PREAMBLE

A sound knowledge of the Igbo language, literature and culture is a fundamental need for all who desire the comprehensive knowledge of the Igbo people.Based on this, the Igbo syllabus is designed for candidates studying Igbo. Adequate care has been taken to ensure that candidates go through the rubrics of the Igbo language.The syllabus covers such important areas of the language as the sound system, grammar, culture, worldview, etc.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SYLLABUS
The objectives of the syllabus are as follows:
· To enable candidates to speak, read and write Igbo properly and communicate effectively in it; 
· To familiarize them with the sound system, grammatical structures and other features of the Igbo language; 
· To expose the candidates to Igbo culture – customs, institutions, worldview, etc; 
· To provide them with the necessary tools needed for creative writing and appreciation of Igbo language and literature. 
SCHEME OF EXAMINATION
The examination shall consist of two papers, Papers 1 and 2; both of which shall constitute a composite paper and shall be taken at one sitting. The rubrics of the papers shall be written in Igbo. Candidates will be required to answer all the questions in Igbo using the standard orthography metalanguage.

PAPER 1 will consist of sixty multiple choice objective questions all of which should be answered within 1 hour for 60 marks. The paper will have three sections, Sections A, B and C. The questions in the sections will cover the following aspects of the subject:
Section A:   LanguageSection B:   LiteratureSection    C:   Culture
Section A: LanguageThis will contain thirty multiple choice questions on language distributed as follows:
 Comprehension (2 short passages) - 10 items   Composition/letter writing - 4 items   Sound system - 6 items    Grammar - 6 items   Translation - 4 items    30 items  

Section B:  LiteratureWill contain twenty-two multiple choice questions on literature distributed as follows:
 Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation - 4 items   Oral Literature- Prose - 3 items    Poetry - 3 items    Drama - 3 items   Written Literature - Prose - 3 items    Poetry - 3 items    Drama - 3 items    22 items  
In this section, all questions other than those on Basic Principles of Literary Appreciation will be
based on the setbooks for Paper 2.
Section C: Culture
This will contain eight multiple choice questions on culture distributed as follows:
 Customs – 4 items   Institutions – 4 items    8 items  

TOTAL: (30+22+8) = 60 items
PAPER 2: Will be a composition test and will also have three sections, Section A, B and C. The sections will cover the parts of the syllabus indicated below.
Section A:   LanguageSection    B:   Literature Section    C:  Culture
Candidates will be required to answer six out of the total of thirteen questions to be made available. The paper will take 2 hours to complete and carry 100 marks.
Further details on the structure of the paper as well as its requirements are given below. 
Section A: EssayThis section will consist of the following three parts, Parts I, II and III:
 Part I – Composition/Letter writing   Part II – Sound System   Part III – Grammar  
Part I: Composition/ Letter Writing
Candidates are advised not to spend more than 45 minutes on this section. There will be five topics from the following essay types and candidates will be expected to write on one of them in about 300 words:
Narrative; Descriptive; Argumentative; Expository; Dialogue; Debate; Letter writing. 
Part II: Sound system
Two questions will be set for candidates to answer one of them. The questions will test candidate’s basic knowledge of the following areas:
(a) Igbo Phonemes: Vowels, Consonants, the Syllabic nasal, 
(i) their production, and (ii) their classification. 
(b) Syllable Structure. 
(c) Sound Processes: vowel harmony, vowel assimilation, vowel elision and consonants elision. 
(d) Tone and tone notation. 
(e) The Igbo alphabet. 
Part III: Grammar
Two questions will be set for candidates to answerly one of them. The questions will test candidate’s knowledge of the following areas:
(a) Spelling rules.(b) Word formation. (c) Igbo dialects and Standard Igbo. (d) Loan words. (e) Igbo metalanguage (new words). (f) Word classes: The noun, verb, pronoun, conjunction, preposition, etc. (g) Grammatical categories: tense, number and person. (h) Phrases and Clauses: their types and functions. (i) Sentences: i. their constituents and types. ii. Sentences containing Direct and Indirect Speech. (j) Lexis and Structure. (k) Punctuation marks. 
Section B: Literature
This section will consist of two parts, Parts I and II as follows:
Part I:  Oral Literature – Prose, Poetry and DramaPart II: Written Literature – Prose, Poetry and Drama
Part I: Oral Literature
Three questions will be set for this part and candidates will be required to answer only one of them. All questions in this section will be based on the prescribed texts.
In this part, candidates will be required to have basic knowledge of the following:
(a) Definiton and characteristics of oral Literature (b) Classification and functions (c) Literary devices (d) Folktales (ifo) (e) Anecdotes (ụkabụilu) (f) Legends (nkọkịrịkọ/akụkọ dike) (g) Myths (nkọmịrịkọ/akụkọokike/mmalite) (h) Poems (abụ) (i) Songs (uri) (j) Proverbs (ilu) (k) Riddles (agwụgwa) (l) Chants (mbem) (m) Oral drama (ejije ọnụ) (n) Tongue twisters (okwuntụhi) 
Part II: Written Literature
Three questions will be set for this part and candidates will be required to attempt only one. All questions in this section will be based on the prescribed texts. Section C:Culture
Two questions will be set on culture and candidates will be required to attempt only one.
Candidates should be familiar with Igbo customs and institutions as aspects of the culture. The following areas will be covered.
Customs – Omenala
(a)i. Njirimara ndị Igbo-asụsụ, ejiji, omenala, ekpemekpe , agbambọ, dg.ii. Ekele ndị Igbo n’oge dị icheiche.(b) Mmemme -ọjị, ịtụ nzụ, ịkwọ aka ụtụtụ, ịgọ ọfọ, dg.(c) Nnabata ọbịa.(d) Ọmụmụ nwa - ile ọmụgwọ, ibi ugwu, ikupụta nwa, ịgụ aha, ịzụ ahịa nwa,ịhụ eze, dg.(e) Nkwenye - ịlọ ụwa, ọgbanje, nrọ, ihi/isi anụ, ịha/ịchụ mmiri, dg.(f) Emume - ọfala, ịbọ ụzọ, ịwa ji/iri ji, igbu ewuukwu,irumgbede, ịwa akwa, akwamozu, ịgba mkpe, ịgụ afọ, mbarị, ụdara, dg.(g) Egwuregwu – egwu ụmụaka, ịgba/ịchụ oro, ịtụ okwe, ịzụ nchọrọkọtọ, ịkpọ okwe, mgba, ịkpọ ọga, okoso, egwu ọnwa, dg.(h) Nsọala/Arụ - ihensọ, ebensọ, anụnsọ, osisinsọ, ime ibeeṅe.

Institutions – Ewumewu
(a) Ewumewu ọchịchị - ezinaụlọ, ndị eze ọdịnala, nze na ọzọ, ụmụọkpụ/ụmụada, otu ọgbọ, otu nzuzo, otu inyomdi, ụmụnna, ogbe, obodo. 
(b) Ewumewu mmekọrịta mmadụ na ibe ya - alụmalụ, ezinaụlọ, ịgọ ọgọ, nwanwa/nwadiala, ịgba ndụ, ịgba orikọ 
(c) Echichi - Lọọlọ, Iyọm, Ọmụ, Ezeji, Jioke, Atama. 
(d) Abamaba - Mmọnwụ,Ọkọnkọ, Ekpe, Ọmabe, Odo, Dibịa. 
(e) Ewumewu akụnaụba – ike ekpe, iri ekpe, ala na ihe dị na ya. 
(f) Akaọrụ - ịkpụ ụzụ, ịgba nta, ịkụ azụ, ọrụugbo, ịkwa nka, ịkpụ ite, dg. 
(g) Ewumewu ofufe - ịgba afa, ịchụ aja, dg. 
(h) Ngwa ofufe - ọfọ, ikenga, okpesi, ogu, ọtọnsi , dg 
(i) Ihe ofufe - Ndịichie, Arụsị, Ikenga, Ala, Mmụọ mmiri, Arụsị/ Agbara 
dịka Ogwugwu, Ahịajiọkụ, Agwụ, Amadịọha, Kamalụ, Agbala, Ibini Ụkpabị, Ojukwu, Igwekaala, Idemmili, dg. 

RECOMMENDED TEXTS FOR WASCCE IGBO   YEAR PROSE POETRY DRAMA   1981-83 Oral Qmalinze Abx Na    EgwuregwuQd[nala    Written Urunwa Akpa Uche    JxqObinna Eke Nne Obidiya   1987 Oral Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala    Written Chinagqrqm Xtara Nt[ Ugomma   1988 Written Obiefuna AkpaUche AkxFechaa   1989 Written Xwaezuoke Akpa Uche AkxFechaa   1990 Written Xwad[egwu Nkemakqlam Obidiya   1998-2000  Oral Qka Mgba MbemnaEgwu Igbo    Written Dinta AkqBxNdx Qnxkwube    QkpaAkxEriEri AkpaUche OkweAgbaala   2002-2005 Oral Qmalinze Abx Na EgwuregwuQd[nala    Written Jxqchi/Adaeze Xtara Nt[ UdoKaMma    EchicheMiri Emi Ajq Obi   2006-10 Oral Qka Mgba Abx Akwamozu    Written IheQjqqGbaaAfq Echiche NwataBulieNnaYaElu   2011-15Oral Mbediogu Abu Na Egwuregwu    Written QjaDufuo Dike Uche Bx Akpa AtxrxGa-EpuMpi   

LIST OF IGBO TEXTS FOR CONSIDERATION: 2016-2020
  ORAL WRITTEN   PROSE Ezennxnx Xwa Ad[gh[ Ka Echere    Agxgx M.O. KanxNgozi F.    Eke Na Egwurugwu NdidiAmaka    Nwadike I.U. Okoro C.L    Qka Mgba AnxGbaaAjqqsq    Iroaganachi J. Qfqmata C.    Xwa Bx Agha    Nwadike I.U.    QdiXkonaMba    Okebalama C.N.    OkeSoroNgwere    Okechukwu Ihejirika   POETRY Abx Akwamaozu AkqnaUche    Xzqchukwu S Echebima G.N    MbemnaEgwu Igbo Akqnuche    Qgbalx F.C. Nwadike I.U  

DRAMA Nke M JiKa
Nwaozuzu G.I.
Amagh[ Igbo AsxOyibo
Okeke C.
Nka D[ naNt[
OkoroEmeka
AfereChukwuemeka O.
Ka{ Ma Nke A…..
AgxgxM.O