JAMB Geography Syllabus
Every section, topic and candidate objective in the official JAMB Geography outline — 4 sections, 24 topics and 92 objectives.
- Sections
- 4sections
- Topics
- 24topics
- Objectives
- 92objectives
- Category
- Social Sciencescategory
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Syllabus sections
4 sectionsTap a section to open it, then tap a topic to see its content and objectives.
1Section I: Practical Geography
6 topics · 10 objectives
1Maps
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Different types of maps and their uses.
Objective
Define and identify different types of maps and explain their uses.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
2Scale and Measurement
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Scale and measurement of distances and areas; reduction and enlargement of maps; directions, bearings and gradients with reference to topographical maps.
Objective
Apply different types of scale to distance and area measurement; convert between scales; apply knowledge of scale to gradients, map reduction and enlargement; apply knowledge of directions and bearings to geographical features.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
3Map Reading and Interpretation
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Reading and interpreting topographical maps; drawing cross profiles; recognizing intervisibility; recognizing and describing physical and human features and their relationships as depicted on topographical maps.
Objective
Illustrate the relief of an area through profile drawing; interpret physical and human features from topographical maps; recognize relationships between physical and human features.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
4Interpretation of Statistical Data, Maps and Diagrams
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Quantitative information represented through statistical data, maps and diagrams.
Objective
Compute quantitative information from statistical data, diagrams and maps; interpret statistical data, diagrams and maps.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
5Elementary Surveying
1 content item · 1 objective
Content
Chain and prismatic surveying; open and closed traverse; procedures, problems, advantages and disadvantages of surveying techniques.
Objective
Analyse the principles and procedures of each surveying technique; compare the advantages and disadvantages of chain and prismatic surveying and open and closed traverse.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
6Geographic Information System (GIS)
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
GIS components, techniques, data sources and applications.
Objective
Understand GIS and its uses; understand its basic concepts and components.
Content
Expressing locations using latitudes, longitudes, postcodes and other location references.
Objective
Express geographical locations through the use of latitudes, longitudes, postcodes and other location references.
Content
Land surveying, remote sensing, map digitizing and map scanning as sources of geographical data.
Objective
Understand land surveying, remote sensing, map digitizing and map scanning as sources of geographical data.
Content
Applications of GIS in defence, agriculture, rural development and other fields.
Objective
Explain areas of GIS application, including defence, agriculture and rural development.
Content
Problems associated with GIS in Nigeria.
Objective
Identify problems associated with GIS in Nigeria.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
2Section II: Physical Geography
12 topics · 48 objectives
1The Earth as a Planet
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
The Earth in the solar system; rotation and revolution of the Earth.
Objective
Identify the relative positions of the planets in the solar system; explain the effects of the Earth's rotation and revolution.
Content
The shape and size of the Earth.
Objective
Provide evidence supporting the shape and size of the Earth.
Content
Latitudes, distances, longitudes and time.
Objective
Differentiate between latitudes and longitudes; relate lines of latitude to distance calculation; relate lines of longitude to time calculation.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
2The Earth's Crust
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
The internal and external structure of the Earth and relationships among the Earth's spheres.
Objective
Compare the internal and external components of the Earth; understand relationships among the atmosphere, biosphere and hydrosphere in terms of energy balance and the water cycle.
Content
Types, characteristics, modes of formation and uses of rocks.
Objective
Differentiate between major types of rocks and their characteristics; analyse rock formation processes and resulting features; identify the uses of rocks.
Content
Earth movements and tectonic forces, including tensional and compressional forces.
Objective
Differentiate between tensional and compressional forces and identify the landforms resulting from them.
Content
Major landforms, including mountains, plateaus, plains, coastal landforms, karst topography and desert landforms.
Objective
Identify and describe the major landforms.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
3Volcanism and Earthquakes
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Landforms associated with volcanic activities.
Objective
Explain the processes of volcanic eruptions and describe the landforms associated with volcanic activity.
Content
Landforms formed from igneous rocks.
Objective
Describe landforms associated with volcanic eruptions and igneous rocks.
Content
Origin and types of volcanoes.
Objective
Explain the processes of volcanic eruptions; describe the different landforms associated with volcanic activity.
Content
Examples of major volcanic eruptions and earthquakes around the world.
Objective
Give examples of major volcanic eruptions and earthquakes in the world; explain the processes of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
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4Denudation Processes in the Tropics
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Weathering as a denudation process.
Objective
Identify the agents of denudation, including water, wind and waves; identify landforms associated with each process and agent.
Content
Erosion and its agents.
Objective
Identify the agents of denudation and the landforms associated with each process and agent.
Content
Mass movement.
Objective
Identify landforms associated with denudation processes and their agents.
Content
Deposition and resulting landforms.
Objective
Identify landforms associated with each denudation process and agent.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
5Water Bodies
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Oceans and seas: world distribution, salinity and uses.
Objective
Locate oceans and seas on the globe; examine their characteristics and uses.
Content
Ocean currents: types, distribution, causes and effects.
Objective
Classify the types of ocean currents; account for their distribution; evaluate their causes and effects.
Content
Lakes: types, distribution and uses.
Objective
Identify the types and locations of lakes; describe their characteristics and uses.
Content
The action of running water and the stages of a river course.
Objective
Identify landforms associated with the different stages of a river course.
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6Weather and Climate
7 content items · 7 objectives
Content
Concepts of weather and climate.
Objective
Differentiate between weather and climate.
Content
Elements of weather and climate.
Objective
Identify the elements of weather and climate.
Content
Factors controlling weather and climate, including pressure, air masses, altitude, continentality and winds.
Objective
Identify and explain the factors controlling weather and climate.
Content
Classification of climate using the Greek and Köppen systems.
Objective
Compare the Greek and Köppen climate classifications.
Content
Major climate types according to Köppen, including their characteristics and distribution.
Objective
Identify the major climate types according to Köppen and describe their characteristics and distribution.
Content
Measurement and recording of weather parameters and the instruments used.
Objective
Relate weather instruments to their uses.
Content
The basic science of climate change, including its definition, causes, effects and remedies.
Objective
Define climate change; understand its causes and effects; identify possible remedies.
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7Vegetation
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Factors controlling the growth of plants.
Objective
Identify and explain the factors controlling plant growth.
Content
The concept of vegetation, including plant communities and succession.
Objective
Analyse the processes involved in vegetation development.
Content
Major types of vegetation, their characteristics and distribution.
Objective
Identify the major vegetation types and describe their characteristics and distribution.
Content
Impact of human activities on vegetation.
Objective
Assess the impact of human activities on vegetation.
Content
Importance of vegetation.
Objective
Identify and explain the importance of vegetation.
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8Soils
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Definition and properties of soil.
Objective
Classify soils and describe their properties.
Content
Factors and processes of soil formation.
Objective
Identify the factors responsible for soil formation.
Content
Soil profiles and horizons, including their types and characteristics.
Objective
Differentiate between soil horizons and describe their characteristics.
Content
Major tropical soil types, their characteristics, distribution and uses.
Objective
Compare major tropical soil types and their uses; account for the distribution and uses of soils.
Content
Impact of human activities on soils.
Objective
Assess the impact of human activities on soils.
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9Environmental Resources
2 content items · 2 objectives
Content
Types of environmental resources, including atmospheric, land, soil, vegetation and mineral resources.
Objective
Interpret the concept of environmental resources; relate environmental resources to their uses.
Content
Renewable and non-renewable resources.
Objective
Differentiate between renewable and non-renewable resources.
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10Environmental Interaction
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
Components of the land ecosystem.
Objective
Identify the components of the land ecosystem.
Content
Environmental balance and human interaction.
Objective
Establish relationships within the ecosystem; interpret the concept of environmental balance.
Content
Effects of human activities on the land ecosystem.
Objective
Analyse the effects of human activities on the land ecosystem.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
11Environmental Hazards
3 content items · 3 objectives
Content
Natural hazards, including droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and flooding.
Objective
Identify natural hazards and their causes; locate major areas where environmental hazards are common and explain their effects.
Content
Human-induced hazards, including soil erosion, deforestation, pollution, flooding and desertification.
Objective
Relate human-induced hazards to their causes; locate areas where hazards are common and describe their effects.
Content
Effects, prevention and control of environmental hazards.
Objective
Recommend possible methods for preventing and controlling environmental hazards.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
12Environmental Conservation
4 content items · 4 objectives
Content
Need for and importance of environmental conservation.
Objective
Explain the need for and importance of environmental conservation with examples.
Content
Resources available for environmental conservation.
Objective
Identify the resources available for conservation.
Content
Methods of environmental conservation.
Objective
Discuss the different methods of environmental conservation.
Content
Problems and difficulties associated with environmental conservation.
Objective
Explain the need for conservation and discuss issues affecting environmental conservation.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
3Section III: Human Geography
3 topics · 19 objectives
1Population
6 content items · 6 objectives
Content
World population with particular reference to the Amazon Basin, northeastern USA, India, Japan and the west coast of Southern Africa.
Objective
Define different population concepts; identify population characteristics; determine the factors and patterns of population distribution.
Content
Population characteristics, including birth and death rates and age-sex structure.
Objective
Identify population characteristics, including growth rates and population structure.
Content
Factors and patterns of population distribution.
Objective
Determine the factors and patterns of population distribution.
Content
Factors and problems of population growth.
Objective
Identify the factors and problems associated with population growth.
Content
Types, causes and effects of migration.
Objective
Relate the types of migration to their causes and effects.
Content
Population as a resource.
Objective
Explain the ways in which population constitutes a resource.
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2Settlement
7 content items · 7 objectives
Content
Settlement patterns in Western Europe, the USA, the Middle East and West Africa.
Objective
Differentiate between types of settlement, including rural and urban settlements.
Content
Settlement types and patterns: rural and urban, dispersed, nucleated and linear.
Objective
Differentiate between settlement types; classify settlement patterns and functions.
Content
Rural settlement: classification, factors of growth and functions.
Objective
Classify the patterns and functions of rural settlements.
Content
Urban settlement: classification, factors of growth and functions.
Objective
Classify the patterns and functions of urban settlements.
Content
Factors influencing settlement location.
Objective
Identify the factors influencing settlement location.
Content
Problems of urban centres.
Objective
Identify the problems of urban centres.
Content
Interrelationships between rural and urban settlements.
Objective
Establish the interrelationships between rural and urban settlements.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
3Selected Economic Activities
6 content items · 6 objectives
Content
Types of economic activities: primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary.
Objective
Identify and differentiate between the types of economic activities.
Content
Agriculture: types, systems, factors and problems.
Objective
Assess the importance and problems of agriculture as an economic activity.
Content
Manufacturing industries: types, locational factors, distribution, socioeconomic importance and problems of industrialization in tropical Africa.
Objective
Compare types of manufacturing industries; identify factors of industrial location; examine the socioeconomic importance of manufacturing industries; explain problems of industrialization in tropical Africa.
Content
Transportation and communication: types and roles in economic development, with particular reference to tropical Africa.
Objective
Differentiate between modes of transportation and communication; assess the economic importance of transportation; explain problems of transportation in tropical Africa.
Content
World trade: factors and patterns of world trade; major commodities, their origins, routes and destinations.
Objective
Relate factors to patterns of world trade; classify major trade commodities according to origin, routes and destinations.
Content
Tourism: definition, importance, location, problems and solutions.
Objective
Analyse tourism as an economic activity; identify problems of tourism and possible solutions.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
4Section IV: Regional Geography
3 topics · 15 objectives
1Broad Outline of Nigeria
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Location, position, size, political divisions into states and peoples of Nigeria.
Objective
Describe the location, size and political divisions of Nigeria; identify ethnic groups and their distribution.
Content
Nigeria's boundaries and neighbouring countries.
Objective
Identify the boundaries and neighbours of Nigeria.
Content
Physical setting of Nigeria, including geology, relief, landforms, climate, drainage, vegetation and soils.
Objective
Relate the components of Nigeria's physical setting to their effects on human activities.
Content
Population of Nigeria: size, distribution, migration types, migration problems and effects.
Objective
Account for patterns of population distribution; examine types of migration and their problems and effects.
Content
Natural resources of Nigeria, including minerals, soils, water and vegetation; their types, distribution, uses and conservation.
Objective
Identify types of natural resources and their distribution; explain their uses and conservation.
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2Economic and Human Geography of Nigeria
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Agricultural systems in Nigeria, major crops produced and problems of agricultural development.
Objective
Compare farming systems practised in Nigeria; identify crops produced and problems encountered in agricultural development.
Content
Manufacturing industries in Nigeria: location factors, types of products, marketing and associated problems.
Objective
Identify the types and locations of major manufacturing industries; determine factors of industrial location and problems associated with industries.
Content
Transportation and communication: modes and their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Objective
Establish the relationship between transport and communication; relate their modes to their relative advantages and disadvantages.
Content
Regional and international trade: commodities, advantages and disadvantages.
Objective
Classify major commodities involved in regional and international trade.
Content
Tourism in Nigeria: definition, importance, tourist centres, problems and solutions.
Objective
Identify the importance of tourism and tourist centres; explain tourism problems and possible solutions.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.
3Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)
5 content items · 5 objectives
Content
Meaning and objectives of ECOWAS.
Objective
State the meaning, purpose and objectives of ECOWAS.
Content
Member states of ECOWAS and their locations.
Objective
Identify and locate the member countries of ECOWAS.
Content
Purpose and mandate of ECOWAS.
Objective
Explain the purpose and mandate of the organization.
Content
Advantages and disadvantages of ECOWAS.
Objective
Evaluate the prospects and problems of ECOWAS.
Content
Problems of ECOWAS and possible solutions.
Objective
Evaluate the problems and prospects of ECOWAS and consider possible solutions.
Opens the CBT engine with Geography past questions and answers.