ENGLISH LANGUAGE
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
There will be three papers – Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken. Papers 1 and 2 will be combined in a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.
PAPER 1: Will consist of eighty multiple choice questions, all of which should be
answered within 1 hour for 40 marks.
PAPER 2: Will consist of five essay topics and a passage each to test candidates’
comprehension and summary skills. Candidates will be expected to write an essay on one of the topics and answer all the questions on Comprehension and Summary passages. The paper will last 2 hours and carry 100 marks.
PAPER 3: Will consist of sixty multiple
choice items on Test of Orals for candidates
in Nigeria and Liberia, and that on Listening Comprehension for candidates in Ghana, The Gambia and Sierra Leone. All the questions will be answered in 45 minutes for 30 marks.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
PAPER 1 SECTION 1
In each of the following sentences, there is one underlined word and one gap. From the list of words lettered A to D, choose the one that is most nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word and that will, at the same time, correctly fill the gap in the sentence.
1. Most African countries face
poverty while few enjoy ……………………….
A. influence
B. money
C. affluence
D. power
2. Last year our farmers cultivated more crops than they……………………….
A. destroyed
B. uprooted
C. harvested
D. yielded
SECTION 2
From the words lettered A to D, choose the word that best completes
each of the following sentences.
3. There would have been a riot in our school but for the timely……………..of our staff.
A. intervention
B. interruption
C. interference
D. invasion
4. The armed robbers ……………every room in the bank to look for money.
A. explored
B. ransacked
C. raked
D. swept
SECTION 3
After each of the following sentences, a list of possible interpretations is given. Choose the
interpretation that you consider
most appropriate for each sentence.
5. Ade is too clever by half. This means that Ade is
A. far cleverer than others.
B. actually very stupid in his behaviour.
C. annoyingly clever.
D. behaving to be clever but is not.
6. Ameh is really being economical with the truth. This means that Ameh
A. is being praised for being honest.
B. does not know enough.
C. knows more than he is prepared to say.
D. is not telling the truth.
SECTION 4
From the words lettered A to D below each of the following sentences, chose the word or group
of words that is nearest in meaning
to the underlined word as it is used in the sentence .
7. By failing to attend the interview, Idoko has lost a golden opportunity.
A. blessed
B. bright
C. good
D. delightful
8. I hope the principal would be
gracious enough to forgive us.
A. cordial
B. polite
C. merciful
D. gentle
SECTION 5
From the words or group of words lettered A to D, choose the word or group of words that best completes each of the following sentences .
9. A good citizen abides ………….. the rules of the land.
A. with
B. in
C. at
D. by
10. Since his swearing in, the governor ……………….. his hometown.
A. had not been visiting
B. has not visited
C. did not visit
D. had not visited
PAPER 2
SECTION A (50 MARKS)
Answer one question only from this section. All questions carry equal marks. Your answer should not be less than 450 words.
You are advised to spend about 50 minutes on this section.
1. Your friend in another school has requested information about your school to enable him to decide on moving over to your school. Write a letter to him discussing at least three areas in which your school excels.
2. Write an article for publication in your school magazine, discussing the reasons why children in your area drop out of school and suggesting ways of minimizing it.
3. As the president of your youth club, write a letter to the chairman of your Local Government Association complaining about the increasing rate of child labour and suggesting ways of curbing it.
4. You are the chief speaker in a debate on the topic : Women sho
Leave a Reply