Stop guessing topics. Download the Official JAMB Syllabus 2026 PDF for all subjects here. We reveal the complete topic list, the new “Life Changer” novel rules, and the exact strategy to score 360+.
Introduction: The “300 Club” is Not for Everyone
Let’s look at the cold, hard facts. In the last Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), over 1.6 million candidates sat for the exam. Less than 0.5% of them scored above 300.
Does this mean the exam is impossible? No.
It means 99% of students are studying wrong.
Most students pick up a textbook and start reading from Chapter 1 to Chapter 50. They memorize definitions, cram dates, and read for 12 hours a day. Yet, on exam day, they score 190.
Why? Because JAMB is not a test of “Reading Volume.” It is a test of “Syllabus Precision.”
The JAMB Syllabus 2026 is the official “Expo”. It is a legal contract between you and the exam board that reveals exactly where the questions will come from. If a topic is not in the syllabus, it will not be in the exam.
In this massive guide, we are not just giving you a download link. We are breaking down the entire syllabus topic-by-topic for Science, Art, and Commercial students, and handing you the data-driven blueprint to smash a score of 360+.
Why You Must Use the 2026 Syllabus (Not the Old Ones)
Using an old syllabus is like using a 2015 map to find a location in 2026—you will get lost.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board reviews its curriculum frequently.
The 2026 Syllabus reveals:
- New Topics: E.g., In Computer Studies, “AI and Robotics” are now crucial.
- Deleted Topics: Don’t waste time reading what has been scrapped.
- The Marking Scheme: It explains how marks are awarded for specific objectives.
Subject-by-Subject Breakdown: The “Must-Read” Topics
Below is the exhaustive list of topics you must cover, based strictly on the official 2026 syllabus document.
1. PHYSICS: The 34 Core Topics
Physics is often the hardest subject for students because of the volume. According to the 2026 Syllabus, questions will be drawn strictly from these specific areas:
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I. Mechanics (The Foundation)
- Measurements and Units: Dimensions, fundamental vs derived quantities.
- Scalars and Vectors: Vector resolution and addition.
- Motion: Linear, projectile, and circular motion.
- Gravitational Field: Newton’s law of universal gravitation.
- Equilibrium of Forces: Center of gravity, moments, and couples.
- Work, Energy, and Power: Conservation of energy laws.
- Friction: Static and dynamic friction.
- Simple Machines: Levers, pulleys, and inclined planes (Efficiency, MA, VR).
- Elasticity: Hooke’s Law and Young’s Modulus.
- Pressure: Fluid pressure and atmospheric pressure.
II. Heat & Thermodynamics
11. Temperature: Thermometers and scales.
12. Thermal Expansion: Linear, area, and cubic expansion.
13. Gas Laws: Boyle’s, Charles’, Pressure law, and General Gas Law.
14. Quantity of Heat: Heat capacity and specific heat capacity.
15. Change of State: Latent heat (fusion and vaporization).
16. Vapours: Saturated and unsaturated vapours.
17. Heat Transfer: Conduction, convection, and radiation.
18. Structure of Matter: Kinetic theory assumptions.
III. Waves, Sound & Light
19. Waves: Transverse vs Longitudinal, polarization.
20. Propagation of Sound Waves: Echoes, speed of sound in different media.
21. Characteristics of Sound: Pitch, loudness, quality.
22. Light Energy: Sources and propagation.
23. Reflection: Plane and curved mirrors.
24. Refraction: Snell’s law, total internal reflection, lenses.
25. Optical Instruments: Microscope, telescope, human eye.
26. Dispersion: Spectrum of white light and colours.
IV. Electricity & Magnetism
27. Electrostatics: Coulomb’s law, electric field intensity.
28. Capacitors: Series and parallel arrangement.
29. Electric Cells: Primary and secondary cells, internal resistance.
30. Current Electricity: Ohm’s law, resistivity, bridges.
31. Electrical Energy and Power: Heating effect of current.
32. Magnets and Magnetic Fields: Earth’s magnetic field.
33. Electromagnetic Induction: Transformers, generators.
34. Simple A.C. Circuits: Peak and RMS values.
2. CHEMISTRY: The 18 Critical Units
Chemistry is divided into Physical, Inorganic, and Organic. You must cover all 18 units listed below:
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- Separation of Mixtures: Pure/impure substances, chromatography, distillation.
- Chemical Combination: Stoichiometry, laws of definite/multiple proportions.
- Kinetic Theory of Matter: Gas laws (Boyle’s, Charles’, Dalton’s, Graham’s).
- Atomic Structure and Bonding: Electron configuration, ionic/covalent/metallic bonding.
- Air: Composition, noble gases, rusting.
- Water: Hardness of water, solubility, water treatment.
- Solubility: Solubility curves and calculations.
- Environmental Pollution: Air, water, and soil pollution.
- Acids, Bases, and Salts: pH scale, titration, preparation of salts.
- Oxidation and Reduction (Redox): Oxidation numbers, oxidizing/reducing agents.
- Electrolysis: Electrolytes, Faraday’s laws, electrochemical cells.
- Energy Changes: Exothermic/Endothermic reactions, Enthalpy.
- Rates of Chemical Reaction: Factors affecting rate (temperature, catalyst).
- Chemical Equilibria: Le Chatelier’s principle, equilibrium constant.
- Non-metals: Hydrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur, Nitrogen, Halogens.
- Metals: Alkali metals, Alkaline earth metals, Transition metals, Alloys.
- Organic Compounds: Hydrocarbons (Alkanes, Alkenes, Alkynes), Alkanols, Alkanoic acids.
- Chemistry and Industry: Plastics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial processes.
3. USE OF ENGLISH: The 60-Mark Maker
This is the only subject every single candidate writes. It carries the most weight. The syllabus divides English into three core sections:
A. Comprehension & Summary (40% of Marks)
You are tested on:
- Thematic Analysis: Identifying the “Main Idea” vs. “Supporting Details”.
- Inference: Reading between the lines.
- Vocabulary in Context: Knowing the specific meaning of a word as used in the passage.
B. Lexis & Structure (The Grammar Trap)
Most students fail here because they rely on “it sounds correct.” The syllabus tests specific rules:
- Concord: Subject-Verb agreement.
- Phrasal Verbs: The difference between “Look up,” “Look for,” and “Look into.”
- Idioms: Their fixed meanings.
C. Oral Forms (The Silent Killer)
- Vowels & Consonants: Identifying sounds /ə/, /θ/, /ð/.
- Stress & Intonation: Knowing which syllable carries the stress.
4. PRINCIPLES OF ACCOUNTS: The Financial 18
For Commercial students, JAMB has expanded the scope to include IT in Accounting.
- Nature and Significance: Users of accounting info.
- Double Entry Principles: The Golden Rule.
- Ethics in Accounting: Integrity and objectivity.
- Cash Book: Petty cash and 3-column cash books.
- Bank Reconciliation: Adjusted cash book vs. Bank statement.
- Final Accounts: Trading, Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet.
- Stock Valuation: FIFO, LIFO, Weighted Average.
- Control Accounts: Sales and Purchases ledger control.
- Incomplete Records: Single entry conversions.
- Manufacturing Accounts: Cost of production.
- Not-For-Profit: Receipts & Payments.
- Departmental Accounts.
- Branch Accounts.
- Partnership Accounts.
- Public Sector Accounting: Consolidated revenue fund.
- IT in Accounting: Computerized systems.
5. COMPUTER STUDIES: The New Digital Age
This is one of the most dynamic subjects with new topics added recently.
- Fundamentals: Data vs. Information, Evolution of Computing.
- Software: Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, CorelDraw.
- The Internet: LAN/WAN, Email, WWW.
- New Tech (Hot Topic): Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Robotics.
- Programming: Algorithms, Flowcharts, BASIC/FORTRAN.
How to Score 360+: The “Scientific” Blueprint
Having the syllabus is step one. Using it to pass is step two. Here is the exact strategy used by top scholars.
1. The “Syllabus Surgery” Technique
Do not study a topic until you have checked the syllabus for it.
- Example: Many students study complex planetary motion calculations in Physics. But the syllabus only asks for “Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation” and “Kepler’s Laws”. If you study outside this scope, you are wasting time.
- Action: Print the syllabus. Tick off the specific objectives as you study, not just the topic title.
2. The “Reverse Engineering” Method
Stop using Past Questions to “test” yourself. Use them to study.
- The Wrong Way: Solve 50 questions -> Check Score -> Move on.
- The Right Way: Pick a question you failed. Go to your textbook. Study that specific section until you understand why you failed. Solve 10 more questions on that topic.
3. The 40-Second Speed Rule
You have 2 Hours for 180 Questions. That is roughly 40 seconds per question.
- Strategy: Answer all the easy questions first. Skip anything that requires deep thought. Come back to the hard calculations (Physics/Chem) with your remaining time.
Download the Full JAMB Syllabus 2026 PDF
This blog post covers the topics, but the official PDF contains the Objectives (what you must be able to do) and the Recommended Textbooks (where the questions come from).
[👉 CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL JAMB SYLLABUS 2025/2026 PDF]
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is “The Life Changer” still the novel for 2026?
A: It has been the novel for the last few sessions. However, JAMB reserves the right to change it. Always check your registration slip.
Q: Can I pass without the syllabus?
A: It is like driving to a new city without a map. You might get there, but you will waste fuel and time. The syllabus is the shortcut.
Q: Where can I get the Recommended Textbooks?
A: The syllabus PDF contains a list of authors and titles at the end of each subject. These books are usually available in major bookshops.
Final Verdict
Success in JAMB 2026 is not an accident. It is engineered.
By using this syllabus, you are already ahead of 80% of candidates who are “reading blindly.”
Download the guide, stick to the plan, and we will see you on the Admission List.
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