The subject you must study in order to take the test is the WAEC Igbo Language Syllabus. The Igbo Language Exam’s goals, objectives, notes, and format are all included.
In order to prepare for your exam, you must study Igbo. You can use it as a guide to help you decide which topics to read about. Additionally, there are notes on ideas that you ought to learn carefully.
It would be like going to the land without your agricultural tools to study for an exam without using the Igbo language. You won’t be effective in the end.
Make sure to use the syllabus when you start your exam preparations.
This article includes the Igbo language and the West African Examination Council’s suggested textbooks (WAEC)
WAEC Igbo Language Syllabus
For anyone who is interested in learning everything there is to know about the Igbo people, a solid understanding of the Igbo language, literature, and culture is a prerequisite. The Igbo syllabus is created for applicants learning Igbo based on this.
Ample attention has been made to ensure that candidates review the Igbo language criteria.
The curriculum goes through crucial linguistic topics such the sound system, grammar, culture, and worldview.
Objectives of the Syllabus
The objectives of the syllabus are as follows:
- 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 the Igbo language and literature.
Scheme of Examination
The test consists of two papers, Papers 1 and 2, which together make up a composite paper and must both be completed in one session. The paper rubrics must be written in Igbo. Candidates must use the standard orthography metalanguage to respond to all of the questions in Igbo.
The first paper will include 60 multiple-choice objective questions that must all be solved in one hour for 60 marks. The essay will be divided into Sections A, B, and C. The following components of the subject will be covered by the questions in the sections:
- 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
Section B: Literature
It 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
In this section, all questions other than those on Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation will be based on the setbooks for Paper 2.
Section C: Culture
This will contain eight multiple choice questions on culture distributed as follows:
Customs – 4 items
Institutions – 4 items
TOTAL: (30+22+8) = 60 items
PAPER 2: Will be a composition test and will also have three sections, Section 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.
Section A: Essay
This section will consist of the following three parts, Parts I, II and III:
- Part I – Composition/Letter writing
- Part II – Sound System
- Part III – Grammar
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 one of them. The questions will test candidate’s basic knowledge of the following areas:
- Igbo Phonemes: Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic nasal,
- their production, and
- their classification.
- Syllable Structure.
(c) Sound Processes: vowel harmony, vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonants elision.
(d) Tone and tone notation.
(e) The Igbo alphabet.
Part III: Grammar
Two questions will be set for candidates to answerly one of them. The questions will test candidate’s knowledge of the following areas:
- Spelling rules.
- Word formation.
- Igbo dialects and Standard Igbo.
- Loan words.
- Igbo metalanguage (new words).
- Word classes: The noun, verb, pronoun, conjunction, preposition, etc.
- Grammatical categories: tense, number and person.
- Phrases and Clauses: their types and functions.
- Sentences: i. their constituents and types.
ii. Sentences containing Direct and Indirect Speech.
- Lexis and Structure.
- Punctuation marks.
Section B: Literature
This section will consist of two parts, Parts I and II as follows:
Part I: Oral Literature – Prose, Poetry and Drama
Part II: Written Literature – Prose, Poetry and Drama
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:
- Definiton 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
Two questions will be set on culture and candidates will be required to attempt only one.
Candidates should be familiar with Igbo customs and institutions as aspects of the culture.
The following areas will be covered.
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.
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/ Agbara
- dịka Ogwugwu, Ahịajiọkụ, Agwụ, Amadịọha, Kamalụ, Agbala, Ibini
- Ụkpabị, Ojukwu, Igwekaala, Idemmili, dg.