Co-ordination and Control: JAMB Biology Questions, Answers & Notes

What Co-ordination and Control covers in the JAMB Biology syllabus

The body's activities are coordinated by the nervous system (fast, brief responses) and the endocrine system (hormones — slower, longer-lasting). The nervous system's unit is the neuron; sensory neurons carry impulses to the central nervous system (brain + spinal cord), motor neurons carry them to effectors, and impulses cross gaps called synapses. A reflex action is a rapid automatic response via the reflex arc. The brain's cerebrum handles thought/memory, the cerebellum balance/coordination. Sense organs include the eye (iris controls light, retina detects it) and ear (cochlea for hearing, semicircular canals for balance). Key hormones: insulin (lowers blood glucose; deficiency → diabetes), adrenaline ('fight or flight') and thyroxine (metabolism).

For Co-ordination and Control, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Compare nervous and hormonal (endocrine) coordination
• Describe neurons, the reflex arc, the brain and sense organs
• State important hormones and their functions

Key facts & revision notes: Co-ordination and Control

These are the recurring points our Co-ordination and Control questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• Coordination is carried out by the nervous system and the endocrine (hormonal) system.
• The neuron (nerve cell) is the basic functional unit of the nervous system.
• The central nervous system (CNS) is made up of the brain and spinal cord.
• A reflex action is a rapid, automatic (involuntary) response to a stimulus.
• Hormones are chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands into the blood.
• Insulin, from the pancreas, lowers blood glucose levels.
• Insufficient insulin causes diabetes mellitus (high blood glucose).
• Adrenaline, from the adrenal glands, prepares the body for 'fight or flight'.
• The iris adjusts the size of the pupil to control light entering the eye.
• The retina contains light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) where the image forms.
• The semicircular canals detect movement and help maintain balance.
• The cochlea converts sound vibrations into nerve impulses for hearing.
• A sensory (afferent) neuron carries impulses from receptors to the central nervous system.
• A motor (efferent) neuron carries impulses from the CNS to effectors (muscles/glands).
• A synapse is the junction between neurons where impulses are passed on (via chemicals).
• The cerebellum coordinates movement and maintains balance and posture.
• The cerebrum controls thought, memory, reasoning and voluntary actions.
• The thyroid gland secretes thyroxine, which controls the rate of metabolism.
• The reflex arc is the pathway of a reflex: receptor → sensory neuron → CNS → motor neuron → effector.
• Hormonal responses are usually slower to start but longer-lasting than fast, brief nervous responses.
• The nervous system comprises the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
• Dendrites receive impulses and carry them to the cell body.
• The axon conducts impulses away from the cell body.
• The myelin sheath insulates the axon and speeds conduction.

Worked examples

Three Co-ordination and Control questions with the answer and a short explanation, so you can see how the topic is set before you practise the full set.

How Co-ordination and Control is tested in JAMB Biology

Our Co-ordination and Control bank holds 40 questions (3 easy, 20 medium, 17 hard). JAMB Biology typically returns to Co-ordination and Control year after year, so steady practice on this topic is high-value revision. Questions are multiple-choice with four options, and at UTME pace you get roughly 40 seconds each — which is why timed practice matters.

How to answer Co-ordination and Control questions

Work the stem first and predict the answer before you look at the options; then eliminate the ones that contradict the key facts above. Watch for “which is not…”, “all of the above” and “except” style stems, which are where rushed candidates lose easy marks on Co-ordination and Control. If a calculation or a precise definition is involved, work it from first principles rather than guessing from a half-remembered rule. When two options look right, re-read the stem for the qualifier that separates them — JAMB rarely repeats an option by accident. If you are still unsure, eliminate the two weakest choices to lift your odds, flag the question, and move on; never burn a full minute on one Biology item when the exam gives you about forty seconds each. Then come back to flagged questions with whatever time remains. The single most reliable way to get faster at Co-ordination and Control is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Co-ordination and Control

The errors that cost marks on Co-ordination and Control are usually careless rather than conceptual: misreading a negative stem, confusing two similar terms, or rushing a definition you actually know. Candidates also over-rely on “expo” and last-minute cramming instead of understanding the topic — which fails the moment JAMB rephrases a familiar idea. Treat every option as a claim to be checked against the facts above, keep your working tidy for any calculation, and don’t change a considered answer on a hunch. Above all, revise Co-ordination and Control actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Co-ordination and Control part of the JAMB Biology syllabus?

Yes. Co-ordination and Control is a recognised topic in the JAMB Biology syllabus, covering compare nervous and hormonal (endocrine) coordination. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Co-ordination and Control questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 40 original, JAMB-standard Co-ordination and Control questions in our free bank, each with the correct answer and a worked explanation. You can practise them untimed or as a timed test.

What are the most important points to know about Co-ordination and Control?

The body's activities are coordinated by the nervous system (fast, brief responses) and the endocrine system (hormones — slower, longer-lasting). The nervous system's unit is the neuron; sensory neurons carry impulses to the central nervous system (brain + spinal cord), motor neurons carry them to e…

How do I answer Co-ordination and Control questions quickly in JAMB?

Read the stem carefully, eliminate clearly wrong options, and match the remaining choices to the key facts for Co-ordination and Control. Practising timed Co-ordination and Control questions builds the speed you need for UTME's pace of about 40 seconds per question.

Are these JAMB Biology Co-ordination and Control questions past questions or original?

They are original questions written to JAMB (UTME) standard and mapped to the official syllabus — not reproduced past papers. This keeps them legal to use freely while closely mirroring how the real exam tests the topic.

Where can I practise Co-ordination and Control questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Co-ordination and Control practice” on this page to begin instantly. Belmadeng's CBT practice is completely free and needs no sign-up, download or subscription.

About these questions: original, JAMB-standard items written from the official UTME Biology syllabus (last reviewed 2026-09-18). Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with JAMB. Spotted an error? Use the report link.