The Igbo Language is an important subject in the WAEC and GCE examinations, especially for students from Igbo speaking states in Nigeria. Mastery of Igbo ensures cultural preservation and can boost your overall academic results.
The syllabus applies to both internal and external candidates preparing for the 2026 examination session. It covers key areas such as comprehension, grammar, literature, and composition, ensuring a comprehensive assessment of students' linguistic proficiency.
By following the prescribed topics, candidates can develop strong communication skills in Igbo while safeguarding their cultural heritage for future generations.
Aims and Objectives
- To enable candidates to speak, read and write Igbo properly and communicate effectively in it.
- To familiarise 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.
Examination Scheme
The examination is divided into two papers, Paper 1 and Paper 2, both taken in a single sitting. The rubrics will be written in Igbo, and candidates must answer all questions using standard Igbo orthography.
Paper 1
Duration: 1 hour
Total Marks: 60
Format: 60 multiple choice questions divided into three sections:
Section A: Language (30 Questions)
Comprehension (2 short passages): 10 items
Composition/Letter Writing: 4 items
Sound System: 6 items
Grammar: 6 items
Translation: 4 items
Section B: Literature (22 Questions)
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
Section C: Culture (8 Questions)
Customs: 4 items
Institutions: 4 items
Paper 2
Duration: 2 hours
Total Marks: 100
Format: Composition test with three sections (A, B, and C). Candidates must answer 6 questions from the 13 available questions.
RELATED ARTICLE:
WAEC Syllabus 2026/2027 for All Subjects: SSCE & GCE
WAEC Syllabus for Igbo 2026/2027
Section A: Essay
Part I: Composition/Letter Writing
Candidates are advised not to spend more than 45 minutes on this section.
Five topics will be provided, and candidates are expected to choose one. They should write about 300 words on the selected topic. The topics will include:
- Narrative
- Descriptive
- Argumentative
- Expository
- Dialogue
- Debate
- Letter writing
Part II: Sound System
Two questions will be set, and candidates must answer one. Topics will include:
- Igbo Phonemes: Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic Nasal, their production and classification
- Syllable Structure
- Sound Processes: Vowel Harmony, Vowel Assimilation, Vowel Elision, and Consonant Elision
- Tone and Tone Notation
- The Igbo Alphabet
Part III: Grammar
Two questions will be set, and candidates must answer one. Topics will include:
- 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: Constituents and types, Direct and Indirect Speech
- Lexis and Structure
- Punctuation Marks
Section B: Literature
Part I: Oral Literature
Three questions will be set, and candidates are required to answer one. Topics will include:
- 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, and candidates are required to answer one.
DOWNLOAD WAEC SYLLABUS FOR IGBO 2026
Section C: Culture
Customs: Omenala
Njirimara ndị Igbo: Asụsụ, Ejiji, Omenala, Ekpemekpe, Agbambọ, etc.
Ekele ndị Igbo n’oge dị iche iche
Mmemme: Ọjị, Ịtụ Nzụ, Ịkwọ Aka Ụtụtụ, Ịgọ Ọfọ, etc.
Nnabata Ọbịa
Ọmụmụ Nwa: Ile Omụgwọ, Ibi Ugwu, Ikupụta Nwa, Ịgụ Aha, Ịzụ Ahịa Nwa, Ihu Eze, etc.
Nkwenye: Ịlọ Ụwa, Ọgbanje, Nrọ, Ihi/Isi Anụ, Ịha/Ịchụ Mmiri, etc.
Emume: Ọfala, Ịbọ Ụzọ, Ịwa Ji/Iri Ji, Ịgbu Ewuukwu, Iru Mgbede, Ịwa Akwa, Akwamozu, Ịgba Mkpe, Ịgụ Afọ, Mbarị, Ụdara, etc.
Egwuregwu: Egwu Ụmụaka, Ịgba/Ịchụ Oro, Ịtụ Okwe, Ịzụ Nchọrọkọtọ, Ịkpọ Okwe, Mgba, Ịkpọ Ọga, Okoso, Egwu Ọnwa, etc.
Institutions – Ewumewu
Ewumewu Ọchịchị: Ezinaụlọ, Ndị Eze Ụdịnala, Nze na Ụzọ, 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, Ọrụgbo, Ịkwa Nka, Ịkpụ Ite, etc.
Ewumewu Ofufe: Ịgba Afa, Ịchụ Aja, etc.
Ngwa Ofufe: Ọfọ, Ikenga, Okpesi, Ogu, Ọtọnsi, etc.
Ihe Ofufe: Ndịichie, Arụsị, Ikenga, Ala, Mmụọ Mmiri, Arụsị/Agbaradịka Ogwugwu, Ahịajiọkụ, Agwụ, Amadịọha, Kamalụ, Agbala, Ibini Ụkpabị, Ojukwu, Igwekaala, Idemmili, etc.
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