WAEC Biology Curriculum
Your course of study, class by class and term by term. Work through the units in order and tick each one off.
- 82 study units
- 9 terms
- SS1 to SS3
The curriculum comes with the Complete plan
Complete gives you revision notes, the curriculum checklist, practice papers and problem-solving quizzes, as well as every exam question with its worked answer. ₦15,000 a month, or ₦162,000 a year.
SS1 Foundation
Living things and cells, nutrition, reproduction in simple organisms, ecology, microorganisms and biology in agriculture
First Term 11 units
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1
Unit 01
Biology and living things
Biology as an inquiry science; the scientific method; the light microscope, its parts and their functions.
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2
Unit 02
Living and non-living things
The characteristics of living things; differences between plants and animals; why living things are classified.
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3
Unit 03
Classification of living things
Modern classification: the kingdoms Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae and Animalia, with examples.
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4
Unit 04
Classification of animals and organisation of life
The vertebrates; levels of organisation from cell to organism; complexity in higher organisms.
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5
Unit 05
The cell
Forms of cellular existence; cell structure and the functions of organelles; plant and animal cells compared; the cell theory.
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6
Unit 06
The cell and its environment
Diffusion and osmosis and their importance; haemolysis and plasmolysis; turgidity and flaccidity.
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7
Unit 07
Properties and functions of the cell
Cellular respiration and its mechanism; aerobic and anaerobic respiration.
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8
Unit 08
Modes of nutrition and photosynthesis
Autotrophic and heterotrophic nutrition; photosynthesis and chemosynthesis: mechanism, importance and experiments.
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9
Unit 09
Mineral nutrition in plants
The mineral requirements of plants: macro- and micro-nutrients, their uses and deficiency symptoms.
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10
Unit 10
Growth
The basis of growth (cell division); aspects and measurement of growth; growth regulated by hormones.
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11
Unit 11
Revision and examination
Revision of the first term's units and the end-of-term examination.
Second Term 11 units
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1
Unit 01
Reproduction: asexual reproduction
The meaning and types of reproduction; forms of asexual reproduction.
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2
Unit 02
Sexual reproduction and excretory organelles
Conjugation, fusion of gametes, meiosis and its importance; excretory organelles in living cells.
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3
Unit 03
Reproduction in unicellular organisms and invertebrates
Reproduction in Amoeba, Paramecium, Spirogyra, the earthworm, cockroach, housefly and snail.
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4
Unit 04
Irritability and movement
Irritability and types of response; movement and the organelles for movement.
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5
Unit 05
Nutrition in animals
Classes of food, a balanced diet and its importance; digestive enzymes.
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6
Unit 06
Basic ecological concepts
The meaning and branches of ecology; ecological terms; the components of an ecosystem.
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7
Unit 07
Biomes
Local and world biomes.
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8
Unit 08
Population studies
Population characteristics and studies; factors that affect population; simple measurement of ecological factors.
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9
Unit 09
Functioning ecosystem
Feeding relationships, trophic levels, food chains and webs, energy flow, ecological pyramids and the laws of thermodynamics.
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10
Unit 10
Ecological management
Types of association between organisms and their features.
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11
Unit 11
Revision and examination
Revision of the second term's units and the end-of-term examination.
Third Term 8 units
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1
Unit 01
Microorganisms around us
Groups of microorganisms; the concept of culturing; identification and carriers of microorganisms.
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2
Unit 02
Microorganisms in action
The growth of microorganisms; beneficial and harmful effects; diseases caused by microorganisms, their symptoms, transmission and control.
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3
Unit 03
Sexually transmitted infections
Definition, transmission, symptoms, prevention and control of STIs; HIV and AIDS.
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4
Unit 04
Towards better health
Control of harmful microorganisms and vectors; maintenance of good health; the roles of health organisations.
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5
Unit 05
Relevance of biology to agriculture
Botanical and agricultural classification of plants; classification by life cycle and size; effects of agricultural practices on ecosystems.
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6
Unit 06
Pests and diseases of crops
Groups of crop pests and their life cycles; crop pests and diseases, their effects and control.
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7
Unit 07
Pests and diseases of livestock
Pests and diseases of livestock, their effects and control; the economic importance of pests and diseases.
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8
Unit 08
Food production and storage
The role of government; environmental factors; ways of improving crop production; food shortage; methods of food preservation.
SS2 Development
Habitats, nutrient cycles and pollution, support, digestion, transport, respiration, excretion and reproduction
First Term 10 units
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1
Unit 01
Aquatic habitats
Marine habitats and their zonation; estuarine and freshwater habitats; distribution and adaptations of organisms.
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2
Unit 02
Terrestrial habitats
Marsh, forest, grassland and arid land.
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3
Unit 03
Food production and storage
Food production, factors affecting it, food shortage and its effects, and food preservation, revisited in more depth.
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4
Unit 04
Nutrient cycling: carbon, oxygen and water
The carbon cycle and its importance; the carbon-oxygen balance; the water cycle.
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5
Unit 05
Nutrient cycling: nitrogen and decomposition
The nitrogen cycle; the importance of nitrogen; decomposition; micro- and macro-decomposers and their roles.
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6
Unit 06
Pollution
Air, water, land and noise pollution: pollutants, their sources, effects and control.
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7
Unit 07
Conservation of natural resources
The need for conservation; natural resources to be conserved; methods and importance of conservation; conservation agencies.
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8
Unit 08
Ecological management and tolerance
Biological associations; tolerance and tolerance range; geographical range.
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9
Unit 09
Adaptation of organisms to their habitats
Adaptations of animals and plants to marine and estuarine habitats.
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10
Unit 10
Adaptation of organisms to their habitats (continued)
Adaptations of organisms to freshwater and terrestrial habitats.
Second Term 10 units
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1
Unit 01
Tissues and supporting systems
Skeletal materials (chitin, cartilage, bone); types and functions of skeletons.
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2
Unit 02
Tissues and supporting systems (continued)
The axial and appendicular skeleton, vertebrae, joints and muscles; supporting tissues in plants.
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3
Unit 03
Mammalian teeth
Types of teeth, the structure of a tooth, dentition and dental formula; adaptation of dentition to diet.
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4
Unit 04
Digestive system
Feeding and digestion in Hydra, the earthworm, insects and birds; the digestive system of man.
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5
Unit 05
Digestive system (continued)
Digestion in the stomach and small intestine; absorption and assimilation; modifications of feeding in animals.
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6
Unit 06
Transport system
The need for a transport system; transport in lower and higher organisms; the composition and functions of blood.
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7
Unit 07
Circulatory system
The protective functions of blood and clotting; types of circulation; blood vessels and the heart.
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8
Unit 08
Transport in higher plants
Xylem and phloem; absorption of water and minerals; transpiration and the factors affecting it; translocation.
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9
Unit 09
Respiratory system
Respiratory surfaces and their features; types of respiratory system; gas exchange in lower animals.
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10
Unit 10
Respiratory system of mammals and respiration in plants
The breathing mechanism of man; internal (aerobic) respiration; gas exchange in plants through stomata and lenticels.
Third Term 10 units
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1
Unit 01
Excretion in lower organisms
Excretion and the types of excretory structure in simple organisms.
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2
Unit 02
Excretory system in mammals and plants
The structure and functions of the kidney and nephron; urine formation; excretion in plants.
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3
Unit 03
Male and female reproductive structures
The reproductive systems of man; the structure of the sperm and ovum; differences between the systems.
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4
Unit 04
Sexual reproduction in man
The menstrual cycle, fertilisation, implantation, pregnancy and birth.
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5
Unit 05
Reproduction in flowering plants
The parts of a flower and their functions; types of flower and of ovary; placentation.
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6
Unit 06
Pollination
Self- and cross-pollination; features of self- and cross-pollinated flowers; agents of pollination.
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7
Unit 07
Ecological succession
Types and characteristics of succession and its outcome.
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8
Unit 08
Overcrowding and food shortage
The causes and effects of overcrowding and the adaptations that avoid it; food shortage.
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9
Unit 09
Balance in nature
Dynamic equilibrium; abiotic and biotic factors affecting population; limiting factors and environmental resistance.
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10
Unit 10
Family planning
Family planning and birth control and their methods.
SS3 Mastery
Homeostasis, coordination, development, variation, evolution and genetics, then WASSCE revision
First Term 10 units
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1
Unit 01
Regulation of the internal environment
Homeostasis and its mechanism; the structure and functions of the kidney; kidney diseases, their effects and remedies.
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2
Unit 02
The liver and the skin
The structure, functions and diseases of the liver; the structure, functions, diseases and care of the skin; temperature regulation.
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3
Unit 03
Hormonal coordination
The endocrine glands and their hormones; the effects of over- and under-secretion; plant hormones and their uses in agriculture.
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4
Unit 04
The central nervous system
The brain: its parts, structure and functions; the structure and functions of the spinal cord.
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5
Unit 05
The peripheral nervous system and the neurone
Somatic and autonomic systems; the structure and types of neurone; the transmission of impulses.
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6
Unit 06
Reflex and voluntary actions
The reflex arc; reflex and voluntary actions compared; conditioned reflexes; nervous and hormonal coordination compared.
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7
Unit 07
Sense organs: the skin and the eye
Sensory receptors; the skin as a sense organ; the structure of the eye, image formation, accommodation and eye defects.
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8
Unit 08
Hearing, smell and taste
The structure of the ear and the mechanisms of hearing and balance; the nose and the tongue.
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9
Unit 09
Development of new organisms: animals
Courtship behaviour; the stages in the development of the toad; metamorphosis in insects.
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10
Unit 10
Development of new organisms: plants
Fertilisation and development of the zygote in flowering plants; seeds; germination and its conditions; development in animals' eggs.
Second Term 7 units
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1
Unit 01
The fruit
The structure and types of fruits; the dispersal of fruits and seeds.
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2
Unit 02
Variation in population
Morphological and physiological variation; continuous and discontinuous variation; causes and applications of variation.
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3
Unit 03
Adaptation for survival
Competition and its types; competition and succession; structural adaptations.
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4
Unit 04
Adaptive colouration and behavioural adaptation
Adaptive colouration in plants and animals; behavioural adaptations; social insects.
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5
Unit 05
Theories of evolution
Organic evolution and its evidences; Lamarck's, Darwin's and the modern theories.
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6
Unit 06
Biology of heredity (genetics)
Genetic terms; hereditary variation; transmissible characters; Mendel's work and laws.
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7
Unit 07
Chromosomes, probability and applications of genetics
The structure and role of chromosomes; sex determination and sex-linked traits; blood groups; probability; genetics in agriculture and medicine.
Third Term 5 units
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1
Unit 01
WASSCE revision: cells, nutrition and transport
SS1 and SS2 topics on living things, cells, nutrition, transport, respiration and excretion.
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2
Unit 02
WASSCE revision: coordination and reproduction
Support, coordination, sense organs, reproduction and development.
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3
Unit 03
WASSCE revision: ecology, genetics and evolution
Ecology, variation, adaptation, evolution and genetics.
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4
Unit 04
Practical biology for the WASSCE
Handling specimens, drawing, measurement, food tests and simple experiments.
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5
Unit 05
WASSCE mock examination and corrections
A full mock examination under timed conditions and the correction of errors.