JAMB Recommended Art Textbooks for 2027: Syllabus List, Topics and How to Study

JAMB Recommended Art Textbooks for 2027: Syllabus List, Topics and How to Study

Candidates writing Art in the 2027 UTME should prepare from the textbooks named in JAMB’s Art syllabus. As reproduced on education sites, the core list includes African Art: A Contemporary Source Book by Egonwa, The Essential Groundwork in Art and Design by Egunlae, Art for Senior Secondary Schools by Olurukooba, Understanding Art in General Education by Uzoagba, and A Textbook on Art for Junior and Senior Secondary Schools by Wangboje. A syllabus tracker reported that JAMB had not announced a new syllabus for 2027, so the current one is the one to follow.

This guide explains the books, which ones to start with, what the syllabus covers, and how to study a subject that mixes theory, history and practical knowledge in a computer-based exam. It also warns about lists that carry titles you will not find in the syllabus.

Quick Facts

• Source of the list: The Art syllabus on JAMB’s Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS).
• Subject name: Older material calls it Fine Art. Many sites use Art and Fine Art interchangeably, and the syllabus content is the same. Select the subject as it appears on JAMB’s registration platform.
• Status for 2027: One education site said its copy was checked against IBASS for the 2027 UTME on 26 October 2026, and a tracker said the July 2025 edition on IBASS was still current as of 11 October 2026. Both are third-party checks, so confirm on IBASS.
• Number of topics: 13 topics in the copy reviewed.
• Who needs it: Art is commonly required for courses such as Fine and Applied Arts, Architecture and related programmes. Check IBASS for your course.
• 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.

Begin With the Syllabus

The Art syllabus tells you what JAMB can ask. It lists topics, contents and objectives. The objectives matter because they show whether you must identify, differentiate, analyse or describe something. A textbook may spend many pages on studio technique that a computer-based paper cannot test, so use the syllabus to decide what deserves your time.

Download the Art syllabus from IBASS, the same portal that shows approved subject combinations. It is short, only five pages in one copy, so read all of it before you buy a book.

Is There a New List for 2027?

Several pages carry titles such as “JAMB Art syllabus 2027/2028” and describe them as released. They appear to reproduce the existing syllabus and its list of texts. The tracker mentioned above found no new syllabus as of mid-October 2026.

Two cautions apply.

First, I could not open IBASS directly while preparing this guide. The list below comes from copies of the syllabus on education sites, and publication years vary. Confirm every title on IBASS before you spend money.

Second, some pages list books that do not appear in the syllabus copies. Examples include Understanding Art by Lois Fichner-Rathus, A History of African Art by Monica Blackmun Visonà and African Art: An Introduction by Frank Willett. At least one list pairs the title Appreciating Art in Africa with an author whose attribution looks doubtful. These may be real or useful books in some cases, but they are not part of the syllabus list as reproduced elsewhere, so do not buy them on the basis of a “JAMB recommended” claim.

The Recommended Art Textbooks

The five texts below appear in the syllabus copies I could compare.

Some copies of the list add the following:

• Visual Arts Made Easy by I. Banjoko, a school and college text described as giving a strong foundation.
• Certificate Art for Junior Secondary Schools and Senior Secondary Schools by E. Ogumor, University Press.
• Cultural and Creative Arts by W. A. Olaosebikan, Evans.
• Art of the Millennium for Senior Secondary Schools, Ehindero.
• Excel in Arts, Photography, Dyeing, Starching and Bleaching by Y. F. Oyedun, which one site describes as covering applied art topics.

Because they appear in some copies and not others, treat them as extras and check IBASS before buying. Publication years differ across copies and several books are decades old, so a library copy or second-hand edition is often the practical option.

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 general text as your main book. Art for Senior Secondary Schools or Wangboje’s textbook gives broad coverage of design, drawing, crafts and art appreciation, and both appear in the syllabus list.
2. Add African Art: A Contemporary Source Book for African and Nigerian art. One education site says a significant share of UTME Art questions deal with traditional African art, symbolism, materials and cultural influence. That is one site’s observation and not a JAMB statement, but the syllabus does include African and Nigerian art, so this book earns its place.
3. Use The Essential Groundwork in Art and Design for design principles. It supports the elements and principles of design section.
4. Use a second general text only if you need another explanation. Uzoagba’s book can fill that role.
5. Do not buy everything. One general book, one African art book and one design book are enough for most candidates.

What the Art Syllabus Covers

Copies of the syllabus list these areas. The wording on IBASS may differ slightly.

Classification of art. Art is divided into the visual arts (fine and applied arts), the performing arts (music, dance and drama) and the literary arts (poetry, prose and recitals). You should be able to differentiate the three branches.

Elements and principles of design. The elements named include line, colour, shape, form, texture, tone, value and space. You should also know the principles that govern how they are arranged.

Art terminology. This includes important terms used in drawing, painting, sculpture and design.

Artistic skills, techniques and processes. Two-dimensional art covers drawing, painting, graphics and textile design. Perspective includes linear, angular, aerial and parallel types. Three-dimensional art covers sculpture, ceramics and crafts, and the tools involved, such as the spatula, kiln and beater.

Art materials, tools and equipment. The syllabus expects you to know how tools and materials are used and maintained, including the improvisation of tools and materials for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional art.

Nigerian traditional art and African art. These cover traditional and contemporary works, materials, styles and meaning.

Historical dimensions of art. The periods named are prehistoric, Greek, Roman, medieval (including architecture, surface decoration and calligraphy) and Renaissance art. Renaissance artists named in one copy are Giotto di Bondone, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. The 19th and 20th century movements listed include Impressionism, Realism, Futurism, Cubism, Bauhaus, Pop Art, Abstract Expressionism and Fauvism.

Meaning and functions of art in society. The functions listed are religious, social, cultural, political, therapeutic and economic. Functions in the media include advertisement, education and recreation.

Art appreciation, institutions and organisations. This covers museums, galleries, art centres and national art organisations.

Art entrepreneurship. Some copies list it as a topic. Confirm it on IBASS.

Studying Art for a Computer-Based Exam

The UTME is computer-based, so you will not draw or paint during the paper. Questions test knowledge. That means you may be asked to identify a tool, define a term, match a movement with its features, name the artist linked to a period, or choose the function of art in a given setting.

This changes how you should study.

• Learn terms and names with their meanings. A list of movements is not enough, so write one sentence on what marks each one.
• Study images. Look at examples of each movement, perspective type and craft process in your books, so you can recognise them when a question describes them.
• Know your tools. Learn what the spatula, kiln and beater are used for, and which type of art they belong to.
• Practise drawing anyway. Sketching a perspective type or a design element helps the idea stick, even though no one will mark your drawing.

A Study Method That Works

1. Read the syllabus objectives first and mark the verbs, such as identify, differentiate and analyse.
2. Study one topic at a time from your main book. Close the book and explain the topic aloud before moving on.
3. Make tables. Put movements, periods, artists and features in one table, and do the same for tools and their uses.
4. Link African art to materials and meaning. Note what each work is made from and what it stood for.
5. Test yourself after each topic. Use end-of-chapter questions and past UTME questions, and note why you missed any.
6. Keep an error list. Review it every week.
7. Practise on a computer. Timed practice on a screen makes the format familiar.

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 the title against the syllabus. Confirm author and title on IBASS before paying.
• Ask your school’s art teacher. Many of these books are older secondary school texts, and a teacher may lend one.
• Try libraries and second-hand sellers. Several titles date from the 1980s and 1990s, so newer copies can be hard to find.
• Be careful with “official JAMB textbook” claims. The syllabus names books by other authors and publishers, and an “official JAMB Art book” for sale deserves suspicion.
• Avoid pirated scans. They can be incomplete, and low-quality images of artworks will not help you recognise them.

Common Questions

Are the recommended textbooks compulsory?

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

Is Art the same as Fine Art for JAMB?

Older material and many sites use the name Fine Art, while the current syllabus pages use Art. The topics described are the same. Follow the name used on JAMB’s registration platform.

Is there a new Art syllabus for 2027?

A tracker said none had been announced as of 11 October 2026, and another site said its copy was verified for 2027 on 26 October 2026. Check IBASS for updates.

Which book is best for a beginner?

A general secondary school text such as Art for Senior Secondary Schools or Wangboje’s textbook is a sensible start, followed by the African art book. This is a general suggestion.

Do I need to draw well to pass?

The paper is computer-based, so it tests knowledge and not drawing skill. Familiarity with techniques still helps you answer questions on them.

Which courses need Art in the UTME combination?

Art is commonly required for Fine and Applied Arts, Architecture and related courses, but requirements vary. Check IBASS for your course and institution.

Can past questions replace the textbooks?

No. Past questions show the style of the exam, but they do not teach the content. Use them with a textbook and the syllabus.

Mistakes to Avoid

• Buying books that are not in the syllabus. Check titles and authors on IBASS first.
• Trusting doubtful attributions. A title paired with the wrong author is a warning sign.
• Skipping African and Nigerian art. It is a named part of the syllabus.
• Memorising names without features. Questions usually describe a style and ask you to identify it.
• Ignoring tools and materials. The syllabus includes tools such as the spatula and kiln.
• Leaving practice for the last month. Start questions early, topic by topic.
• Treating the exam date as final. The 15 to 25 March 2027 window is a proposal.

Summary and Next Steps

JAMB’s Art syllabus names a short list of textbooks, led by Egonwa’s African Art: A Contemporary Source Book, Egunlae’s The Essential Groundwork in Art and Design, Olurukooba’s Art for Senior Secondary Schools, Uzoagba’s Understanding Art in General Education and Wangboje’s textbook. Third-party checks indicate the current syllabus applies to 2027, but lists on websites differ and some include titles that are not in the syllabus, so IBASS is the place to confirm. For most candidates, one general text, one African art book and one design book are enough.

What to do now:

1. Download the Art syllabus from IBASS and tick off the topics as you finish them.
2. Choose a general text, plus the African art book and a design book.
3. Study one topic at a time and build tables of movements, tools and terms.
4. Look at images of artworks, techniques and tools so you can recognise them.
5. Do practice questions after each topic and keep an error list.
6. Watch JAMB’s official channels for the final 2027 registration and examination dates.