Growth: JAMB Biology Questions, Answers & Notes

What Growth covers in the JAMB Biology syllabus

Growth is a permanent increase in an organism's size and dry mass, achieved by cell division (mitosis), enlargement and differentiation — in plants concentrated at meristems. A seed germinates into a seedling given water, oxygen and a suitable temperature; the radicle forms the root, the plumule the shoot, the cotyledon/endosperm stores food (mobilised by enzymes into sugars), and the testa protects it. Germination is epigeal (cotyledons above ground, e.g. beans) or hypogeal (below, e.g. maize). Plants show tropisms — directional growth responses controlled by hormones (auxins): phototropism (toward light) and geotropism (roots down). Growth is often an S-shaped (sigmoid) curve over time.

For Growth, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Define growth and explain it in terms of cell division and enlargement
• Describe seed germination, its conditions and the parts of a seed
• Explain tropisms, plant hormones and the growth curve

Key facts & revision notes: Growth

These are the recurring points our Growth questions test — revise them until each feels automatic, then practise the questions above to lock them in.

• Growth is a permanent (irreversible) increase in size and dry mass of an organism.
• Growth occurs through cell division (mitosis) followed by cell enlargement and differentiation.
• Mitosis produces genetically identical body cells for growth and repair.
• Meristematic tissue (at root and shoot tips) is where active cell division for growth occurs.
• Germination is the growth of a seed into a young plant (seedling).
• Seeds need water, oxygen and a suitable temperature to germinate (light is not always required).
• The cotyledon (or endosperm) stores food used by the embryo during germination.
• The radicle grows downward and forms the root; the plumule forms the shoot.
• The plumule develops into the shoot (stem and leaves).
• A tropism is a directional growth response of a plant to a stimulus (e.g.
• Phototropism is growth in response to light; shoots grow toward light (positive phototropism).
• Roots grow toward gravity (positive geotropism); shoots grow away from it.
• Plant hormones (such as auxins) control growth responses like tropisms and cell elongation.
• A growth curve plots size (or mass) against time and is usually S-shaped (sigmoid).
• Many organisms show a sigmoid (S-shaped) growth curve: slow, then rapid, then levelling off.
• In epigeal germination the cotyledons are carried above ground (e.g.
• In hypogeal germination the cotyledons stay below the soil (e.g.
• Growth is measured by tracking increases in height, mass, leaf number, etc., over time.
• The testa is the protective outer coat of the seed.
• Enzymes convert stored starch into sugars, providing energy for the growing embryo.
• Real growth adds living material, not just water.
• Cells enlarge after dividing, contributing to growth.
• Apical meristems at the tips add length.
• Meiosis produces gametes; mitosis produces body cells.

Worked examples

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

How Growth is tested in JAMB Biology

Our Growth bank holds 40 questions (1 easy, 17 medium, 22 hard). JAMB Biology typically returns to Growth 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 Growth 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 Growth. 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 Growth is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Growth

The errors that cost marks on Growth 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 Growth actively by answering questions, not just by re-reading notes — recall under time is what the exam rewards.

Frequently asked questions

Is Growth part of the JAMB Biology syllabus?

Yes. Growth is a recognised topic in the JAMB Biology syllabus, covering define growth and explain it in terms of cell division and enlargement. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Growth questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 40 original, JAMB-standard Growth 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 Growth?

Growth is a permanent increase in an organism's size and dry mass, achieved by cell division (mitosis), enlargement and differentiation — in plants concentrated at meristems. A seed germinates into a seedling given water, oxygen and a suitable temperature; the radicle forms the root, the plumule the…

How do I answer Growth questions quickly in JAMB?

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

Are these JAMB Biology Growth 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 Growth questions free without signing up?

Right here — tap “Start Growth 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.