JAMB 2021 past questions

Checked by the Skolra question team · Last updated 23 October 2026

We hold 621 questions from the 2021 JAMB papers in 13 subjects, each with the answer and an explanation. Below are ten of them, from ten subjects, and then every 2021 paper we hold.

Ten JAMB 2021 questions with answers

1. From the Use of English paper

   1.

   complete the statement from the options lettered A-D

   Mr. Jude made the meeting _____his poor health

   1. A
      regardless to
   2. B
      notwithstanding of
   3. C
      in spite of
      Correct
   4. D
      despite of
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   The sentence needs a concessive phrase meaning "although he was unwell." "in spite of" is the grammatically correct form: "Mr. Jude made the meeting in spite of his poor health."

   So the only option that is both grammatically correct and fits the sentence is "in spite of".

2. From the Mathematics paper

   2.

   Find the length of a side of a rhombus whose diagonals are 6cm and 8cm

   1. A
      10cm
   2. B
      4cm
   3. C
      5cm
      Correct
   4. D
      7cm
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   The diagonals of a rhombus bisect each other at right angles. So each diagonal is cut exactly in half, giving two half-diagonals of 6cm ÷ 2 = 3cm and 8cm ÷ 2 = 4cm.

   These two half-diagonals, together with a side of the rhombus, form a right-angled triangle, with the side of the rhombus as the hypotenuse. So by Pythagoras' theorem:

   side² = 3² + 4² = 9 + 16 = 25
   side = √25 = 5cm

   The answer of 5cm is correct because it comes from correctly halving both diagonals before applying Pythagoras' theorem.

3. From the Physics paper

   3.

   A car of mass 800kg attains a speed of 25m/s in 20secs. The power developed in the engine is?

   1. A
      25,000 W
   2. B
      1,000 W
   3. C
      12,500 W
      Correct
   4. D
      6,250 W
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: C

   Given: mass m = 800 kg, final speed v = 25 m/s, time t = 20 s, starting from rest.

   The power developed is the rate at which kinetic energy is gained:

   Kinetic energy gained = ½mv² = ½ × 800 × 25² = ½ × 800 × 625 = 250,000 J

   Power = Energy / time = 250,000 / 20 = 12,500 W

   You can check this a second way: acceleration a = v/t = 25/20 = 1.25 m/s², so the driving force F = ma = 800 × 1.25 = 1000 N. Since the car starts from rest, the average speed over the 20 s is 25/2 = 12.5 m/s. Power = F × average velocity = 1000 × 12.5 = 12,500 W, the same result.

4. From the Chemistry paper

   4.

   The reactivity of fluorine is due to?

   1. A
      its very small atomic radius, which allows it to fit easily into the lattice of other compounds
   2. B
      its high electronegativity, which is the highest of all the elements in the periodic table
   3. C
      its high electron affinity, which makes each fluorine atom strongly attract an extra electron from other reactants
   4. D
      the low bond dissociation energy of the F–F bond, which breaks apart easily so the atoms react readily with other substances
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   Fluorine (F₂) is the most reactive of all the elements, and the specific reason is the weakness of the bond holding its own molecule together.

5. From the Biology paper

   5.

   In demonstrating the importance of mineral elements in plants, the culture bottle must be darkened to?

   1. A
      prevent evaporation of the culture solution
   2. B
      prevent the growth of algae in the culture solution
      Correct
   3. C
      maintain a constant temperature in the culture bottle
   4. D
      prevent the roots from being exposed to light
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   In water/sand culture experiments used to show that mineral elements are needed for healthy plant growth, the plant roots sit in a nutrient solution inside a culture bottle or jar.

6. From the Government paper

   6.

   The independent National Electoral Commission has the power to prepare and maintain the register of.____

   1. A
      Civil servants
   2. B
      Business owners
   3. C
      Political candidates
   4. D
      Voters
      Correct
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: D

   The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has the power to prepare and maintain the register of voters. This is essential for organizing elections and ensuring that eligible citizens can participate in the electoral process.

7. From the Literature in English paper

   7.

   A band of singers and dancers in drama who acts as a link between the play and the audience is the

   1. A
      Prologue
   2. B
      Chorus
      Correct
   3. C
      Aside
   4. D
      Soliloquy
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   The chorus in classical drama is a group of singers and dancers who comment on the action, express communal wisdom, and serve as a bridge between the world of the play and the audience. Originating in ancient Greek theatre, the chorus voices themes the principal characters cannot articulate directly.

8. From the Economics paper

   8.

   Retailers in an economy perform the function of ______

   1. A
      importing all goods
   2. B
      direct selling to consumers
      Correct
   3. C
      manufacturing goods
   4. D
      setting prices for the entire economy
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   Retailers are the final link in the distribution chain, purchasing from wholesalers and selling directly to end consumers in small quantities.

9. From the Commerce paper

   9.

   The major determinant of fire insurance premium is the

   1. A
      Age of the insured property
   2. B
      Nature and degree of fire risk
      Correct
   3. C
      Location of the property
   4. D
      Total value of goods insured
   Show answerHide answer

   Answer: B

   The major determinant of the fire insurance premium is the nature and degree of fire risk (hazard) associated with the insured property. Properties with high fire risk (e.g., a petrol station) attract higher premiums than low-risk properties (e.g., a brick office building).

10. From the Principles of Accounts paper

    10.

    The major objectives of departmental account is to ascertain the

    1. A
       net profit of the business as a whole
    2. B
       total expenses incurred by the head office
    3. C
       profit or loss made by each department
       Correct
    4. D
       financial position of the entire organisation
    Show answerHide answer

    Answer: C

    When a business trades through several departments under one roof, it prepares a departmental trading and profit and loss account in columnar form: sales, purchases, opening and closing stock and directly traceable expenses are entered in each department's own column, while common expenses such as rent, lighting and insurance are apportioned between the departments on a suitable basis (floor area, sales value, number of employees, and so on).

The questions come from past JAMB, WAEC and NECO papers. We use software to help write the answer options and explanations, and every answer is checked twice before it goes on the site. How we check

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