Subject Combination: Choosing the Three Supporting UTME Subjects
How the combination works
Every UTME candidate sits four subjects: Use of English plus three others. The three must match the course you apply for in the JAMB Integrated Brochure and Syllabus. There is no single “general” combination. For Medicine and Surgery the brochure lists English Language, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. For Law it lists English, Literature in English, Government and one other arts or social science subject. For Economics it lists English, Mathematics, Economics and one of Government, Geography or Commerce. Confirm the current brochure because requirements can change.
Core rules
- English Language is compulsory for all candidates.
- The other three subjects must be from the approved list for that course.
- Mathematics is required for most science, engineering, social science and management courses, but not for Law or many arts courses.
- Some courses accept a choice, such as “Government or History”; choose the subject you can score highest in, not the one a friend chose.
- Your UTME combination must be consistent with your O’level subjects; JAMB and the institution check both.
Worked example
A candidate wants Medicine and Surgery and chooses English, Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry. Is this valid? No. The brochure requires Biology, Chemistry and Physics alongside English. Mathematics is not part of the UTME combination for Medicine, even though some medical schools require an O’level credit in Mathematics. The candidate must replace Mathematics with Biology.
Traps
Using WAEC or NECO subject requirements as if they were the UTME combination; assuming Mathematics is compulsory for every science course; choosing four subjects that include English but omit a core subject; relying on last year’s brochure.