WAEC Literature-in-English texts for 2026 to 2030
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In short
- WAEC's list for WASSCE Literature-in-English from 2026 to 2030 has 9 books and 12 poems.
- The Shakespeare play is Antony and Cleopatra.
- There are two books in each of four groups: African prose, non-African prose, African drama and non-African drama.
- There are six African poems and six non-African poems. WAEC prints all 12 poems in full in its list.
- The same list is set for every year from 2026 to 2030.
On this page
The 9 books
| Section | Books |
|---|---|
| Shakespeare | Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare |
| African prose | So the Path Does Not Die by Pede Hollist Redemption Road by Elma Shaw |
| Non-African prose | To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee Path of Lucas: The Journey He Endured by Susanne Bellefeuille |
| African drama | Once Upon an Elephant by Bosede Ademilua-Afolayan The Marriage of Anansewa by Efua Sutherland |
| Non-African drama | An Inspector Calls by J. B. Priestley A Man for All Seasons by Robert Bolt |
The 12 poems
| Section | Poems |
|---|---|
| African poetry | "Once Upon a Time" by Gabriel Okara "New Tongue" by Elizabeth L. A. Kamara "Night" by Wole Soyinka "Not My Business" by Niyi Osundare "Hearty Garlands" by S. O. H. Afriyie-Vidza "The Breast of the Sea" by Syl Cheney-Coker |
| Non-African poetry | "She Walks in Beauty" by Lord Byron "The Nun's Priest's Tale" (shortened) by Geoffrey Chaucer "Digging" by Seamus Heaney "Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou "The Telephone Call" by Fleur Adcock "The Stone" by Wilfrid Wilson Gibson |
WAEC posts the list as a PDF on its website, with the full words of all 12 poems: WAEC's list of Literature-in-English texts, 2026 to 2030 (PDF). Get the books themselves from a bookshop or a library.
How the Literature papers are set
On WAEC's 2026 timetable for private candidates, Literature-in-English has three papers:
| Paper 1 | Objective, 1 hour |
|---|---|
| Paper 2 | Prose, 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Paper 3 | Drama and poetry, 2 hours 30 minutes |
Times can differ from one exam to another, so check them on your own timetable. How to find and read the WAEC timetable.
How to study the set texts
- Get the books early, and read each one from start to finish at least twice.
- For each book, make your own notes on the plot, the main characters, the themes and the setting.
- For each poem, note the poet, what the poem is about, its mood, and the main devices it uses.
- Learn the literary terms. In the past papers we hold, many objective questions test them.
- Practise writing answers in the time the paper gives you.
WAEC Literature past questions
Our WAEC Literature in English past questions come from papers set before 2026, on the earlier list of texts. Their questions on literary terms and on short passages you have not seen before are still good practice.
Set texts for other WAEC subjects
WAEC has also posted its 2026 to 2030 set texts for Arabic, Edo, Efik, Hausa, Ibibio, Igbo and Yoruba. They are in the news section of waecnigeria.org, beside the Literature-in-English list.
Questions students ask about the WAEC literature texts
Do the WAEC literature texts change every year?
No. WAEC sets one list for five years. This list is for every WASSCE from 2026 to 2030.
Is there a PDF of the WAEC literature texts?
WAEC's list is a PDF on its website, with the 12 poems printed in full. The books are not in it. We do not share copies of the books either.
Are these the texts for NECO and JAMB too?
This page covers WAEC's list only. If you are writing NECO or JAMB, check the texts on that exam's own syllabus. For the novel JAMB sets for Use of English, see the JAMB novel.
Related guides
- WAEC Literature in English past questions185 questions, 2022–2024
- WAEC past questions and answersOver 13,000 WAEC (WASSCE) questions in 23 subjects, 1988–2024.
- WAEC timetable 2027The proposed 2027 dates, the 2026 dates, and how to read the timetable.
- WAEC GCE 2027The two series, registration, the computer exam and results.
- The JAMB novelNot named for UTME 2027 yet. Every JAMB novel since 2012.
- NECO GCE 2026The exam dates, the 16 subjects, the fee and how to register.
- NECO timetable 2027The proposed 2027 dates, the 2026 dates, and how to read the timetable.