JAMB Recommended Arabic Textbooks for 2027: Language Books, Literature Texts and How to Study

JAMB Recommended Arabic Textbooks for 2027

Candidates writing Arabic in the 2027 UTME should prepare from the textbooks named in JAMB’s Arabic syllabus. As reproduced on education sites, the list includes A Modern Arabic Course Book by Balogun and Oseni, A New Arabic Grammar of the Written Language by Haywood and Nahmad, A Guide to Arabic Composition by S. H. A. Malik, Learning Arabic Language by Adekilekun, and several Arabic-language readers and composition books. The syllabus also prescribes literature texts, which candidates must read separately. A syllabus tracker reported that JAMB had not announced a new syllabus for 2027, so the current one applies.

This guide sets out the books, explains which ones to start with, describes the five sections of the syllabus, and offers a study method for a subject that tests reading, translation, grammar, writing and literature. It also notes where the lists on different websites disagree.

Quick Facts

• Source of the list: The Arabic syllabus on JAMB’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS).
• Status for 2027: A tracker said JAMB had not published a new syllabus and that the July 2025 edition on IBASS was still current as of 11 October 2026. Other sites label their copies as 2027/2028. These are third-party checks, so confirm on IBASS.
• Sections: Comprehension, translation, grammar, composition and literature.
• Who needs it: Arabic is commonly needed for Arabic, Islamic Studies and related courses. Check IBASS for your course and institution.
• Proposed UTME dates: The Federal Ministry of Education has proposed 15 to 25 March 2027. JAMB’s final timetable and registration dates had not been confirmed in the reports reviewed.
• Compulsory? The syllabus lists several books. You are not expected to buy all of them.

Start With the Syllabus

The syllabus tells you what JAMB can ask. It lists topics and objectives, which are the things a candidate should be able to do, such as identify, translate, form or analyse. For a language subject, this matters more than the choice of textbook, because the books cover far more Arabic than the UTME needs.

Download the Arabic syllabus from IBASS, the same portal that shows approved subject combinations. Read the five sections once, then use your books to fill gaps.

Is There a New List for 2027?

Several pages describe an Arabic syllabus for 2027/2028 as released. They appear to reproduce the same syllabus and the same recommended texts. The tracker mentioned above found no new edition as of mid-October 2026.

Two cautions apply.

First, I could not open IBASS directly while preparing this guide. The books and details below come from copies of the syllabus on education sites. Titles in these copies are transliterated from Arabic, so spellings differ between sites. One site’s copy was described as rewritten in its own words, so treat its finer details, such as passage length, with care and check them against IBASS.

Second, the list of prescribed literature texts is the part most likely to change or to be reproduced incompletely. Verify it on IBASS before you buy any literature book.

The Recommended Language Textbooks

The copies of the syllabus I compared list the following.

Some copies add titles such as Al-Mutala’ah al-Wadihah, Al-‘Arabiyyah al-Muyassarah and Al-‘Arabiyyah al-Jadidah fi Nigeria. They do not appear on every copy, so check IBASS before buying. The syllabus also points candidates to Arabic newspapers, magazines and journals as extra reading, which is useful for vocabulary.

Several books are decades old. A New Arabic Grammar dates from 1965 and A Modern Arabic Course Book from 1982, so libraries, Islamic schools and second-hand sellers are practical sources.

The Prescribed Literature Texts

The literature section includes texts selected for the UTME. Education sites reproduce these titles as the newer literature texts:

• The Nigerian Arabic Poems: A Case Study Between the Old and the New by Abdulwahab Dan Ladi Shith
• Diwaanur Riyardh, a collection of Arabic poems, by Dr. Isah Alabi Abubakar
• The Prospect of Arabic Language in Nigeria by Murtadh Badamasi
• A Selection of Pulpit Counselling by Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory
• Why the Anger on Us by Muhammad Salisu Mai Ango
• The Perfection/Adornment of Pages by Abdullahi bin Fodio

Titles and spellings vary across sites, so confirm the exact list on IBASS. Literature texts are the hardest items to find in shops, so ask Arabic departments, teachers or Islamic schools early.

Which Books Should You Use?

JAMB does not rank its list. The guidance below is a general recommendation and not official advice.

1. Choose one English-medium course book as your base. A Modern Arabic Course Book is a reasonable choice if you are working mainly in English.
2. Add the grammar reference. A New Arabic Grammar of the Written Language explains the rules in detail, and grammar is one of the largest parts of the syllabus.
3. Add one reading book in Arabic. Al-Qira’ah al-Rashidah or Samir al-Talamidh builds reading speed and vocabulary for the comprehension section.
4. Use a composition guide. A Guide to Arabic Composition or Kayfa Taktub al-Insha’ helps with writing and idioms.
5. Get the prescribed literature texts. They are a named part of the syllabus.
6. Read some Arabic news. Short articles train you in standard Arabic and current vocabulary.

Do not buy everything. A course book, a grammar reference, one reader and the literature texts are enough for most candidates.

What the Arabic Syllabus Covers

Copies of the syllabus divide it into five sections.

Section A: Comprehension. Candidates read passages in standard Arabic and answer questions. One copy says the passages are short, about seventy words, and drawn from familiar themes such as education, current affairs, politics, economy, sports, health, culture, religion and national development. You should be able to find the main idea, pick out details, give a suitable title, and work out word meaning from context.

Section B: Translation. You translate between English and Arabic. Arabic to English covers words, expressions, sentences and short paragraphs, including idioms. English to Arabic covers statements, questions, commands and common expressions.

Section C: Grammar. This is the biggest section. The copies list these areas:

• Demonstrative and relative pronouns, gender, characteristics of nouns, and singular, dual and plural forms
• Construct phrases (idafa), independent and attached pronouns, and appendants such as adjectives, conjunctions, apposition and emphasis
• Prepositions
• Transitive and intransitive verbs
• The perfect verb, the imperfect verb and its moods (indicative, subjunctive and jussive), and the imperative
• Modifiers such as kana and its sisters, inna and its sisters, and zanna and its sisters
• Trilateral and derived verbs, derivatives such as comparative and superlative forms, nouns of instrument, time and place, and relative adjectives
• Conditional sentences
• Arabic numerals from 1 to 3000
• Active and passive voice
• Nouns in the accusative case, including the direct object, adverbs of time and place, the circumstantial hal, exception with illa, specification and the vocative

Section D: Composition. You write short essays or paragraphs on familiar topics, using correct grammar, suitable vocabulary, idioms and common proverbs.

Section E: Literature. The copies list four periods: pre-Islamic literature (500 to 610 CE), Islamic literature (610 to 1798 CE), modern Arabic literature (1798 to date) and Arabic literature in West Africa. Writers named include Quss ibn Sa’idah, Al-Khansa, Al-Farazdaq, Hassan ibn Thabit, Jarir, Mustafa Lutfi al-Manfaluti and Ilya Abu Madi. West African authors named include Zakariyau Idris Husayn (Oseni) and Jamil Abdullahi Al-Kanawi. Add the prescribed texts above.

How to Study Arabic for the UTME

Language subjects reward steady practice more than last-minute reading.

1. Read the syllabus first and mark the objectives in each section.
2. Study grammar one topic at a time. Learn the rule, see three or four examples, then write your own sentences.
3. Build a vocabulary notebook. Add new words daily, with their meanings and a sentence each.
4. Practise translation both ways. Start with short sentences and move to paragraphs. Check that your Arabic follows the grammar you have learned.
5. Read comprehension passages regularly. Time yourself and practise giving titles and main ideas.
6. Write short compositions. Choose a syllabus theme such as education or health, write a paragraph, and check it against your grammar notes.
7. Make literature cards. For each writer, note the period, the work and the theme. For each prescribed text, note the plot or message and key features.
8. Practise numerals. Reading and writing numbers up to 3000 is a named objective, so practise until it is automatic.
9. Use past questions. They show the style of the paper. Review each mistake and trace it back to a grammar rule or a word.
10. Practise on a computer. The UTME is computer-based, so do timed work on a screen.

A Sample Study Plan

If the proposed date of 15 March 2027 holds, you have about 18 weeks. The date is a proposal, so adjust when JAMB publishes its timetable.

Getting the Books Safely

• Check titles against the syllabus. Confirm authors and titles on IBASS before paying.
• Ask Arabic teachers and Islamic schools. Several of these books are used in Arabic and Islamic studies classes.
• Check university Arabic departments. They may know where to find the literature texts.
• Be careful with “official JAMB textbook” claims. The syllabus names books by other authors and publishers, and a site selling an “official JAMB Arabic book” needs checking.
• Avoid pirated scans. Arabic text with poor scanning can make vowel marks and letters unreadable.

Common Questions

Are the recommended textbooks compulsory?

No single book is compulsory. The syllabus lists several, and questions come from the syllabus topics.

Is there a new Arabic syllabus for 2027?

A tracker said none had been announced as of 11 October 2026, and several sites label their copies 2027/2028. Check IBASS for updates.

Do I need the prescribed literature texts?

The literature section includes them, so yes, you should read them. Confirm the current list on IBASS.

Which book is best for a beginner?

An English-medium course book such as A Modern Arabic Course Book is a sensible start, with the grammar reference alongside it. This is a general suggestion.

Does the exam test speaking?

The UTME is computer-based, so you will read and answer questions. The syllabus sections are comprehension, translation, grammar, composition and literature.

Which courses need Arabic in the UTME combination?

Arabic is commonly needed for Arabic, Islamic Studies and related courses, but requirements vary. Check IBASS for your course and institution.

Can past questions replace the textbooks?

No. Past questions show the exam style but do not teach grammar or vocabulary. Use them with your books and the syllabus.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying books without checking the syllabus list. Confirm titles on IBASS.
• Ignoring the literature texts. They are hard to find, so start looking early.
• Studying grammar only. Comprehension, translation and composition are separate sections.
• Skipping numerals. The syllabus names numbers from 1 to 3000.
• Learning rules without writing sentences. Practice with your own examples makes the rules stick.
• Leaving vocabulary to the end. Add words daily.
• Treating the exam date as final. The 15 to 25 March 2027 window is a proposal.

Summary and Next Steps

JAMB’s Arabic syllabus names a set of language books, including Balogun and Oseni’s course book, Haywood and Nahmad’s grammar, Malik’s composition guide and several Arabic readers, along with prescribed literature texts. Third-party checks indicate the current syllabus applies to 2027, but lists on websites differ in spelling and completeness, so IBASS is the place to confirm. For most candidates, one course book, one grammar reference, one reader and the literature texts are enough.

What to do now:

1. Download the Arabic syllabus from IBASS and note the five sections.
2. Choose a course book, a grammar reference and one Arabic reader.
3. Locate the prescribed literature texts and confirm the list on IBASS.
4. Study grammar topic by topic and keep a vocabulary notebook.
5. Practise translation, comprehension and composition every week.
6. Watch JAMB’s official channels for the final 2027 registration and examination dates.