi. phonological processes – e.g. assimilatory: palatalization, labialization and vowel harmony; non-assimilatory: insertion and deletion. (f) Ƙirar Kalma (Morphology) i. roots and stems; ii. affixation – e.g. prefix, infix suffix and their derivational and inflectional functions; iii. gender and number inflections; iv. derivation of nouns and adjectives from verbs; adjectives and verbs from nouns. (g) Ginin Jumla (Syntax): i. word classes-e.g. nouns, pronouns, verbs, adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions, interjections and ideophones; ii. grammatical categories – e.g. tense and aspect (general and relative past: general and relative continuous, first and second future, habitual); mood (subjunctive and negative); gender (masculine, feminine and neuter) and number (singular and plural); iii. sentence structure – e.g. verbal sentence, nominal phrase + verbal phrase and their components, nonverbal sentence: nominal phrase + stabilizer, nominal phrase+ compliment + stabilizer, nominal phrases + continuous frame (yana../yake…) (+da) + nominal phrase; iv. sentence types – e.g. simple sentences, compound sentences and complex sentences; v. clauses – types (e.g. relative and subjunctive); functions (e.g. main and subordinate). (h) Ma’ana (Semantics) i. lexical aspects of word meaning – e.g. ambiguity, synonym and antonym; ii. figures of speech – aspects of specialized meanings of words and phrases, e.g. idioms, proverbs etc. | Candidates should be able; i. recognize the basic Hausa orthographical rules; ii. apply the Hausa orthographical rules; iii. identify linguistic errors, such as; grammar, wrong choice of words, wrong spelling etc i. read written Hausa texts; ii. comprehend Hausa text in a given context; iii. interpret various meanings and functions of words in a given text; iv. acquire sufficient vocabulary; v. recognize central issues in a given text; vi. draw conclusions based on available evidence in a given text. i. acquire the knowledge and techniques of composition writing in Hausa; ii. recognize the different segments of composition in Hausa; iii. recognize the different types of Hausa composition. i. translate proverbial and idiomatic expressions and new words from English to Hausa; ii. recognize the different types of translation; iii. understand the basic techniques of translating proverbial and idiomatic expressions and new words into Hausa; iv. identify the problems of translation into Hausa i. analyse the process of sound production and combination of sounds to form meaningful words in Hausa; ii. appraise the importance of vowels in determining meaning; iii. distinguish between the phonetic attributes of sounds; iv. recognize the number of syllables and their types in a word; v. analyse the phonological processes in Hausa i. explain the roots and stems of Hausa words; ii. explain the inflectional process in Hausa word formation; iii. explain the derivational process of word formation in Hausa; iv. differentiate between the two morphological processes. i. analyses the processes governing word combination to form phrases; clauses and sentences in Hausa ii. detect linguistic errors in the grammar; iii. recognize ideas or thoughts in written form; iv. construct grammatical sentences for effective communication; v. use the appropriate tenses in spoken and written Hausa; vi. use the appropriate gender and number in spoken and written Hausa; vii. differentiate between types of sentence structure; viii. distinguish between nominal and verbal phrase; ix. distinguish between types of sentences; x. compare types of clauses. i. analyses the mechanisms of generating meanings in Hausa; ii. build up their vocabulary; iii. recognize the various meanings and functions of sentences in communication; iv. use words and sentences suitable for a particular purpose; v. construct meaningful sentences for effective communication. |
Download JAMB 2026 Syllabus for Hausa
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Hausa syllabus important for UTME candidates?
It guides you on the exact areas JAMB will test. Using the syllabus helps you study smarter, avoid irrelevant topics, and focus on what matters.
Where can I download the Hausa syllabus PDF?
You can download it directly from the official JAMB website or from the link provided in this blog post.
Does the syllabus include recommended textbooks?
Yes, the full PDF contains a list of recommended textbooks and authors to help you read the correct materials.
Will the syllabus help me score higher?
Absolutely. When you study using the official syllabus, you focus on the right topics, understand JAMB’s expectations, and improve your chances of getting a high score.
Can I pass Hausa in UTME without using the syllabus?
You can try, but it is risky. The syllabus tells you exactly what to study, so ignoring it may make you miss key areas JAMB focuses on.
