WAEC Syllabus for Yoruba
WAEC has officially released the syllabus for all subjects to be written in the forthcoming examination. All candidates sitting for the exam are expected to make use of this syllabus as a guide for their revision, as it contains only the topics that will be covered in the examination.
This means that every candidate should study strategically using the approved syllabus in order to prepare effectively and improve their chances of success.
Read this article to see the full WAEC Syllabus for Yoruba and understand the exact areas you are expected to focus on during your preparation.
Scheme of Examination
The examination consists of Paper 1 and Paper 2, and it assesses candidates in Language, Literature, and Culture. The rubrics and instructions will be written in Yoruba.
Paper 1 (Objective Test)
This paper contains 60 multiple-choice questions to be answered within 1 hour for 60 marks. It is divided into three sections:
Section A: Language (30 questions)
- Comprehension (2 passages): 10 questions
- Composition: 4 questions
- Sound System: 6 questions
- Grammar: 6 questions
Translation: 4 questions
Section B: Literature (22 questions)
Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation: 4 questions
Oral Literature: 9 questions
- Prose: 3
- Poetry: 3
- Drama: 3
Written Literature: 9 questions
- Prose: 3
- Poetry: 3
- Drama: 3
Section C: Culture (8 questions)
- Customs: 4 questions
- Institutions: 4 questions
Total Questions: 60
Paper 2 (Essay Test)
This paper is a 2-hour essay examination carrying 100 marks. Candidates are required to answer six questions in total:
- 3 questions from Section A (Language)
- 2 questions from Section B (Literature)
- 1 question from Section C (Culture)
All answers must be written in Yoruba using correct orthography and approved Yoruba meta-language.
WAEC Syllabus for Yoruba
This is the syllabus for the WAEC Yoruba examination paper. It outlines all the areas candidates are expected to study, including Language, Literature, and Culture, as well as the scheme of examination.
| Section | Area | Details |
|---|---|---|
| A: Language | Composition | Narrative, descriptive, argumentative, expository, dialogue, debate, letter writing |
| Sound System | Vowels, consonants, syllabic nasal sounds, phonetic/phonemic classification, syllable structure, tone system, tone marking, sound processes (assimilation, elision, vowel harmony), orthography | |
| Grammar | Word formation, word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.), numerals, grammatical categories (tense, aspect, mood, person, number), phrases, clauses, sentence structure | |
| B: Literature | Oral Literature | Prose (Itan Arosọ), Poetry (Ewi), Drama (Ere Onise) |
| Written Literature | Prose, Poetry, Drama based on selected set books | |
| Set Books (Oral) | Year-based texts, including Ifa corpus themes (2026–2030 topics listed in syllabus) | |
| Set Books (Written) | Ogun Omode, Ede Abinibi ati Awon Arofo Miiran, Ote Oye, with page divisions per year | |
| C: Culture | Customs | Naming, marriage, pregnancy care, Yoruba food, dressing, games, greetings, burial rites, inheritance |
| Institutions | Family structure, chieftaincy, Obaship, traditional occupations, politics, religion (traditional, Islam, Christianity), economy, ancestors |
Recommended Texts for WAEC Yoruba
| Category | Author | Text |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Abiodun, Jibola | Aroko Ati Aayan |
| Owolabi, K | Ijinle Itupale Ede Yoruba | |
| Bamgbose, A | Fonoloji Ati Girama Yoruba | |
| Adewole, L.O | A Bilingualised Dictionary of Yoruba Monosyllabic Words | |
| Oral Literature (Prose) | Adeboye Babalola | Akojopo Alo Ijapa (Apa Keji) |
| Oral Literature (Drama) | Lawuyi Ogunniran | Eegun Alare |
| Oral Literature (Poetry) | Akano Fasina Agboola | Ojulowo Oriki Ifa (Apa Kinni) |
| Written Literature (Prose) | Akinwumi Isola | Ogun Omode |
| Written Literature (Poetry) | Olufemi Adewole | Ede Abinibi ati Awon Arofo Miiran |
| Written Literature (Drama) | Olusola Fadiya | Ote Oye |
| Literature Reference | Alaba & Ogunsipe | Iwe Afinimona Lori Awon Iwe Fagunwa |
| Ogunsina, Bisi | Iwe Akoyawo Alaye lori O le ku | |
| Egbe Akomolede ati Asa | Ewi Yoruba Lakotun | |
| Yoruba Nigeria | Yoruba Literature (2007) | |
| Bamgbose (ed) | Iwe Ede Iperi Yoruba Vol. 1 | |
| Awobuluyi (ed) | Iwe Ede Iperi Yoruba Vol. II | |
| Egbe Akomolede | Eko Ede Yoruba Ode Oni | |
| Ajayi W.B. | Egberun Ibeere Ewonidahun | |
| Mustapha D et al | Osupa Ede Yoruba | |
| Owolabi O. et al | Ijinle Ede ati Litireso Yoruba | |
| Awoyale Y. et al | Eko Ede Yoruba Ode Oni | |
| Odujinrin J.S.A. | Modern Lesson in Yoruba | |
| Bamgbose A. | A Short Yoruba Grammar | |
| Awobuluyi O. | Essentials of Yoruba Grammar | |
| Akinlade Kola | Owe Pelu Itumo | |
| Fabunmi M.A. | Yoruba Idioms | |
| Delano I.O. | Owe Lesin Oro | |
| Koseemanii Supo | Owe ati Asayan Oro Yoruba | |
| Olopade A | Asayan Akanlo – Ede Yoruba | |
| Adewoyin S.Y. | Imo Ede, Asa ati Litireso | |
| Customs & Institutions | Ladele T.A.A. et al | Akojopo Ijinle Asa Yoruba |
| Adeoye C.L. | Igbagbo ati Esin Yoruba | |
| Opadotun O. | Aroko | |
| Adeniji A.A. | Ogun ni ile Yoruba | |
| Adeoye C.L. | Oruko Yoruba |
Candidates are strongly advised to make good use of the syllabus and recommended texts provided in this post to guide their preparation for the WAEC Yoruba examination. Consistent study of these materials will help you understand the key areas and improve your performance in the exam.
Kindly share this post with other candidates who are also writing the examination, so they can benefit from the information and prepare adequately.
