Cheat sheet
JDF Entrance Exam Cheat Sheet
Jamaican History
- 20% of exam
- National Heroes Independence 1962 Emancipation 1838 Rebellions Timeline Maroon Wars
Geography and Landmarks
- 20% of exam
- 14 Parishes 3 Counties Parish Capitals Rivers and Peaks Tourist Landmarks
Government and Civics
- 20% of exam
- Parliament Structure National Symbols Governor-General Role Electoral System Flag Colours
Jamaican Culture and Proverbs
- 20% of exam
- Proverb Meanings National Fruit and Dish Music Genres National Holidays
The Soldier and the JDF
- 20% of exam
- JDF Established 1962 JDF Branches Up Park Camp Rank and Command JDF Motto
Aptitude and Reasoning Basics
- Not published of exam
- English Usage Math Formulas Science Basics Abstract Reasoning Number 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 JA
- Bogle Garvey Gordon Manley Bustamante Nanny Sharpe
- B: Paul Bogle Morant Bay G: Marcus Garvey UNIA G: Wm Gordon executed 1865 M: Norman Manley constitution B: Bustamante first PM N: Nanny Maroon leader S: Sharpe Christmas Rebellion
Emancipation vs Independence JA
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 JA
- 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 JA
- 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 JA
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 JA
- 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 JA
- 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 GE
- Cornwall Middlesex Surrey west to east
- Cornwall: western parishes Middlesex: central parishes Surrey: eastern parishes
Cornwall vs Surrey County GE
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 GE
- 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 GE
- 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 GE
- 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 GE
- 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 GO
- Black strength Gold wealth Green hope
- Black: strength and creativity Gold: wealth and sunshine Green: hope and agriculture
Governor-General vs Prime Minister GO
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 GO
- 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 GO
- 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 GO
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 GO
- 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 GO
- 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 CU
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 CU
- 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 CU
- 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 JD
- Regiment Air Wing Coast Guard Support
- Regiment: land infantry Air Wing: air support Coast Guard: maritime patrol Support: logistics engineering
Jamaica Regiment vs Coast Guard JD
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 JD
- 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 JD
- 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 AP
Synonym
- Same or near meaning
- Diligent and hardworking
Antonym
- Opposite meaning word
- Courageous vs cowardly
- Same meaning vs opposite meaning
English Usage Basics AP
- 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 AP
- 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 AP
- 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
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- Practice Questions 116 questions Study Guide 18 topics Cheat Sheet 97 facts Flashcards 50 cards Videos 1 video Blogs 1 blog
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