​Geography Syllabus from JAMB

The aim of this 2018/2019 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) syllabus in Geography is to prepare the candidates for the Board’s examination. It is designed to test their achievement of the course objectives, which are to:

1. handle and interpret topographical maps, photographs, statistical data and diagrams and basic

field survey;

2. demonstrate knowledge of man’s physical and human environment and how man lives and earns a living on earth surface with special reference to Nigeria and Africa;

3. show understanding of the interrelationship between man and his environment;

4. apply geographical concepts, skills and principles to solving problems.

5. understand field work techniques and the study of a local area in the field.

TOPICS/CONTENTS/NOTES OBJECTIVES

I. PRACTICAL GEOGRAPHY

A. Maps Candidates should be able to:

Ai define and identify different types and uses

of maps

B. Scale and measurement

distances, areas reduction and enlargement, directions, bearings and gradients with reference to topographical maps. Candidates should be able to:

Bi apply the different types of scale to distances and area measurement;

ii apply the knowledge of scale to gradients,

map reduction and enlargement;

C. Map reading and interpretation;

drawing of cross profiles, recognition of intervisibility, recognition and description of physical and human features and relationship as depicted on topographical maps. Candidates should be able to:

Ci illustrate the relief of an area through profile

drawing;

ii interpret physical and human features from

topographical maps.

D. Interpretation of statistical data;

maps and diagrams Candidates should be able to:

Di Compute quantitative information from statistical data, diagrams and maps,

ii. interpret statistical data, diagrams and maps.

E. Elementary Surveying;

chain and prismatic, open and close traverse, procedure, problems, advantages and disadvantages. Candidates should be able to:

Ei. analyse the principle and procedure of each

technique;

ii. compare the advantages of the two

techniques.

F. Geographic Information System (GIS):

components, techniques, data sources, applications Candidates should be able to:

Fi. Understand GIS and its uses.

ii. Understand the computer system of data

capturing and analysis

iii. Express locations through the use of latitudes,

longitudes, zipcodes etc.

iv. Understand land surveying, remote sensing,

map digitizing, map scanning as sources of data.

v. Explain areas of use: Defense, Agriculture,

Rural Development etc.

vi. Identify problems with GIS in Nigeria.

II. PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

A. The earth as a planet

i. The earth in the solar system, rotation and revolution;

ii. The shape and size of the earth

iii. Latitudes and distances, longitudes

and time; Candidates should be able to:

Ai identify the relative positions of the planets

in the solar system;

ii relate the effects of the rotation to the revolution of the earth;

iii provide proof for the shape and size of the

earth;

iv differentiate between latitudes and

longitudes;

v relate lines of latitude to calculation of

distance;

vi relate lines of longitude to calculation of time;

B. The Earth Crust

i. The structure of the earth (internal

and external) Relationships among the four spheres.

ii. Rocks: Types, characteristics, modes of formation and uses

iii. Earth’s movement: Tectonic forces

iv. Major Landforms: Mountains, Plateaux,

Plains, Coastal landforms, karst

topography and desert landforms Candidates should be able to:

Bi compare the internal and external

components of the earth.

ii. understand the existing relationship among

atmosphere, biosphere in terms of energy

balance and water cycle.

iii. differentiate between major types of rocks and their characteristics;

iv. analyse the processes of formation and the

resultant features;

v. indicate the uses of rocks.

vi. differentiate between tensional and

compressional forces and the resultant

landforms.

vii. identify and describe the major landforms

C. Volcanism and Earthquakes

i. landforms associated with volcanic activities

ii. landforms of Igneous Rocks

iii. origin and types of Volcanoes

iv. some volcanic eruptions and earthquakes Candidates should be able to:

Ci. explain the processes of volcanic eruptions and

earthquakes

ii. describe the different landforms associated with

both volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

iii. give examples of major volcanic eruptions and

earthquakes in the world.

D. Denudation processes in the tropics

i. weathering

ii. erosion

iii. mass movement

iv. deposition Candidates should be able to:

Di. identify the agents of denudation

ii. associate landforms with each process and

agent.

E. Water Bodies

i. Oceans and seas (world distribution, salinity and uses)

ii Ocean currents – types, distribution, causes and effects;

iii Lakes – types, distribution and uses.

iv. Rivers: Action of running water. Candidates should be able to:

Ei locate oceans and seas on the globe;

ii. examine the characteristics and uses of

oceans and seas;

iii. classify the types of ocean currents;

iv. account for the distribution of ocean

currents;

v. evaluate the causes and effects of ocean

currents;

vi. identify the types and location of lakes;

vii. indicate the characteristics and uses of lakes

viii. identify the landforms of the different stages

of a river course.

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F. Weather and Climate

i Concept of weather and climate

ii Elements of weather and climate

iii Factors controlling weather and climate

(pressure, air mass, altitude, continentality and winds)

iv Classification of climate (Greek and Koppen).

v Major climate types (Koppen), their characteristics and distribution.

vi Measuring and recording weather parameters and instruments used.

vii The basic science of climate change. Candidates should be able to:

Fi. differentiate between weather and climate;

ii differentiate between the elements of

weather and climate;

iii isolate the factors controlling weather and

climate;

iv compare Koppen’s and Greek’s classifications

v identify the major types of climate

according to Koppen;

vii relate the weather instruments to their

uses.

viii define climate change

ix understand the causes of climate change

x understand the effects and remedies of

climate change.

G. Vegetation

i Factors controlling growth of plants

ii The concept of vegetation e.g. plant communities and succession

iii Major types of vegetation, their

characteristics and distribution,

iv Impact of human activities on vegetation. Candidates should be able to:

Gi trace the factors controlling the growth

of plants;

ii analyse the process of vegetation

development;

iii identify the types, their characteristics

and distribution;

iv assess the impact of human activities

on vegetation;

H. Soils

i. Definition and properties

ii. Factors and processes of formation

iii. Soil profiles

iv. Major tropical types, their characteristics, distribution and uses;

v. Impact of human activities on soils. Candidates should be able to:

Hi classify soils and their properties;

ii. isolate the factors of formation;

iii. differentiate between the different types

of soil horizons and their characteristics;

iv. compare the major tropical soil types and

uses of soils;

v. account for the distribution and uses of

soils;

vi. assess the impact of human activities

on soils.

I. Environmental Resources;

i Types of resources (atmospheric, land, soil, Vegetation and minerals)

ii The concept of renewable and non-

renewable resources; Candidates should be able to:

Ii. interpret the concept of environmental

resources;

ii. relate environmental resources to their

uses;

iii. differentiate between the concepts of

renewable and non-renewable resources.

J. Environmental interaction:

i Land ecosystem

ii Environmental balance and human

interaction Candidates should be able to:

Ji. identify the components of land

ecosystem;

ii. establish the interrelationship within the

ecosystem;

iii. interpret the concept of environmental

balance;

iv. analyse the effects of human activities on

land ecosystem.

K. Environmental hazards:

i. Natural hazards (droughts, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, flooding)

ii. Man-induced (soil erosion, deforestation, pollution, flooding and desertification)

iii. Effects, prevention and control of hazards. Candidates should be able to:

Ki identify the natural hazards and their causes;

ii. relate the human-induced hazards to their causes;

iii. locate the major areas where they are

common and their effects;

iv. recommend possible methods of

prevention and control.

L. Environmental Conservation Candidates should be able to:

Li. Explain with examples environmental

conservation

ii discuss the different methods of

environmental conservation.

iii Explain the need/importance of

environmental conservation

III. HUMAN GEOGRAPHY

A. Population

i. World population with particular reference to the Amazon Basin, N.E. U.S.A., India, Japan and the West Coast of Southern Africa.

ii. Characteristics – birth and death rates, ages/sex structure.

iii. Factors and patterns of population distribution;

iv . Factors and problems of population growth. Candidates should be able to:

Ai. Define different concepts of population;

ii. identify the characteristics of

population (growth rates and structure);

iii. determine the factors and the patterns of

population distribution;

iv. identify the factors and problems of population growth;

v. relate the types of migration to their causes and effects;

vi. account for the ways population constitute

a resource.

B. Settlement with particular reference to Western Europe, the USA, Middle East and West Africa:

i. Types and patterns: rural and urban, dispersed, nucleated and linear;

ii. Rural settlement: classification, factors of growth and functions;

iii. Urban settlement – classification, factors of growth and functions.

iv. Problems of urban centres

v. Interrelationship between rural and urban

settlements. Candidates should be able to:

Bi differentiate between types of

settlements; (rural and urban)

ii. classify the patterns and functions of rural settlements;

iii. classify the patterns and functions of urban settlements;

iv identify the problems of urban centres;

v. establish the interrelationship between rural

and urban settlements;

C. Selected economic activities

i. Types of economic activities: primary, secondary, tertiary and quartnary;

ii. Agriculture: types, system, factors and problems

iii. Manufacturing industries, types, locational factors, distribution and socio- economic importance and problems of industrialization in tropical Africa.

iv. Transportation and Communication types,

roles in economic development and communication in tropical Africa.

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v. World trade-factors and pattern of

world trade, major commodities (origin, routes and destinations).

vi. Tourism: definition, importance, location, problems and solutions. Candidates should be able to:

Ci. identify the types of economic activities;

ii. differentiate between the types of

economic activities;

iii. assess Agriculture as an economic activity;

iv. compare the types of manufacturing industries;

v. identify the factors of industrial location;

vi. examine the socio-economic importance

of manufacturing industries;

vii. give reasons for the problems of industrialization in tropical Africa;

viii. differentiate between the types and means of transportation and communication;

ix. assess the economic importance of transport;

x. give reasons for the problems of transportation in tropical Africa;

xi. relate the factors to the pattern of world trade.

xii. classify the major commodities of trade

in terms of their origins, routes and destination.

xiii. Analyse tourism as an economic activity.

IV. REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY

A. Broad outline of Nigeria

i. Location, position, size, political division

(states) and peoples;

ii Physical settling: geology, relief, landform, climate and drainage, vegetation and soils;

iii Population: size, distribution, migration,

(types, problems and effects);

iv Natural Resources: types (minerals, soils,

Water, vegetation etc) distribution, uses

and conservation. Candidates should be able to:

Ai describe the location, size and political

divisions of Nigeria;

ii. identify the ethnic groups and their distributions;

iii. relate the components of physical settings to

their effects on human activities;

iv. account for the pattern of population distribution;

v. examine the types of migration, their problems and effects;

vi. identify the types of natural resources and their distribution;

vii. indicate their uses and conservation;

B. Economic and Human Geography:

i. Agricultural Systems: the major crops

produced, problems of agricultural development in Nigeria.

ii. Manufacturing Industries: factors of

location, types of products, marketing and problems associated with manufacturing;

iii. Transportation and Communication:modes of transportation and communication and their relative advantages and disadvantages;

iv. Trade: Regional and International Trade, advantages and disadvantages;

v. Tourism: types, importance, problems

and solutions. Candidates should be able to:

Bi. compare the farming systems practiced in

Nigeria;

ii. identify the crops produced and the problems

encountered;

iii. identify the types and location of the major

manufacturing industries;

iv. determine the factors of industrial location and the problems associated with the industries;

v. establish the relationship between transport and communication;

vi. relate the modes of transportation and communication to their relative advantages and disadvantages;

vii. classify the major commodities of

regional and international trade;

viii. identify reasons for tourism and tourist centres;

ix. account for the problems and solutions

C. ECOWAS

i. Meaning and objectives

ii. Member states

iii. Advantages and benefits

iv. Disadvantages, problems and solutions Candidates should be able to:

Ci. State the meaning, purpose and objectives;

ii. identify and locate the member countries;

iii. evaluate the prospects and problems of the

organization.

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RECOMMENDED TEXTS

Adeleke, B.O. Areola .O. 2002 and Leong, G.C. Certificate Physical and Human Geography for Senior Secondary School (West African Edition), Ibadan: Oxford.

Bradshaw, M. et al (2004) Contemporary World Regional Geography, New York: McGraw Hill

Bunet, R.B and Okunrotifa, P.O.(1999) General Geography in Diagrams for West Africa, China: Longman.

Collins New Secondary Atlas, Macmillan

Fellman, D. et al (2005) Introduction to Geography (Seventh Edition) New York: McGraw Hill

Getis, A. et al (2004) Introduction to Geography (Ninth Edition) New York: McGraw Hill

Iloeje, N. P(1999) A New Geography of West Africa, Hong Kong: Longman

Iloeje, N.P(1982) A New Geography of Nigeria (New Education), Hong Kong: London

Nimako, D.A. (2000) Map Reading of West Africa, Essex: Longman.

Okunrotifa, P.O. and Michael S. (2000) A Regional Geography of Africa (New Edition), Essex: London.

Udo, R.K(1970) Geographical Regions of Nigeria, London: Longman.

Waugh, D. (1995) Geography an Integrated Approach (Second Edition), China: Nelson

Wisdomline Pass at Once JAMB.

Adegoke M.A (2013), A Comprehensive Text on Physical, Human and Regional Geography.