JAMB UTME key terms

The variety of language chosen to suit a particular situation, audience, or purpose, ranging from formal to informal. In comprehension and summary questions, noticing register helps you judge tone and select appropriate expressions.

Agreement between sentence elements, especially subject and verb in number and person, and between pronoun and antecedent. Errors like 'The list of items were long' are concord errors commonly tested in sentence-completion items.

A fixed expression whose meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words, such as 'to bury the hatchet'. Idiom questions ask you to choose the option closest in meaning to the given expression.

A word with a meaning close to another word's meaning, though rarely identical in every context. Synonym items test whether you can pick the option nearest in meaning to the underlined word.

A word expressing a meaning opposite to another word, such as 'scarce' for 'abundant'. Antonym items require choosing the option most nearly opposite in meaning to the word given.

The extra force given to one syllable of a word or one word in a phrase. Oral English items ask which syllable carries primary stress, for example in words like 'photograph' and 'photography'.

A speech sound produced with an open vocal tract, classified by tongue position and length, such as the short /ɪ/ in 'sit' and the long /iː/ in 'seat'. Vowel contrast items test whether you hear these distinctions.

A speech sound made by partly or fully blocking airflow, such as /p/, /t/, /k/, /θ/ and /ð/. Items often test contrasts like 'thin' versus 'then' or silent letters in words such as 'comb'.

The rise and fall of pitch across a spoken utterance, used to signal questions, statements, or emphasis. Recognising intonation patterns helps in oral English items on meaning and attitude.

A brief restatement of the main points of a passage in your own words, omitting examples and repetition. Summary items test whether you can identify key ideas and express them concisely within a word limit.

The central point a passage conveys, which every supporting detail serves. Comprehension items often ask for the main idea, so distinguish it from examples and minor details.

A conclusion drawn from evidence in a passage rather than stated directly. Inference items ask what the writer implies, so choose the option the text supports, not the one merely plausible.

The writer's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice, such as ironic, sympathetic, or critical. Tone items require reading connotation carefully rather than relying on the topic alone.

A passage with words removed, each blank to be filled from options that fit both grammar and meaning. Success depends on reading the whole sentence and checking concord, tense, and collocation.

The habitual pairing of words that native speakers expect together, such as 'heavy rain' rather than 'strong rain'. Cloze and sentence-completion items often hinge on choosing the natural partner word.

The vocabulary of a language, including single words and fixed phrases. Lexical items in the Use of English test word choice, meaning relations, and appropriateness in context.

Marks such as commas, semicolons, and apostrophes that clarify sentence structure and meaning. Punctuation items test correct use, for example distinguishing 'its' from 'it's' or joining clauses properly.

The official outline of topics examiners may test in a subject. Checking the current JAMB syllabus for each chosen subject tells you which topics are in scope and helps you avoid wasted revision.

The set of subjects a candidate registers for in the UTME, usually four including Use of English. The combination must match the admission requirements of the intended course and institution.

The minimum UTME score an institution or department accepts for admission consideration in a given year. Cut-offs vary by course, university, and year, so check the current figures rather than assuming.

The screening exercise, often a test plus document checks, that institutions conduct after the UTME before admitting candidates. Performance there can count alongside your UTME score in the final assessment.

The candidate's online account on the board's portal, used for registration, result checking, and admission tracking. Keep the profile password and registered details consistent, since corrections can be restricted.

A previously used examination paper, useful for learning question style, timing, and recurring topics. Practise under timed conditions, then review errors against the syllabus rather than memorising answers.

An examination format using multiple-choice or short fixed-answer items marked without examiner judgement. The UTME is largely objective, so practise eliminating options and managing time per question.

The amount of substance containing as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 12 grams of carbon-12, about 6.02 × 10²³. It links mass, particles, and gas volume in chemistry calculations.

The calculation of quantities of reactants and products from a balanced chemical equation. Convert masses or volumes to moles, apply the equation's ratios, then convert back to the requested unit.

The simplest whole-number ratio of atoms of each element in a compound. Derive it by dividing moles of each element by the smallest value, then compare with the molecular formula.

Loss of electrons by a species, accompanied by an increase in oxidation number. In redox questions, identify which element's oxidation number rises to find what has been oxidised.

A reaction in which oxidation and reduction occur together, with electrons transferred between species. Balance such equations by ensuring atoms and charge match on both sides.

The decomposition of an electrolyte by passing direct current through it, producing changes at the electrodes. Items test products at cathode and anode and the quantities released using Faraday's laws.

Three principles describing how force affects motion: inertia without net force, acceleration proportional to net force, and equal and opposite reaction forces. Problems usually combine them with friction and tension.

Motion of an object launched into the air, analysed as independent horizontal and vertical components under gravity. Time of flight, maximum height, and range follow from the initial velocity and launch angle.

Work is force times displacement along the force; energy is the capacity to do work, measured in joules. Conservation principles let you solve motion problems without tracking every force.

For a conductor at constant temperature, current is proportional to potential difference, giving V = IR. Items often extend it to series and parallel networks and to internal resistance of cells.

A material property measuring resistance to current flow, independent of shape, with units of ohm-metres. Resistance of a wire depends on resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area.

The rate at which electrical energy is transferred, given by P = VI or P = I²R. Questions ask for power dissipated in a resistor or energy consumed over time in kilowatt-hours.

The calculus operation giving the instantaneous rate of change of a function, found by applying standard rules. In mathematics items it is used for gradients, turning points, and rates of change.

The reverse of differentiation, used to find areas under curves and accumulated quantities. Definite integrals apply limits to evaluate a numerical value between two points.

An equation of the form ax² + bx + c = 0 with a not zero, solvable by factorising, completing the square, or the formula. The discriminant b² − 4ac reveals the nature of the roots.