Complete JAMB Biology Syllabus 2026: All Topics & What to Focus On
Preparing for JAMB Biology? This is the complete official JAMB syllabus with all 18 topics you need to cover for the 2026 UTME.
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How to Use This Syllabus
- Go through each topic below and honestly rate yourself: strong, okay, or weak
- Focus your study time on weak topics first — that's where the marks are
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JAMB Biology Syllabus — All 18 Topics
1. Living organisms
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Differentiate between the characteristics of living and non-living things
- Identify the structures of plant and animal cells
- Analyse the functions of the components of plant and animal cells
- Compare and contrast the structure of plant and animal cells
- Trace the levels of organization among organisms in their logical sequence in relation to the five levels of organization of living organisms
Key areas: Characteristics, cell structure and functions of cell components, level of organization
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
2. Evolution
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Analyse external features and characteristics of the listed organisms
- Apply the knowledge from above to demonstrate increase in structural complexity
- Trace the stages in the life histories of the listed organisms
- Apply the knowledge of the life histories to demonstrate gradual transition from life in water to life on land
- Trace the evolution of the listed plants
Key areas: Monera, protista, fungi, plantae, animalia
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
3. Structural/functional and behavioural adaptations of organisms
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Describe how the various structures, functions and behaviour adapt these organisms to their environment, and way of life
- Categorize countershading in fish, toads, snakes and warning colouration in mushrooms
- Differentiate various castes in social insects like termites and their functions in their colony hive
- Account for basking in lizards, territorial behaviour of other animals under unfavourable conditions
Key areas: Adaptive colouration, behavioural adaptations, structural adaptations
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
4. Internal structure of a flowering plant
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify the transverse sections of these organs
- Relate the structure of these organs to their functions
- Identify supporting tissues in plants
- Describe the distribution of supporting tissues in roots, stem and leaf
Key areas: Root, stem, leaf
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
5. Nutrition
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Compare autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition
- Provide examples from both flowering and non-flowering plants
- Compare the photosynthetic and chemosynthetic modes of nutrition
- Differentiate the following examples of heterotrophic feeding
Key areas: Modes of nutrition, types of nutrition, plant nutrition, animal nutrition
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
6. Transport
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Determine the relationship between increase in size and complexity and the need for the development of a transport system in plants and animals
- Determine the sources of materials and the forms in which they are transported
- Describe the general circulatory system
- Compare specific functions of the hepatic portal vein, the pulmonary vein and artery, aorta, the renal artery and vein
Key areas: Need for transportation, materials for transportation, channels for transportation
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
7. Respiration
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Explain the significance of respiration
- Describe a simplified outline of the chemical processes involved in glycolysis and Krebs cycle with reference to ATP production
- Deduce gaseous exchange and products, exchange and production of heat energy during respiration from experimental set up
Key areas: Respiratory organs and surfaces, mechanism of gaseous exchange
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
8. Excretion
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Define the meaning and state the significance of excretion
- Relate the characteristics of each structure with functions
- Relate the structure of the kidneys to the excretory and osmo-regulatory functions
Key areas: Types of excretory structures, excretory mechanisms
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
9. Support and movement
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Determine the need for support and movement in organisms
- Identify supporting tissues in plants
- Describe the distribution of supporting tissues in root, stem and leaf
- Relate the response of plants to the stimuli of light, water, gravity and touch
Key areas: Tropic, tactic, nastic and sleep movements in plants, supporting tissues in animals
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
10. Reproduction
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Differentiate between asexual and sexual reproduction
- Apply natural vegetative propagation in crop production and multiplication
- Apply grafting, budding and layering in agricultural practices
- Relate parts of flower to their functions and reproductive process
Key areas: Asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction in flowering plants, reproduction in mammals
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
11. Growth
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Apply the knowledge of the conditions necessary for germination on plant growth
- Differentiate between epigeal and hypogeal germination
Key areas: Meaning of growth, germination of seeds and condition necessary for germination of seeds
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
12. Co-ordination and control
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Apply the knowledge of the structure and function of the central nervous system in the coordination of body functions in organisms
- Illustrate reflex actions such as blinking of the eyes, knee jerk etc
- Differentiate between reflex and voluntary actions as well as conditioned reflexes
Key areas: Nervous coordination, sense organs, hormonal control
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
13. Ecology
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Relate the effects of temperature, rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, altitude, salinity, turbidity, pH and edaphic conditions on the distribution of organisms
- Use appropriate equipment to measure abiotic factors
Key areas: Factors affecting the distribution of organisms, symbiotic interactions of plants and animals
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
14. Soil
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify physical properties of different soil types based on simple measurement of particle size, porosity or water retention ability
- Determine the amounts of air, water, humus and capillarity in different soil types experimentally
Key areas: Characteristics of different types of soil, components of the soil
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
15. Humans and Environment
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Identify ecological conditions that favour the spread of common endemic and potentially epidemic diseases
- Relate the biology of the vector or agent of each disease with its spread and control
- Define drug abuse and addiction
Key areas: Diseases, drug abuse, pollution and its control
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
16. Heredity and Variations
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Differentiate between continuous and discontinuous variations with examples
- Relate the role of environmental conditions, habitat and the genetic constitution to variation
Key areas: Variation in population, heredity
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
17. Biotechnology
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Define biotechnology
- List some applications in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceutical and food industries
Key areas: Application of biotechnology in agriculture, medicine, pharmaceuticals and food industry
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
18. Evolution
What JAMB expects you to know:
- Relate organic evolution as the sum total of all adaptive changes that have taken place over a long period of time resulting in the diversity of forms, structures and functions among organisms
- Explain the contributions of Lamarck and Darwin to the theory of evolution
Key areas: Theories of evolution, evidence of evolution
Recommended reading:
- Ndu, F.O. C. Ndu, Abun A. and Aina J.O. (2001) Senior Secondary School Biology: Books 1 -3, Lagos: Longman
- Odunfa, S.A. (2001) Essential of Biology, Ibadan: Heinemann
- Ogunniyi M.B. Adebisi A.A. and Okojie J.A. (2000) Biology for Senior Secondary Schools: Books 1 – 3, Macmillan
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Last updated: March 15, 2026. This syllabus is based on the official JAMB/IBASS syllabus for Biology.