If you’re preparing for WAEC next year, then the WAEC syllabus for English 2026 is one of the first things you should look at. English is a compulsory subject, and WAEC uses this syllabus to decide the kinds of questions you’ll see in the exam.

Instead of reading randomly or guessing what to study, the syllabus shows you exactly what WAEC wants from you. It’s like having a roadmap that guides you from where you are now to the grade you want.

Let’s go through it in a simple and clear way.

What is WAEC English 2026 Syllabus

The WAEC syllabus for English 2026 covers all the skills you need to pass English Language. It includes reading, writing, listening, grammar, and even basic literature. WAEC uses these sections to set questions for both objective and theory papers.Once you understand these areas, preparing for English becomes much easier.

Topics in the WAEC Syllabus for English 2026

Here are the main parts of the syllabus and what each one expects from you.

1. Comprehension

WAEC wants to see how well you understand what you read.
You must be able to:

• Pick out the main idea of a passage
• Understand the writer’s message
• Answer direct and indirect questions
• Interpret meanings from context

The passages may be stories, articles, arguments, or simple explanations.

2. Summary Writing

This part tests your ability to reduce long passages into clear, short points.
You must learn to:

• Identify key points
• Use your own words
• Avoid lifting sentences
• Stay concise and straight to the point

Good summary skills can easily boost your overall score.

3. Essay Writing

This is one area that can make or break your grade. You will be asked to write one or two essays, which could be:

• Narrative (story)
• Descriptive
• Expository
• Argumentative
• Formal or informal letters
• Articles, speeches, or reports

WAEC looks for correct grammar, clear ideas, good organization, and neat paragraphs.

4. Grammar and Vocabulary

In this section, WAEC tests how well you know the rules of English.
You should understand:

• Parts of speech
• Sentence structure
• Concord (subject–verb agreement)
• Active/passive voice
• Direct/indirect speech
• Punctuation
• Idioms
• Opposites and synonyms
• Clauses and phrases

Almost all of these appear in Objectives (Paper 1).

5. Oral English

This part focuses on pronunciation and listening skills.
Topics include:

• Vowel and consonant sounds
• Stress and intonation
• Rhymes
• Homophones
• Listening comprehension

The questions are multiple-choice but require you to understand spoken English.

6. Literature Elements

WAEC also tests simple literature knowledge in areas like:

• Themes
• Plot
• Characters
• Figurative expressions
• Poetic devices

You don’t need deep literature analysis, just basic understanding.

WAEC English 2026 Exam Format

Knowing how the exam is structured gives you a huge advantage.

Paper 1 – Objectives (1 hr 45 mins)

Covers grammar, summary, comprehension, vocabulary, oral English, and literature.

Paper 2 – Theory (2 hrs)

Includes:

• Essay writing
• Comprehension
• Summary

You must write clearly and neatly to score well.

Paper 3 – Oral English (Listening Test)

Tests pronunciation, stress, and listening.