Do Literature Candidates Still Answer Questions on Othello and Romeo and Juliet in JAMB 2025?

One of the common concerns among Literature-in-English candidates this year came from Promise, who asked:

Please those writing literature, aside questions from the recommended drama this year, do we still have questions on Othello, Romeo and Juliet to answer?

This is a valid question, especially for candidates who have encountered these Shakespearean works in past syllabuses or mock exams.

JAMB Uses Only the Current Syllabus

JAMB does not randomly select texts. Each examination year follows a clearly defined syllabus, and only books listed in the official 2023–2025 Literature-in-English syllabus will be used to set questions.

This means if Othello or Romeo and Juliet are not among the officially recommended plays for this cycle, they will not appear in your exam.

Past Texts Are Not Recycled Unless Re-listed

In previous years, plays like Othello and Romeo and Juliet were part of JAMB’s reading list. However, once removed, they do not return unless they are added again in a fresh syllabus update. Candidates are expected to prepare with the most recent list only.

General Literary Knowledge Is Still Tested

While the specific questions in Section A (Drama) are based on the current set texts, JAMB may ask broad literary questions that assess your understanding of drama elements such as theme, plot, or characterization. In very rare instances, they might use classic works as examples, but these won’t require detailed knowledge of those texts.

What Candidates Should Do

• Focus strictly on the current JAMB syllabus for 2025
• Do not spend time preparing for old texts not on this year’s list
• Use only the plays, poems, and prose outlined in the syllabus
• Practice with past questions that align with the current reading list

Conclusion

If you’re writing Literature in JAMB 2025, do not expect direct questions from Othello or Romeo and Juliet unless they are on the official syllabus. Focus your efforts on the approved texts and revise accordingly to avoid confusion and wasted effort.