The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for Biology is a critical subject for candidates aspiring to study fields like medicine, nursing, pharmacy, agriculture, environmental science, and biotechnology. The areas of concentration for Biology in the 2026/2027 session emphasize foundational concepts that highlight the diversity, interdependence, and continuity of life. These topics are drawn from the official JAMB syllabus, which serves as a roadmap for effective preparation. By focusing on these areas, candidates can prioritize high-yield content, improve retention, and boost their chances of scoring above 70 percent in the exam.
The Biology paper consists of 50 objective questions to be answered in about 40 minutes, testing not just memorization but also application of principles to real-world scenarios. The syllabus is divided into four main sections: Varieties in Plants and Animals (about 30 percent of questions), Form and Functions (40 percent), Ecology (20 percent), and Heredity and Variations (10 percent). Below is a detailed breakdown of the key areas of concentration, with subtopics and objectives to guide your study. Aim to understand processes, draw simple diagrams where applicable, and practice past questions to familiarize yourself with the format.
JAMB Areas of Concentration for Biology
Section A: Varieties in Plants and Animals
This section explores the classification and characteristics of living organisms, emphasizing their diversity and adaptive features. Candidates should be able to identify major groups, describe distinguishing features, and explain evolutionary adaptations.
- Characteristics of Life: Focus on defining living organisms by properties such as organization, respiration, nutrition, excretion, reproduction, growth, irritability, adaptation, and continuity. Understand how these apply to unicellular and multicellular organisms.
- Cell Biology and Organization: Study the cell as the basic unit of life, including prokaryotic versus eukaryotic cells, cell organelles (nucleus, mitochondria, chloroplasts, ribosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus), and cell division (mitosis and meiosis). Draw and label cell structures, and explain their functions in energy production and protein synthesis.
- Classification of Living Organisms: Learn the five-kingdom system (Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, Animalia) and binomial nomenclature. Describe features of viruses, bacteria, algae, fungi, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms, angiosperms, and major animal phyla (porifera, coelenterata, platyhelminthes, nematoda, annelida, arthropoda, mollusca, echinodermata, chordata).
- Structural/Behavioral Adaptations: Examine adaptations for survival, such as hydrophytes, xerophytes, halophytes in plants, and protective devices in animals (camouflage, mimicry, hibernation, aestivation). Discuss how these enhance competition and reproduction in different habitats.
Section B: Form and Functions
This core section delves into the structure and physiology of organisms, particularly humans, with an emphasis on organ systems and their roles in maintaining homeostasis. Practice explaining feedback mechanisms and health implications.
- Nutrition: Cover modes of nutrition (autotrophic, heterotrophic, holozoic, parasitic, saprophytic) and mammalian digestion (alimentary canal, enzymes like amylase, pepsin, lipase, absorption in ileum). Understand dietary deficiencies (kwashiorkor, scurvy) and balanced diets.
- Support and Movement: Study skeletal systems (exoskeleton in arthropods, endoskeleton in vertebrates), joints, muscles (voluntary/involuntary), and locomotion in protozoa, insects, fish, birds, and humans. Include bone structure and disorders like arthritis.
- Transport: Focus on circulatory systems (open in insects, closed in mammals), blood components (plasma, RBCs, WBCs, platelets), heart structure, blood vessels, and lymphatic system. Explain transport in plants (xylem, phloem, transpiration).
- Respiration: Differentiate aerobic and anaerobic respiration, gaseous exchange in lungs, gills, and plants. Cover breathing mechanisms, respiratory pigments (hemoglobin), and disorders like asthma.
- Excretion: Examine excretory organs (kidneys, skin, lungs, liver), nephron function, osmoregulation, and plant excretion (guttation, transpiration). Include kidney disorders like nephritis.
- Reproduction: Study asexual (binary fission, budding, spores) and sexual reproduction in plants (pollination, fertilization) and animals (gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, gestation). Cover sexually transmitted infections and birth control methods.
- Growth: Define growth as irreversible increase in size/mass, growth curves, and factors affecting growth (hormones like auxins, gibberellins). Differentiate indeterminate and determinate growth.
- Coordination and Control: Explore nervous systems (central, peripheral, autonomic), reflex actions, brain parts, and plant tropisms (phototropism, geotropism). Include endocrine glands (pituitary, thyroid, adrenal) and hormones (insulin, adrenaline).
Section C: Ecology and Environment
This section addresses interactions between organisms and their environments, stressing conservation and human impacts. Relate concepts to Nigerian ecosystems like rainforests and savannas.
- Factors Affecting Distribution: Study biotic (competition, predation) and abiotic (temperature, light, soil pH) factors. Explain population dynamics and carrying capacity.
- Symbiotic Associations: Cover mutualism (lichens), commensalism, parasitism, and saprophytism. Discuss energy flow in food chains/webs, pyramids of energy/number/biomass.
- Natural Habitats: Describe terrestrial (forest, grassland, desert) and aquatic (pond, ocean) habitats, including adaptations and zonation (littoral, benthic).
- Pollution and Conservation: Identify types of pollution (air, water, soil) and effects (e.g., eutrophication, oil spills). Understand conservation methods (wildlife reserves, reforestation) and sustainable development.
Section D: Heredity and Variations
Focus on genetics and evolution, applying Mendel’s laws to predict outcomes. Use Punnett squares for monohybrid and dihybrid crosses.
- Heredity: Study chromosomes, genes, alleles, mitosis/meiosis outcomes. Explain Mendel’s principles (dominance, segregation, independent assortment) and sex determination.
- Variation: Differentiate continuous/discontinuous variation, causes (environment, mutation, recombination). Include blood groups and genetic disorders (sickle cell anemia, hemophilia).
- Evolution: Cover theories (Lamarckism, Darwinism), natural selection, speciation, and fossil evidence. Discuss adaptive radiation in finches.
To prepare effectively, allocate study time proportionally: 40 percent to Form and Functions, as it carries the most weight. Use diagrams for visual topics like cell structure or food webs, and solve at least 20 past questions weekly. Group study can help clarify complex processes like photosynthesis (light/dark reactions, chlorophyll role). Revise weekly, focusing on weak areas through self-tests. Maintain a healthy routine with balanced nutrition and sleep to enhance concentration.
In summary, mastering these areas equips you to tackle JAMB Biology with confidence. The exam rewards conceptual understanding over rote learning, so apply knowledge to scenarios like disease control or environmental management. With consistent effort, aim for excellence in your 2026/2027 UTME.
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FAQs
How many questions come from each section in JAMB Biology?
Approximately 15 from Form and Functions, 15 from Varieties, 10 from Ecology, and 10 from Heredity, though exact distribution may vary slightly.
Are diagrams required in the Biology exam?
No, it’s multiple-choice only, but understanding how to draw simple labeled diagrams aids in grasping topics like the heart or nephron.
What are the best ways to study human physiology?
Use flowcharts for processes like digestion, watch educational videos on organ functions, and relate to personal health experiences.
How does ecology relate to Nigerian contexts?
Expect questions on local issues like deforestation in the Niger Delta or wildlife in Yankari Game Reserve; focus on conservation strategies.
Can I score high without coaching?
Yes, with the syllabus, past questions, and daily practice; self-discipline is key, supplemented by free online quizzes.
What if I forget Mendel’s laws during the exam?
Recall basics: law of dominance (one trait masks another), segregation (alleles separate in gametes), and independent assortment (genes inherited separately).
Are viruses included in the classification section?
Yes, as non-cellular entities; know their structure (capsid, nucleic acid) and replication cycle.
How to handle variation and genetics calculations?
Practice Punnett squares for ratios like 3:1 or 9:3:3:1; understand environmental vs. genetic influences.
What role does evolution play in the exam?
It’s foundational; explain natural selection as survival of the fittest, with examples like antibiotic resistance in bacteria.