The JAMB Syllabus for Biology 2026/2027 outlines all the biological concepts candidates are expected to study before the UTME. It serves as the official guide that defines the scope of topics, depth of knowledge required, and how questions are structured in the Biology examination.
Biology in JAMB focuses on living organisms, their structures, functions, interactions, and how life processes are maintained. The UTME Biology syllabus 2026/2027 covers cell biology, plant and animal biology, ecology, genetics, evolution, and human health. Questions are designed to test understanding of biological processes, interpretation of diagrams, and application of concepts to real-life situations.
Using the JAMB Biology syllabus as a study guide allows candidates to organize their revision, identify high-yield topics, and improve accuracy when answering biology-related questions in the UTME.
Objectives of Biology Syllabus
The objectives of the JAMB Biology syllabus for 2026/2027 are to assess whether candidates can:
- Understand the characteristics of living organisms
- Explain the structure and function of cells and tissues
- Understand nutrition, respiration, and excretion in plants and animals
- Explain growth, development, and reproduction
- Understand genetics and inheritance of traits
- Explain evolution and adaptation
- Understand ecological relationships and conservation
- Apply biological knowledge to health and environmental issues
JAMB Syllabus for Biology 2026
| S/N | TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES | JAMB EXPECTATIONS |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | SECTION A: VARIETY OF ORGANISMS 1. Living organisms: a. Characteristics b. Cell structure and functions of cell components c. Level of organization i. Cell e.g. euglena and paramecium, ii. Tissue e.g. epithelial tissues and hydra iii. Organ e.g. onion bulb iv. Systems e.g. reproductive, digestive and excretory v. Organisms e.g. Chlamydomonas 2. Evolution among the following: a. Monera (prokaryotes), e.g. bacteria and blue green algae. b. Protista (protozoans and protophyta), e.g. Amoeba, Euglena and Paramecium. c. Fungi, e.g. mushroom and Rhizopus. | Candidates should be able to: 1. differentiate between the characteristics of living and non-living things. 2. identify the structures of plant and animal cells. 3. analyse the functions of the components of plant and animal cells. 4. compare and contrast the structure of plant and animal cells. 5. trace the levels of organization among organisms in their logical sequence in relation to the five levels of organization of living organisms. Candidates should be able to: 1. analyse external features and characteristics of the listed organisms. 2. apply the knowledge from (i) above to demonstrate increase in structural complexity. 3. trace the stages in the life histories of the listed organisms. 4. apply the knowledge of the life histories to demonstrate gradual transition from life in water to life on land. 5. trace the evolution of the listed plants. |
| 2 | SECTION B: FORM AND FUNCTIONS Internal structure of a flowering plant i. Root ii. Stem iii. Leaf b. Internal structure of a mammal Nutrition a. Modes of nutrition i. Autotrophic ii. Heterotrophic b. Types of Nutrition c. Plant nutrition i. Photosynthesis ii. Chemosynthesis iii. Mineral requirements (macro and micro-nutrients) d. Animal nutrition i. Classes of food substances; carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils, vitamins, mineral salts and water ii. Food tests (e.g. starch, reducing sugar, protein, oil, fat etc.) iii. The mammalian tooth (structures, types and functions) iv. Mammalian alimentary canal v. Nutrition process (ingestion, digestion, absorption, and assimilation of | Candidates should be able to: 1. identify the transverse sections of these organs. 2. relate the structure of these organs to their functions. 3. identify supporting tissues in plants (collenchyma) sclerenchyma, xylem and phloem fibres) 4. describe the distribution of supporting tissues in roots, stem and leaf 5. examine the arrangement of the mammalian internal organs. 6. describe the appearance and position of the digestive, reproductive and excretory organs. 7. compare autotrophic and heterotrophic modes of nutrition. 8. provide examples from both flowering and non- flowering plants. 9. compare the photosynthetic and chemosynthetic modes of nutrition; 10. differentiate the following examples of heterotrophic feeding: i. holozoic (sheep and man) ii. Parasitic (roundworm, tapeworm and Loranthus) iii. saprophytic (Rhizopus and mushroom) iv. carnivorous plants (sundew and bladderwort) v. determine their nutritional value. 11. differentiate the light and dark reactions, of photosynthesis. 12. determine the necessity of light, carbon (IV) oxide and chlorophyll in photosynthesis. 13. detect the presence of starch in a leaf as evidence of photosynthesis. 14. identify macro-and micro-elements required by plants. 15. recognise the deficiency symptoms of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium. 16. indicate the sources of the various classes of food; 17. determine the nutritional value of food 18. relate the importance and deficiency (e.g., scurvy, rickets, kwashiorkor etc.) of each class of food; 19. determine the importance of a balanced diet. 20. detect the presence of a food type from the result of a given experiment. 21. describe the structure of a typical mammalian tooth 22. differentiate the types of mammalian tooth and relate their structures to their functions. 23. compare the dental formulae of man, sheep and dog. 24. relate the structure of the various components of the alimentary canal and its accessory organs (liver, pancreas and gall bladder) to their functions. 25. identify the general characteristics of digestive enzymes 26. associate enzymes with digestion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats and 27. determine the end products of these classes of food. |
| 3 | SECTION C: ECOLOGY Factors affecting the distribution of Organisms i. Abiotic ii. Biotic | Candidates should be able to: 1. relate the effects of temperature; rainfall, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, altitude, salinity, turbidity, pH and edaphic (soil) conditions on the distribution of organisms. 2. use appropriate equipment (secchi disc, thermometer, rain gauge) to measure abiotic factors. 3. describe how the activities of plants/animals (particularly human) affect the distribution of organisms. |
| 4 | SECTION D: HEREDITY AND VARIATIONS Variation In Population a. Morphological variations in the physical appearance of individuals. (i) size (height and weight) (ii) Colour (skin, eye, hair, coat of animals, scales and feathers). (iii) Fingerprints b. Physiological variation (i) Ability to roll tongue (ii) Ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) (iii) Blood groups c. Application of discontinuous variation in crime detection, blood transfusion and determination of paternity. | Candidates should be able to: 1. differentiate between continuous and discontinuous variations with examples. 2. relate the role of environmental conditions, habitat and the genetic constitution to variation. 3. measure heights and weights of pupils of the same age group 4. plot graphs of frequency distribution of the heights and weights. 5. observe and record various colour patterns in some plants and animals. 6. apply classification of fingerprints in identity detection. 7. identify some specific examples of physiological variation among human population. 8. categorize people according to their physiological variation. 9. apply the knowledge of blood groups in blood transfusion and determination of paternity. 10. use discontinuous variation in crime detection. |
| 5 | SECTION E: ECOLOGY Theories of evolution a) Lamarck’s theory b) Darwin’s theory c) organic theory Evidence of evolution | Candidates should be able to: 1. 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. 2. explain the contributions of Lamarck and Darwin to the theory of evolution. 3. state the evidences in support of organic evolution 4. mention the evidences for evolution such as fossil records, comparative anatomy, physiology and embryology. 5. trace evolutionary trends in plants and animals. 6. state the evidence of modern evolutionary theories such as genetic studies and the role of mutation |
Download Biology Syllabus 2026
Click on the button below to download the official JAMB syllabus for Biology 2026:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
QUES: What topics are covered in the JAMB Syllabus for Biology 2026/2027?
ANS: The syllabus covers living and non-living things, cell structure, plant and animal tissues, nutrition, transport systems, respiration, excretion, reproduction, growth, genetics, evolution, ecology, and conservation of natural resources.
QUES: Is practical biology included in the UTME Biology exam?
ANS: Yes. Practical biology is tested through questions on laboratory apparatus, specimen identification, diagrams, experiments, and observation-based questions, even though the exam is objective.
QUES: Are diagrams important for JAMB Biology?
ANS: Yes. Many questions involve interpreting diagrams of cells, organs, or biological processes. Candidates must understand labeling, functions, and relationships shown in diagrams.
QUES: Which part of Biology is usually the most challenging in JAMB?
ANS: Many candidates find genetics and ecology challenging because they involve problem-solving and understanding of relationships.
QUES: Does JAMB test human biology in detail?
ANS: Yes. Topics such as digestion, respiration, circulation, reproduction, and disease prevention in humans are important parts of the syllabus and are frequently tested.
QUES: Is evolution compulsory in the JAMB Biology syllabus?
ANS: Yes. Candidates are expected to understand basic concepts of evolution, adaptation, variation, and natural selection as part of biological development.
QUES: Can I pass JAMB Biology by memorizing notes?
ANS: Memorization alone is not enough. Many questions require understanding of processes, cause-and-effect relationships, and application of concepts to real-life situations.
QUES: Are ecological topics important in UTME Biology?
ANS: Yes. Ecology covers food chains, ecosystems, population studies, environmental pollution, and conservation, which are common areas in JAMB Biology questions.
QUES: How many practical-related questions should I expect?
ANS: A significant number of questions are based on practical knowledge, including specimen study and experimental interpretation, so candidates should not ignore practical biology.
QUES: What is the best way to study Biology for JAMB?
ANS: Candidates should follow the syllabus topic by topic, study diagrams carefully, understand biological processes, practice past UTME questions, and revise regularly to retain key concepts.