The JAMB novel

Questions on the novel come in the Use of English paper. JAMB's Use of English syllabus sets 5 of the paper's 60 questions on the "reading text", which is what JAMB calls the novel. See how the whole paper is set.

Use of English is compulsory, so every UTME candidate answers the novel questions, whatever course they want to study.

The questions test what is in the book. Expect questions like these:

• a detail from an event in the story, such as a meeting or a trip;
• a number: an amount of money, an age, or how many years something lasted;
• who did something, or who said a line;
• why a character made a choice;
• where the story or a scene is set;
• the main theme, or the meaning of a phrase as the book uses it.

So read the whole book, and use a summary to revise. Our summaries end with quick facts for this reason.

JAMB has no fixed date. For UTME 2025 it named The Lekki Headmaster on 14 January 2025, about three weeks before registration opened on 3 February. For UTME 2026 it kept the same book.

For UTME 2027, JAMB has not named a book yet. See also what is known about the JAMB 2027 exam.

You get a printed copy when you register for the UTME at your CBT centre. In 2026 the book cost ₦1,000, and that was part of the registration fee. Read how JAMB registration works.

We do not share the book's PDF, because the book is copyrighted.

Is the JAMB novel a Literature-in-English book?

No. The novel is for Use of English, which every candidate writes. Literature-in-English has its own set books: check the JAMB syllabus for that subject.

Is a summary enough?

No. Questions can ask about small details, so read the real book. Use a summary to revise what you have read.

Should I read The Lekki Headmaster for UTME 2027?

It is the latest book JAMB has named, and JAMB kept it for 2026. Start with it, and look out for JAMB's announcement of the UTME 2027 book.