The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the official syllabus for candidates preparing for the 2026/2027 Literature in English examination. Candidates who will be sitting for the examination are advised to study the syllabus carefully because it outlines the recommended topics, examination structure, and literary texts that will be used for the exam.
The syllabus is important because it helps students understand the areas they are expected to focus on during preparation. It also contains the prescribed texts for prose, drama, and poetry, making it easier for candidates to know the books they should read before the examination.
In this article, you will find the complete NECO syllabus for Literature in English, the examination scheme, and the approved texts for the 2026 NECO Literature examination.
NECO Literature in English Examination Scheme
There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2, and 3. Papers 1 and 2 will be taken in one sitting, while Paper 3 will be taken separately.
Paper 1
Paper 1 will be a multiple-choice objective test containing 50 questions divided as follows:
- 20 questions on General Knowledge of Literature
- 5 questions on an unseen prose passage
- 5 questions on an unseen poem
- 20 contextual questions on the prescribed Shakespearean text
Candidates will answer all questions within 1 hour for 50 marks.
Paper 2
Paper 2 will be an essay paper divided into two sections:
- Section A: African Prose
- Section B: Non-African Prose
Two essay questions will be set from each prescribed novel. Candidates are expected to answer one question from each section.
The paper will last for 1 hour 15 minutes and carries 50 marks.
Paper 3
Paper 3 will focus on Drama and Poetry. It will be divided into four sections:
- Section A: African Drama
- Section B: Non-African Drama
- Section C: African Poetry
- Section D: Non-African Poetry
There will be two questions on each prescribed drama text and two questions on each poetry section.
Candidates are required to answer one question from each section, making a total of four questions.
The paper will last for 2 hours 30 minutes and carries 100 marks.
Important Notes
- The unseen prose passage in Paper 1 will contain about 120 to 150 words.
- Only contextual questions will be asked from the Shakespearean text.
- Questions on the Shakespearean text may focus on themes, characterization, style, and setting.
Prescribed Texts for NECO Literature in English 2026
African Prose
| Text | Author |
|---|---|
| Second Class Citizen | Second Class Citizen by Buchi Emecheta |
| Unexpected Joy at Dawn | Unexpected Joy at Dawn by Alex Agyei-Agyiri |
Non-African Prose
| Text | Author |
|---|---|
| Wuthering Heights | Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë |
| Invisible Man | Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison |
African Drama
| Text | Author |
|---|---|
| Let Me Die Alone | Let Me Die Alone by John K. Kargbo |
| The Lion and the Jewel | The Lion and the Jewel by Wole Soyinka |
Non-African Drama
| Text | Author |
|---|---|
| Look Back in Anger | Look Back in Anger by John Osborne |
| Fences | Fences by August Wilson |
African Poetry
| Poem | Poet |
|---|---|
| Black Woman | Black Woman by Léopold Sédar Senghor |
| The Leader and the Led | The Leader and the Led by Niyi Osundare |
| The Grieved Lands | The Grieved Lands by Agostinho Neto |
| The Song of the Woman of My Land | The Song of the Woman of My Land by Oumar Farouk Sesay |
| Raider of the Treasure Trove | Raider of the Treasure Trove by Lade Wosornu |
| A Government Driver on His Retirement | A Government Driver on His Retirement by Onu Chibuike |
Non-African Poetry
| Poem | Poet |
|---|---|
| The Good-Morrow | The Good-Morrow by John Donne |
| Caged Bird | Caged Bird by Maya Angelou |
| The Journey of the Magi | The Journey of the Magi by T. S. Eliot |
| Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night | Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night by Dylan Thomas |
| Binsey Poplars (Felled 1879) | Binsey Poplars by Gerard Manley Hopkins |
| Bat | Bat by D. H. Lawrence |
Shakespearean Text for Objective and Context Questions
| Text | Author |
|---|---|
| A Midsummer Night’s Dream | A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare |
Students are also encouraged to practice past questions regularly and revise consistently before the examination date. Share this article with other candidates preparing for NECO Literature in English, and feel free to ask questions in the comments section.
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