Welcome to our school exams series, where we provide termly examination questions and answers across different subjects. In this post, we’ll focus on English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First Term. The questions are designed to help students practice and strengthen their skills in grammar, comprehension, composition, and other key areas, preparing them for school exams and BECE assessments.
English Language is a core subject taught in schools across Nigeria and worldwide. It serves as the official language of communication, instruction, and administration in Nigeria. Studying English helps students develop essential skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The subject enhances students’ abilities to use grammar correctly, expand vocabulary, write essays, letters, and reports, and interpret passages, poems, and other literary works. Mastery of English also supports performance in other subjects since most are taught and examined in English, making it crucial for academic success and future career opportunities.
English Language is offered to students from Nursery through Primary and Secondary School levels, forming a vital part of the Nigerian curriculum.
English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First Term
English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First Term are divided into five sections:
- Section A (Essay)
- Section B (Comprehension)
- Sêction C (Objective Test)
- Section D (Test of Orals)
Note that what you have below are JSS2 English Language First Term Exam Past Questions made available to assist students in their revision for 3rd term examinations and also teachers in structuring standard examinations.
SECTION A: Essay
INSTRUCTION – Answer only ONE question from this section.
1. Write a letter to your friend who is in overseas, telling him/her how you are going to make the forthcoming Christmas a memorable one.
2. Narrate an accident scene you have witnessed to your friend who was not present at that moment.
SECTION B: COMPREHENSION
Read the passage below and answer the questions that follow.
Education is a life-long process. You receive education everyday of what you learn at school, it comprises all experiences you have had in life and will continue to have as long as you live. It is in a bid to capture a great deal of life experiences that ‘formal education is structure in a broad way. It is expected to cover all areas of knowledge and discipline, Art, Science, Technical, Vocational and Social Science.
Consequently, subjects like Religious Studies (to teach morals and good characters), Civic Education (to teach patriotism and civic responsibilities), Social Studies (to show how people live within the society etc) and Basic Science (to expose learners to Scientific development that will help them live effectively within the environment) are introduced in the curriculum so that learners can acquire more relevant knowledge. Teaching is guided by the curriculum on which the syllabus is based. Then, the scheme of work follows where the ones teacher’s lesson note is based.
1. For how long does one’s education last?
A. everyday
B. every day he has a lesson
C. every day of his life
D. everyday long process
2. Which of the following questions is TRUE according to the passage
A. There is no learning outside school
B. If we learn from all our experiences
C. Education is narrow in scope
D. Education includes long vacation
3. Formal education is structured in a broad way in order to
A. help student study very hard
B. guide teachers in drawing their scheme of work
C. capture a great deal of life experiences
D. expose education system to proper assessment
4. Subjects are introduced to enable learners
A. go to School
B. teach morals and good characters
C. acquire more relevant knowledge
D. choose the subject they like
5. Give another word or phrase that has the same meaning as the one underlined in the passage: SYLLABUS.
A. Topics
B. Curriculum
C. Scheme of Work
D. Book
Section C (Objective Test)
LEXIS AND STRUCTURE
Choose the word that is nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s) in the following sentences
6. The woman likes sharp colours.
A. red B. blunt
C. bright D. dull
7. Importation of rice has been prohibited in Nigeria.
A. banned B. upheld
C. promoted D. questioned
8. His reaction to my advice was positive.
A. negative B. encourage
C. doubtful D. evasive
9. Her conduct in the classroom offended the teacher.
A. custom
B. method
C. appearance
D. behaviour
10. Emeka soon regretted having made such hasty decision.
A. hurried B. reckless
C. urgent D. undelayed
11. The headmaster said he merely wanted to know the truth.
A. only B. mostly
C. really D. precisely
12. Unthoughtful students are bound to fail.
A. negligent
A. attentive
C. conscientious
D. tactful
FROM THE LIST OF THE OPTIONS LETTERED A – D, CHOOSE THE OPTIONS THAT IS NEARLY OPPOSITE IN MEANING TO THE UNDERLINED WORD(S).
13. Her display of ignorance was an awful one.
A. unpleasant
B. appalling
C. disgusting
D. excellent
14. Peter was the most studious student of his set.
A. thoughtful B. bookish
C. sedulous D. zealous
15. Shola is an idle student.
A. lazy
B. slothful
C. worthless
D. industrious
16. The policeman prevented the woman to vote.
A. ordered
B. allowed
C. protected
D. permitted
17. The solid materials cannot be poured out of container.
A. condensed B. dissolved
C. liquid D. permitted
State the word class of the underline
18. That boy is very bright in class.
A. pronoun
B. preposition
C. noun
D. verb
19. The stranger spoke angrily.
A. adverb B. verb
C. noun D. pronoun
20. She is a wonderful singer.
A. noun B. adjective
C. adverb D. pronoun
21. The thieves were arrested by the police.
A. pronoun B. verb
C. adverb D. noun
COMPLETE EACH OF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WITH THE MOST APPROPRIATE OF THE OPTIONS LETTERED A – D.
22. Could you please ________ the light?
A. of B. off
C. switch D. turn off
23. The students were encouraged to put __________ their best
A. in B. of
C. off D. on
24. Mr. James wants either rice _________ beans
A. and B. nor
C. or D. together with
25. Obi has been transferred to a new school ________ last year
A. at B. during
C. for D. since
26. Either the teacher or the students ________ in the classroom
A. are
B. is
C. to being
D. were being
27. Neither the teachers nor the principal __________ the key to the toilet.
A. are having
B. has
C. have
D. is having
28. Chioma, as well as her sisters ________ punished for unruly behaviour.
A. has been
B. have being
C. has being
D. have been
29. Mr. Emeka with his students ____________ applauded.
A. were B. was
C. has D. have
30. My glasses ____________ very weak.
A. is B. was
C. are D. have
31. The equipment in the Physics laboratory ___________ destroyed.
A. have been
B. has being
C. is been
D. has been
32. The house mistress, in addition to, the eight girls who won prizes at the essay competition __________ spoken to the parents.
A. has B. have
C. is D. are
33. It seems had the robbers left _________ the police arrived
A. after B. before
C. than D. that
34. Mary scaled _________ the screening successfully
A. along B. down
C. for D. through
35. The two friends hugged ________ at the party.
A. each one
B. each other
C. one another
D. their selves
Section D (Test of Orals)
CHOOSE FROM THE OPTIONS LETTERED A TO D THE ONE THAT CONTAINS THE GIVEN PHONETIC SYMBOL
36. /ɑː/
A. nail B. party
C. thank D. part
37. /ɔː/
A. court B. cough
C. hot D. dog
38. /ɜː/
A. shirt B. walk
C. many D. well
39. /e/
A. very B. about
C. father D. late
40. /ʌ/
A. bunch B. lock
C. watch D. song
32. The house mistress, in addition to, the eight girls who won prizes at the essay competition __________ spoken to the parents.
A. has B. have
C. is D. are
33. It seems had the robbers left _________ the police arrived
A. after B. before
C. than D. that
34. Mary scaled _________ the screening successfully
A. along B. down
C. for D. through
35. The two friends hugged ________ at the party.
A. each one
B. each other
C. one another
D. their selves
Section D (Test of Orals)
CHOOSE FROM THE OPTIONS LETTERED A TO D THE ONE THAT CONTAINS THE GIVEN PHONETIC SYMBOL
36. /ɑː/
A. nail B. party
C. thank D. part
37. /ɔː/
A. court B. cough
C. hot D. dog
38. /ɜː/
A. shirt B. walk
C. many D. well
39. /e/
A. very B. about
C. father D. late
40. /ʌ/
A. bunch B. lock
C. watch D. song
50. Tout
A. throw B. put
C. wrath D. listen
51. Bread
A. count B. about
C. leap D. fed
Answers to English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First Term
Answers to Section A (Essay)
1. Letter Writing
Question: Write a letter to your friend who is in overseas, telling him/her how you are going to make the forthcoming Christmas a memorable one.
25, Ogui Road,
Enugu, Nigeria.
12th December, 2025.
Dear Chika,
How are you doing over there? I hope your studies are going well. It has been a long time since we last saw each other, and I really miss your company.
I’m writing to tell you about my plans for the forthcoming Christmas. This year, I want to make it a memorable one for myself and my family. We have decided to decorate our house beautifully with lights, Christmas trees, and colourful balloons. My mother has already started baking fruit cakes and preparing for the big day.
On Christmas Eve, we shall attend the carol night at church. I’ll be part of the drama group presenting the story of the birth of Jesus. On Christmas Day, we shall have a family feast where friends and neighbours will join us. Later in the evening, I plan to visit the orphanage with my friends to share gifts and food with the children there.
I’m really excited, and I wish you could be here to celebrate with us. Please write back and tell me how you plan to celebrate Christmas over there.
Your loving friend,
Henry.
2. Narrative Essay
Question: Narrate an accident scene you have witnessed to your friend who was not present at that moment.
Last Saturday, I witnessed a terrible accident on my way to the market with my mother. It happened at the junction near our street. A motorcycle rider was trying to cross the road in a hurry, and a speeding car came from the opposite direction. Before anyone could shout, the car hit the motorcycle and the rider fell heavily on the ground.
People around the area rushed to the scene immediately. The man on the motorcycle was bleeding from his leg and arm. Some men helped to lift him from the road while others stopped the car driver. My mother and I were so frightened that I could not stop shaking.
A few minutes later, a good Samaritan brought his car and took the injured man to the hospital. The policemen also arrived to control the traffic and ask questions about what happened.
That day, I learned a big lesson. I saw how carelessness and overspeeding can lead to serious accidents. Since then, I have always prayed that God should protect all road users and make drivers more careful.
It was a sad experience, and I will never forget it.
Answers to Section B (Comprehension)
1. For how long does one’s education last?
✅ Answer: C. every day of his life
Explanation: The passage says, “…it comprises all experiences you have had in life and will continue to have as long as you live.”
2. Which of the following is TRUE according to the passage?
✅ Answer: B. If we learn from all our experiences
Explanation: The passage explains that education includes all life experiences, not just what is learned in school.
3. Formal education is structured in a broad way in order to:
✅ Answer: C. capture a great deal of life experiences
Explanation: The passage directly states that formal education is structured broadly to capture many life experiences.
4. Subjects are introduced to enable learners:
✅ Answer: C. acquire more relevant knowledge
Explanation: The passage says that subjects are introduced “so that learners can acquire more relevant knowledge.”
5. Give another word or phrase that has the same meaning as the one underlined in the passage: SYLLABUS.
✅ Answer: A. Topics
Explanation: The syllabus lists the topics or subjects to be taught in a course.
Answers to Section C (Objective Test)
Choose the word nearest in meaning to the underlined word(s)
- The woman likes sharp colours.
C. bright - Importation of rice has been prohibited in Nigeria.
A. banned - His reaction to my advice was positive.
B. encourage - Her conduct in the classroom offended the teacher.
D. behaviour - Emeka soon regretted having made such hasty decision.
A. hurried - The headmaster said he merely wanted to know the truth.
A. only - Unthoughtful students are bound to fail.
A. negligent
Choose the option nearly opposite in meaning to the underlined word(s)
- Her display of ignorance was an awful one.
D. excellent - Peter was the most studious student of his set.
A. thoughtful - Shola is an idle student.
D. industrious - The policeman prevented the woman to vote.
B. allowed - The solid materials cannot be poured out of container.
C. liquid
State the word class of the underlined word
- That boy is very bright in class.
C. noun - The stranger spoke angrily.
C. noun - She is a wonderful singer.
A. noun - The thieves were arrested by the police.
D. noun
Complete each question with the most appropriate option
- Could you please ________ the light?
D. turn off - The students were encouraged to put __________ their best
D. on - Mr. James wants either rice _________ beans
C. or - Obi has been transferred to a new school ________ last year
B. during - Either the teacher or the students ________ in the classroom
A. are - Neither the teachers nor the principal __________ the key to the toilet.
B. has - Chioma, as well as her sisters ________ punished for unruly behaviour.
A. has been - Mr. Emeka with his students ____________ applauded.
B. was - My glasses ____________ very weak.
C. are - The equipment in the Physics laboratory ___________ destroyed.
D. has been - The house mistress, in addition to, the eight girls who won prizes at the essay competition __________ spoken to the parents.
A. has - It seems had the robbers left _________ the police arrived
B. before - Mary scaled _________ the screening successfully
D. through - The two friends hugged ________ at the party.
B. each other
Choose the word that contains the given phonetic symbol
- /ɑː/ — B. party
- /ɔː/ — A. court
- /ɜː/ — A. shirt
- /e/ — A. very
- /ʌ/ — A. bunch
- /iː/ — B. heed
- /h/ — B. hammer
- /dʒ/ — A. juice
- /tʃ/ — A. denture
- /θ/ — A. author
- /s/ — D. place
Choose the word that has the same vowel or consonant sound as the underlined letters
- Charlotte — B. chalet
- King — B. sink
- Rouge — A. treasure
- Tout — A. throw
- Bread — D. fed
So here you have the answers to the objective section of English Language Exam Questions for JSS2 First term. Use the comments section to let me know if you have any questions you would want me to clarify or discuss further.
