First year students at Obafemi Awolowo University have raised formal complaints about the ENG 101 Computer Based Test held on 24 March 2026, alleging that a significant portion of the examination questions were drawn from ENG 102, a more advanced course not covered in their current semester's outline.
ENG 101 is a foundational English course taken by 100 level students across departments including English, Law and Dramatic Arts, covering core concepts such as morphology, word formation and clause structures. ENG 102 builds on that foundation with more complex linguistic material and is typically taught in a subsequent semester. Students who complained said that despite thorough preparation based on the approved course outline, they encountered unfamiliar questions that appeared to belong to the more advanced course.
"It was confusing and frustrating," said one affected student identified as Peace, adding that the mismatch forced many candidates into guesswork during the examination. A Part 1 Law student who requested anonymity said the unfamiliar questions triggered severe anxiety that disrupted her composure throughout the test. A Dramatic Arts student said the confusion left him unable to complete the paper, with several questions left unanswered.
Not all students shared the same experience. Some candidates said the examination was fair and within expectations, while one student with a stronger prior background in English studies acknowledged the presence of advanced questions but said his preparation allowed him to manage them. The divergence in experiences has raised the possibility of multiple question sets or inconsistencies in how questions were distributed across the CBT system, though this has not been confirmed by university authorities.
The National Association of Students of English and Literary Studies (NASELS) confirmed it had received numerous complaints. Its president, Francis Ohacho, said the matter had been escalated to the Head of the Department of English, who has indicated that an investigation is underway. No official statement had been released by the department at the time of publication.
For affected students, the concern extends beyond the examination experience itself. ENG 101 is a foundational course with direct implications for Grade Point Average, and a poorly structured assessment could have lasting consequences on academic records at the most critical stage of a university career. Students and stakeholders are calling for transparency in the review process and, where necessary, remarking or rescheduling of the affected examination.
