Jamaican History
20%of exam
Geography and Landmarks
20%of exam
Government and Civics
20%of exam
Jamaican Culture and Proverbs
20%of exam
Proverb MeaningsNational Fruit and DishMusic GenresNational Holidays
The Soldier and the JDF
20%of exam
JDF Established 1962JDF BranchesUp Park CampRank and CommandJDF Motto
Aptitude and Reasoning Basics
Not publishedof exam
English UsageMath FormulasScience BasicsAbstract ReasoningNumber Sequences
Quick Facts
- Exam
- JDF General Knowledge
- Questions
- 30 MCQ (90 marks)
- Time
- 45 minutes
- Pass
- 60% (54 of 90)
- Fee
- Free
- Format
- Paper based test
- HQ
- Up Park Camp Kingston
- Domains
- 5 GK areas equal weight
Seven National Heroes
Bogle Garvey Gordon Manley Bustamante Nanny Sharpe
B: Paul Bogle Morant BayG: Marcus Garvey UNIAG: Wm Gordon executed 1865M: Norman Manley constitutionB: Bustamante first PMN: Nanny Maroon leaderS: Sharpe Christmas Rebellion
Emancipation vs Independence
Emancipation Day
- August 1st 1838
- Ends slavery
- Not political independence
Independence Day
- August 6th 1962
- Sovereign nation
- Bustamante first PM
Freedom date vs nation date
Identify the Era
- Date before 1655→Spanish colonial era(Taino Sevilla 1509)
- 1655 to 1838→British slavery era(Rebellions and Maroons)
- 1838 to 1962→Post-emancipation colony(Crown Colony period)
- 1962 or later→Independent Jamaica era(PM and Parliament)
- Date is Aug 1→Emancipation Day 1838(Not independence)
- Date is Aug 6→Independence Day 1962(Not emancipation)
- Rebellion in 1831→Christmas Rebellion Sharpe(Western parishes)
- Rebellion in 1865→Morant Bay Bogle(St. Thomas parish)
Key Historic Dates
- 1494
- Columbus lands in Jamaica
- 1509
- Spain colonizes Jamaica
- 1655
- England captures Jamaica
- 1739
- First Maroon War treaty
- 1831-1832
- Christmas Rebellion Sam Sharpe
- Aug 1 1838
- Full emancipation from slavery
- Oct 11 1865
- Morant Bay Rebellion Bogle
- Aug 6 1962
- Jamaica gains independence
Morant Bay vs Christmas Rebellion
Morant Bay 1865
- Led by Paul Bogle
- St. Thomas parish
- Reform focused uprising
Christmas Rebellion 1831
- Led by Sam Sharpe
- Western parishes
- Baptist War slave revolt
1865 reform vs 1831 revolt
National Heroes
- Marcus Garvey
- Pan-Africanism UNIA founder
- Paul Bogle
- Led Morant Bay Rebellion
- George William Gordon
- Executed with Bogle 1865
- Norman Manley
- Constitution architect premier
- Alexander Bustamante
- First Prime Minister 1962
- Nanny of the Maroons
- Only female National Hero
- Samuel Sharpe
- Led Christmas Rebellion 1831
Taino and Colonial Era
- Taino people
- Original Jamaican inhabitants
- Xaymaca
- Taino name for Jamaica
- Sevilla la Nueva
- First Spanish capital 1509
- Port Royal
- Sunk by 1692 earthquake
- Spanish Town
- Capital until 1872
- Cudjoe treaty
- 1739 Maroon peace treaty
Three Counties Mnemonic
Cornwall Middlesex Surrey west to east
Cornwall: western parishesMiddlesex: central parishesSurrey: eastern parishes
Cornwall vs Surrey County
Cornwall County
- Western parishes group
- Includes Montego Bay
- Includes Hanover Westmoreland
Surrey County
- Eastern parishes group
- Includes Kingston St. Andrew
- Includes St. Thomas Portland
West side vs east side
Which Parish or County
- Question names capital city→Match parish list(See capitals table)
- Question says western parish→Cornwall county(St. James Hanover etc)
- Question says central parish→Middlesex county(Clarendon Manchester etc)
- Question says eastern parish→Surrey county(Kingston St. Thomas etc)
- Highest point asked→Blue Mountain Peak(2256 meters)
- Longest river asked→Rio Minho(92.8 km)
- Largest river by volume→Black River(St. Elizabeth)
- Karst limestone hills→Cockpit Country(Trelawny St. Elizabeth)
Parishes and Counties
- 14 parishes
- Total parishes in Jamaica
- 3 counties
- Cornwall Middlesex Surrey
- Cornwall county
- Western parishes group
- Middlesex county
- Central parishes group
- Surrey county
- Eastern parishes group
- Kingston parish
- Capital city and parish
Parish Capitals
- Clarendon
- Capital is May Pen
- St. James
- Capital is Montego Bay
- St. Ann
- Capital St. Ann's Bay
- St. Elizabeth
- Capital is Black River
- St. Catherine
- Capital Spanish Town
- Hanover
- Capital is Lucea
- Trelawny
- Capital is Falmouth
- Manchester
- Capital is Mandeville
Rivers Peaks and Landmarks
- Blue Mountain Peak
- 2256 meters highest point
- Rio Minho
- Longest river 92.8 km
- Black River
- Largest river by volume
- Dunn's River Falls
- Located in St. Ann
- Cockpit Country
- Karst hills Trelawny Elizabeth
- Martha Brae River
- Bamboo rafting in Trelawny
Flag Colour Meanings
Black strength Gold wealth Green hope
Black: strength and creativityGold: wealth and sunshineGreen: hope and agriculture
Governor-General vs Prime Minister
Governor-General
- Represents the monarch
- Ceremonial Head of State
- Commander-in-Chief of JDF
Prime Minister
- Head of government
- Leads majority party
- Real political authority
Ceremonial vs executive power
Government Role Picker
- Ceremonial Head of State→Governor-General(Represents monarch)
- Head of government→Prime Minister(Majority party leader)
- Runs elections→Electoral Commission(ECJ since 2006)
- Heads judiciary branch→Chief Justice(Court system)
Parliament Structure
- House of Representatives
- 63 elected seats
- Senate
- 21 appointed members
- PM appointees
- 13 Senate seats
- Opposition appointees
- 8 Senate seats
- Governor-General
- Represents the British monarch
- Prime Minister
- Head of government
House of Representatives vs Senate
House of Reps
- 63 elected seats
- Passes legislation first
- Directly elected MPs
Senate
- 21 appointed seats
- 13 PM 8 Opposition
- Reviews legislation
Elected vs appointed chamber
National Symbols
- National motto
- Out of Many One People
- Flag black
- Strength and creativity
- Flag gold
- Natural wealth and sunshine
- Flag green
- Hope and agriculture
- National tree
- Blue Mahoe hardwood
- National flower
- Lignum Vitae
- National bird
- Swallowtail hummingbird
Electoral System
- Voting age
- 18 years or older
- ECJ
- Electoral Commission of Jamaica
- Universal suffrage
- Granted in 1944
- Chief Justice
- Heads the judiciary
National Heroes Day vs Independence Day
National Heroes Day
- Third Monday October
- Honors seven heroes
Independence Day
- August 6th fixed date
- Marks 1962 sovereignty
Heroes tribute vs nation date
Culture and Proverbs Basics
- One one coco
- Small efforts add up
- Every mickle
- Small amounts become large
- Empty barrel
- Loudest talkers know least
- Patois
- Jamaican English Creole language
Holidays and Cuisine
- Emancipation Day
- August 1st holiday
- Independence Day
- August 6th holiday
- National Heroes Day
- Third Monday October
- Labour Day
- May 23rd holiday
- National fruit
- Ackee
- National dish
- Ackee and saltfish
- National music
- Reggae global genre
JDF Branch Mnemonic
Regiment Air Wing Coast Guard Support
Regiment: land infantryAir Wing: air supportCoast Guard: maritime patrolSupport: logistics engineering
Jamaica Regiment vs Coast Guard
Jamaica Regiment
- Land infantry battalions
- Combat and patrols
- From West India Regiment
Coast Guard
- Maritime patrol unit
- Established 1963
- Search and rescue
Land force vs sea force
JDF Establishment and Structure
- JDF founded
- July 31 1962
- JDF motto
- Service for Lives of Others
- JDF HQ
- Up Park Camp Kingston
- Commander-in-Chief
- The Governor-General
- Chief of Defence Staff
- Operational head of JDF
- Defence Act 1962
- Governs JDF discipline law
JDF Branches and Units
- Jamaica Regiment
- Main infantry battalions
- 1st Battalion
- Infantry combat unit
- 3rd Battalion
- National Reserve unit
- JDF Air Wing
- Airborne reconnaissance and transport
- JDF Coast Guard
- Maritime patrol est 1963
- Support and Services
- Engineering transport medical logistics
Synonym vs Antonym
Synonym
- Same or near meaning
- Diligent and hardworking
Antonym
- Opposite meaning word
- Courageous vs cowardly
Same meaning vs opposite meaning
English Usage Basics
- Synonym
- Same or near meaning
- Antonym
- Opposite meaning word
- Homophones
- Sound alike different spelling
- Neither nor rule
- Verb agrees nearest noun
- i before e
- Except after c rule
- Verbal analogy
- Same relationship word pairs
Math and Science Basics
- Percentage formula
- Part over whole times 100
- Ratio problem
- Sum parts then divide
- Mean average
- Sum values divide count
- Speed formula
- Distance divided by time
- States of matter
- Solid liquid and gas
- Newton's First Law
- Inertia unless force acts
Abstract and Logical Reasoning
- Number sequence
- Find pattern next term
- Letter sequence
- Apply consistent skip pattern
- Odd one out
- Break the shared pattern
- Non-verbal analogy
- Apply relationship to pair
Common Traps
Emancipation vs Independence Date
Aug 1 is Emancipation ≠ Aug 6 is Independence
Bogle vs Sharpe Rebellion
Bogle led 1865 Morant Bay ≠ Sharpe led 1831 Christmas Rebellion
Governor-General vs Prime Minister
GG is ceremonial monarch rep ≠ PM holds real executive power
Synonym vs Antonym Confusion
Synonym means the same ≠ Antonym means the opposite
Rio Minho vs Black River
Rio Minho is longest ≠ Black River has most volume
House vs Senate Seats
House has 63 elected seats ≠ Senate has 21 appointed seats
National Fruit vs Dish
Ackee is the fruit ≠ Ackee and saltfish is dish
Last Minute
- 1.Independence Day: August 6 1962
- 2.Emancipation Day: August 1 1838
- 3.Pass score: 54 of 90
- 4.Exam: 30 questions in 45 min
- 5.Memorize all seven National Heroes
- 6.14 parishes, 3 historic counties
- 7.Blue Mountain Peak: 2256 meters high
- 8.Rio Minho is longest river
- 9.JDF founded July 31 1962
- 10.JDF headquarters: Up Park Camp
- 11.Flag colours: black, gold, green
- 12.Motto: Out of Many One People