Jamb Syllabus for Biology: Of course! Here is a detailed explanation of the JAMB Biology syllabus, designed to be your ultimate guide and make your preparation as effective as possible.
Think of the JAMB Biology syllabus as your official roadmap to acing the biology section of the exam. Its main job is to tell you exactly what you need to study, so you don’t waste a single minute on topics that won’t be tested. It’s not there to scare you; it’s actually your best friend in this process. The syllabus is designed to test your understanding of three main things: the amazing diversity of life on Earth, how life continues through inheritance and evolution, and how biological principles apply to everyday issues affecting your health, society, and the environment .
Jamb Syllabus for Biology
The syllabus is broadly organized into a few large sections, but the specific topics can be grouped in a way that’s easier to digest. Let’s walk through the major areas you need to focus on.
First up is the Variety of Organisms. This section is all about the classification and incredible diversity of life. You’ll start with the basics, like the characteristics that differentiate living things from non-living things . Then you’ll dive into the heart of biology: the cell. You need to know the structure of both plant and animal cells, the functions of each component (like the nucleus or mitochondria), and how to compare and contrast them .
This section also traces the levels of organization, from a single cell all the way up to a complex organism . A huge part of this involves studying evolution across different groups: Monera (like bacteria), Protista (like Amoeba and Paramecium), Fungi (like mushrooms), Plantae (from simple algae like Spirogyra to complex flowering plants), and Animalia (from invertebrates like earthworms and insects to vertebrates like fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals) .
For each group, you should be able to analyze their external features, trace their life histories, and understand their economic importance and value to the environment .
Next, you’ll explore Adaptations. This is about how organisms are perfectly suited to their environment and way of life. This includes understanding adaptive colouration (like countershading in fish or warning colouration in mushrooms), behavioural adaptations in social animals (like the different castes in a termite colony), and structural adaptations for obtaining food (like bird beaks), protection (like a stick insect), securing mates, and conserving water .
The Form and Functions section is massive and deals with how organisms work. This includes the internal structure of plants (roots, stems, leaves) and mammals, and you should be able to identify transverse sections of these organs and relate their structure to their function .
A major pillar of this section is Nutrition. You’ll learn about the different modes of nutrition: autotrophic (like photosynthesis) and heterotrophic (like holozoic, parasitic, and saprophytic) . For plants, you must understand photosynthesis (the light and dark reactions, and the conditions necessary for it), chemosynthesis, and mineral requirements .
For animals, you need to know the classes of food substances, how to perform food tests (for starch, reducing sugar, protein, etc.), the structure and types of mammalian teeth, the mammalian alimentary canal, and the entire process of nutrition from ingestion to assimilation .
Other critical topics in Form and Functions include:
· Transport: The need for a transport system, materials transported, and the mechanisms in both plants (xylem, phloem, transpiration) and animals (the mammalian circulatory system: heart, arteries, veins, capillaries) .
· Respiration: The significance of respiration, respiratory organs in different organisms, the mechanism of gaseous exchange in plants and mammals, and the difference between aerobic and anaerobic respiration .
· Excretion: The different types of excretory structures (from contractile vacuoles to kidneys) and excretory mechanisms in humans .
· Other Systems: You’ll also need to cover support and movement, nervous coordination, hormonal coordination, reproduction, and growth .
The syllabus also covers Heredity and Variation. This involves understanding basic genetics, including genes, chromosomes, DNA, and the processes of cell division (mitosis and meiosis) . You’ll need to account for the continuity of life and understand the principles of evolution and natural selection .
Finally, a crucial section is Ecology and the Environment. This applies your biological knowledge to the real world. It covers components of an ecosystem, energy flow through food chains and webs, nutrient cycling (like carbon and nitrogen cycles), population studies, and critically, pollution, conservation, and the human impact on the environment .
To give you a clearer overview of the entire scope, here is a table summarizing the core sections and what you should be able to do:
Broad Section Key Topics Covered What You Should Be Able To Do (Sample Objectives)
Variety of Organisms Characteristics of living things; Cell structure & function; Classification of organisms (Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia). Differentiate living from non-living; Identify cell structures; Trace evolutionary complexity; State economic importance of organisms.
Form and Functions Internal structure of plants & animals; Nutrition; Transport; Respiration; Excretion; Reproduction; Growth; Coordination. Relate structure to function; Perform food tests; Describe systems like circulatory, respiratory, and excretory.
Heredity & Variation Genetics; Chromosomes; Cell Division (Mitosis/Meiosis); Principles of Inheritance & Evolution. Understand genes and chromosomes; Explain processes of cell division; Understand principles of evolution.
Ecology & Environment Ecosystems; Energy Flow; Nutrient Cycling; Population Studies; Pollution; Conservation; Human Impact. Analyze ecosystem interactions; Understand food webs; Evaluate human impact and conservation methods.
Conclusion
To use this syllabus effectively, first get a copy of the recommended textbooks. Some of the most common ones include Modern Biology for Senior Secondary Schools by S.T. Ramalingam and Comprehensive Biology for Senior Secondary Schools by G.N.C. Eze . Use the syllabus as a checklist. Go through each topic and make sure you can do everything listed under the “objectives.” The best way to prepare is to combine the syllabus with past questions.
After studying a topic, immediately practice JAMB questions on that specific concept. This reinforces what you’ve learned and shows you exactly how JAMB likes to ask questions. Remember, the exam is computer-based and consists of multiple-choice questions drawn directly from this syllabus. By following this roadmap closely, you can walk into the exam hall with confidence, knowing you have covered everything you need to know. Good luck with your studies