Reproduction: JAMB Biology Questions, Answers & Notes

What Reproduction covers in the JAMB Biology syllabus

Reproduction produces new individuals. Asexual reproduction needs one parent and gives identical offspring (binary fission in bacteria, budding in yeast, and vegetative propagation by runners, bulbs, tubers and suckers in plants). Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes (fertilisation → zygote → embryo) and produces variation, which aids survival. In flowering plants, pollen (male) is transferred to the stigma (pollination — by insects/entomophily or wind/anemophily), then the ovary becomes a fruit and ovules become seeds. In humans, fertilisation occurs in the oviduct, and the placenta nourishes the developing fetus in the uterus.

For Reproduction, JAMB expects you to be able to:

• Distinguish asexual and sexual reproduction and their advantages
• Describe reproduction in flowering plants (pollination, fertilisation, fruit/seed)
• Outline reproduction in animals and humans

Key facts & revision notes: Reproduction

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

• Asexual reproduction needs one parent and produces genetically identical offspring.
• Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes (fertilisation).
• Fertilisation is the fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.
• The male gamete of a flowering plant is contained in the pollen grain.
• The sperm is the male gamete; the ovum (egg) is the female gamete.
• The ovum (egg) is the female gamete in animals.
• The zygote is the cell formed when two gametes fuse at fertilisation.
• Yeast reproduces asexually by budding.
• Bacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission (splitting into two).
• Pollination is the transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma.
• Insect pollination is called entomophily; wind pollination is anemophily.
• After fertilisation, the ovary develops into a fruit (and the ovules into seeds).
• Human fertilisation normally occurs in the oviduct (fallopian tube).
• The placenta supplies the developing fetus with food and oxygen and removes its wastes.
• Sexual reproduction mixes genes from two parents, producing variation among offspring.
• Plants reproduce vegetatively by runners, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes and suckers.
• Variation from sexual reproduction helps a species adapt and survive changing conditions.
• Wind-pollinated flowers are small and dull with light, abundant pollen and feathery stigmas.
• The fertilised egg (zygote) divides and develops into an embryo.
• Insect-pollinated flowers use bright petals, scent and nectar to attract pollinators.
• Asexual offspring are genetic copies of the parent.
• The carpel is the female part of a flower.
• Pollen moving within the same flower is self-pollination.
• Pollen moving between plants is cross-pollination.

Worked examples

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

How Reproduction is tested in JAMB Biology

Our Reproduction bank holds 40 questions (4 easy, 24 medium, 12 hard). JAMB Biology typically returns to Reproduction 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 Reproduction 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 Reproduction. 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 Reproduction is repeated timed practice, so use the button above until the recurring patterns feel automatic.

Common mistakes to avoid in Reproduction

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

Frequently asked questions

Is Reproduction part of the JAMB Biology syllabus?

Yes. Reproduction is a recognised topic in the JAMB Biology syllabus, covering distinguish asexual and sexual reproduction and their advantages. You should be able to recall its key facts and apply them to multiple-choice questions.

How many Reproduction questions can I practise on Belmadeng?

There are 40 original, JAMB-standard Reproduction 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 Reproduction?

Reproduction produces new individuals. Asexual reproduction needs one parent and gives identical offspring (binary fission in bacteria, budding in yeast, and vegetative propagation by runners, bulbs, tubers and suckers in plants). Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of male and female gametes (f…

How do I answer Reproduction questions quickly in JAMB?

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

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

Right here — tap “Start Reproduction 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.