JAMB scores have enormous consequences in Nigeria. A score of 250 in the right subject combination can mean the difference between your first-choice university and none at all. Yet many students who are genuinely knowledgeable about their subjects walk out of the CBT centre with scores well below their potential — not because they did not study, but because of avoidable errors during the test itself.
In 2025, the average JAMB UTME score was 148 out of 400 — well below the 200-point threshold that most federal universities require for competitive programmes. The gap between what students know and what they score is largely explained by the seven mistakes below.
Mistake 1: Not Practising on a Computer
JAMB is a Computer Based Test, but the vast majority of Nigerian secondary school students spend their preparation time reading printed books and solving questions on paper. The CBT interface, the timer at the top of the screen, the requirement to click and scroll rather than write — these are unfamiliar and disorienting on exam day. Students who have never practised on a computer frequently make navigation errors, accidentally skip questions, or fail to properly submit their papers.
Fix: Practise specifically for CBT at least three weeks before your exam. JAMB's official practice software (available at their registration centres) gives you access to a simulated interface. Free online CBT practice platforms also exist. Aim for at least two full timed practice sessions per week in the final month before the exam.
Mistake 2: Treating Use of English as Secondary
Every JAMB candidate, regardless of subject combination, sits the Use of English paper. It accounts for 100 of the 400 available marks — a full 25% of your total score. Students who treat English as an afterthought and focus only on their three subject papers routinely leave 15 to 30 marks on the table in this section alone.
Fix: Dedicate at least two dedicated sessions per week specifically to Use of English. Cover comprehension passages (the most mark-dense section), lexis and structure, oral English phonetics (the sound questions that many students skip), and summary writing. JAMB's Use of English section is highly pattern-based — past questions from the last 8 years will expose every question type you are likely to encounter.
Mistake 3: Spending Too Long on Single Questions
JAMB gives you 2 hours for 180 questions (including Use of English), which is approximately 40 seconds per question. Many students sit on a difficult Chemistry calculation or a grammar question for three to five minutes, borrowing time from questions they could answer easily.
Fix: Use the flagging feature in the CBT interface. If a question is taking more than 60 seconds, flag it and move on. Answer all the questions you know confidently first, then return to flagged questions with your remaining time. This single habit can recover 10–15 marks for most students.
Mistake 4: Misreading Qualifying Words
JAMB objective questions are carefully and precisely worded. Words like "except," "not," "least likely," "most appropriate," and "incorrect" completely reverse what a question is asking. A student who reads quickly and misses the word "except" will confidently choose the wrong answer. This mistake is responsible for 5–10 lost marks for most candidates — easy marks that require no additional knowledge to recover.
Fix: Before selecting an answer, read the full question stem and underline (or mentally note) any qualifying word. Make this a deliberate habit during all practice sessions so it becomes automatic in the exam room.
Mistake 5: Skipping the Review Before Submitting
Many candidates click "Submit" immediately after answering their last question without reviewing their work. The CBT interface shows you at a glance which questions are answered, unanswered, and flagged. Using the final 8–10 minutes of exam time to review flagged questions and double-check uncertain answers is one of the highest-return habits in JAMB preparation.
Mistake 6: Ignoring JAMB Past Questions
JAMB's questions stay tightly within their published syllabus for each subject. Patterns repeat: certain organic chemistry reaction types, specific grammar constructions, particular Economics concepts and Economic theories appear in JAMB almost every year in recognisable formats. Students who have solved JAMB past questions from 2015 onwards will recognise question archetypes that appear year after year.
Fix: Solve JAMB past questions for every subject you are sitting, going back at least 8 years. Do this under timed conditions, not as leisurely reading. Track which question types you get wrong and revisit them specifically.
Mistake 7: Arriving Stressed and Unprepared Logistically
Exam-day logistics matter more than most students account for. Know your test centre location in advance and do a physical visit if possible. Arrive at least one hour before your session. Bring your JAMB registration printout, a valid means of identification with your photograph, and your JAMB profile code. Stress from a late arrival or confusion at the gate takes 15–20 minutes to settle — precious time that cannot be recovered once the exam clock starts.