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Ikiodiete George
- 3 Min Read
Neco English Language Exam (2025/2026): Full List Of Most Repeated Topics & Past Questions
The NECO English Language exam is one of the most important subjects for all Nigerian secondary school students. Whether you're aiming for university admission or a strong result in your NECO certificate, passing English with a high score is essential.
To help you prepare effectively, this post covers the most repeated NECO English topics, past objective and theory questions, essay writing samples, and exam success tips for 2025/2026.
NECO English Language Exam Format
| Section | Paper | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Paper I | Objective (OBJ) | 60 multiple-choice questions (lexis, structure, oral English, comprehension) |
| Paper II | Essay & Comprehension | Essay writing, letter writing, comprehension passage, and summary |
| Paper III | Test of Orals | Questions on stress, intonation, vowel and consonant sounds |
Most Repeated NECO English Topics (2025/2026)
| Section | Most Repeated Topics |
|---|---|
| Essay Writing | Formal letters, informal letters, narrative essays, descriptive essays, speech writing |
| Comprehension | Based on current affairs, social issues, or culture |
| Summary | Extracting main points, using own words |
| Lexis and Structure | Synonyms, antonyms, idioms, prepositions, sentence completion |
| Oral English | Rhymes, stress pattern, intonation, vowel/consonant sounds |
Most Repeated Essay Topics in NECO English
| Essay Type | Likely Topics |
|---|---|
| Letter Writing | Write to your uncle about your school; Write to the local government about bad roads |
| Narrative Essay | A day I’ll never forget; How I escaped an accident |
| Descriptive Essay | Describe your best friend; Describe your village/town market |
| Speech Writing | A speech to your classmates on examination malpractice; How to stay away from cultism |
| Argumentative Essay | Should mobile phones be banned in schools?; Boarding vs Day school – Which is better? |
Sample NECO English Objective Questions (2025)
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Choose the word that best completes the sentence:
“He drove so fast that he narrowly _______ having an accident.”
A. missed
B. escaped
C. avoided
D. prevented
✅ Answer: B -
Choose the correct stress pattern:
A. REsearch
B. reSEARCH
✅ Answer: B (if used as a verb) -
Choose the word that has the same vowel sound as 'seat':
A. hit
B. heat
C. bit
D. fit
✅ Answer: B
Sample Essay Question & Outline
Question:
Write a letter to your friend in another school telling him or her about how you spent your last holiday.
Outline:
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Salutation and Introduction
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Description of activities (travels, reading, helping parents, learning a skill)
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Challenges faced
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How the holiday helped you
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Closing and best wishes
Common Comprehension Topics in NECO
| Comprehension Focus | Examples of Repeated Themes |
|---|---|
| Health & Environment | Clean water, environmental sanitation, malaria awareness |
| Education | Importance of reading, exam malpractice, peer pressure |
| Culture & Society | Marriage traditions, Nigerian festivals |
Summary Writing Tips
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Pick only main points
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Use your own words (paraphrase)
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Avoid examples and explanations
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Do not lift entire sentences from the passage
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Stick to required word count (usually 100 words or less)
Key Grammar Topics to Focus On
| Topic | What to Know |
|---|---|
| Prepositions | Use of in, on, at, over, under |
| Tenses | Present, past, future (consistency in tense usage) |
| Sentence Structure | Subject-verb agreement, use of modifiers |
| Idiomatic Expressions | “Break the ice”, “Once in a blue moon”, etc. |
| Punctuation | Commas, semicolons, quotation marks |
Tips to Pass NECO English Exam with A1
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✅ Practice essay writing regularly — structure is key
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✅ Master summary writing — avoid lifting phrases
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✅ Solve past NECO English questions (especially comprehension and objective)
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✅ Read novels, newspapers, and current affairs for comprehension prep
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✅ Learn common oral English rules (intonation, rhymes, vowel sounds)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What kind of essays are common in NECO English?
Narrative, descriptive, and formal letter writing are always repeated.
Q: Can I use idioms in my essay?
Yes, if they fit naturally. Avoid overusing or misplacing them.
Q: How many questions do I answer in the theory paper?
You typically choose one essay, one comprehension, and do the summary.
Q: How important is Oral English in NECO?
Very important. It accounts for a good number of marks in Paper III.
Final Thoughts
To pass NECO English Language in 2025/2026, practice is your best friend. Focus on writing, grammar, comprehension, and summary. The questions are very predictable if you study the right way.
“Words are powerful. Master them, and you master your exams.”
