The Joint Admission Matriculation Board, popularly known as JAMB, is the exam body that conducts UTME exams and regulates admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions.
Passing the JAMB exam with a high score is the desire of every Nigerian student applying to study any of the competitive courses at the university.
But, the challenge is that every year, JAMBites (the name for students sitting for the JAMB exam) struggle to get high scores due to several factors I will tell you later in this post.
However, I assure you that it is possible to perform excellently in the UTME exam. I, for one, wrote JAMB five (5) times due to mistakes I kept repeating repeatedly. But today, I know better and will provide practical tips for getting a high JAMB score.
Let me know in the comment if you have any questions or need further clarification about the JAMB exam or the admission process in general. I would love to assist you. Now, let’s get into the article proper.
Table of contents
- How to Pass the JAMB Exam
- 1. Create a Positive Mindset for the Exam
- 2. Get the JAMB Syllabus
- 3. Create a Personal Timetable
- 4. Study Using the Recommended Textbooks
- 5. Practice Past Questions
- 6. Attend JAMB Lesson Tutorials
- 7. Form a Study Group With Your Friends
- 8. Avoid Social Media Distractions
- 9. Stay Healthy: Get Enough Sleep & Exercise
- Conclusion
How to Pass the JAMB Exam
The following are practical tips for passing your JAMB exam successfully with a high score;
- Create a Positive Mindset for the Exam
- Get the JAMB Syllabus
- Create a Personal Timetable
- Study Using the Recommended Textbooks
- Practice Past Questions
- Attend JAMB Lesson Tutorials
- Form a Study Group With Your Friends
- Avoid Social Media Distractions
- Stay Healthy: Get Enough Sleep & Exercise
1. Create a Positive Mindset for the Exam
Creating a positive mindset is the first step to passing the JAMB examination with flying colors. You must know that your attitude towards anything in life will determine the outcome.
When I sat for the UTME exam in 2012 for the first time, I never believed I was good enough to get a perfect JAMB score of 300+ because I felt it was beyond my reach.
My mindset was due to the fact I did not attend the best secondary school, and as someone from a low-income area, it was not possible to get a high JAMB to gain admission to a competitive course.
Please don’t repeat my mistakes by conditioning your mind to settle for less. Tell yourself you can score over 300 by applying the strategies I will discuss below.
If you still have doubts about succeeding in this exam, let me know in the comments to get the best guidance.
2. Get the JAMB Syllabus
The JAMB syllabus is the ultimate guide or manual for excelling on the exam. It is a compilation of the outline of all the topics you must study for the UTME.
If you don’t know, JAMB does not set questions randomly but instead uses the JAMB syllabus. That is why you must get it to guide your study.
The mistake many students make is preparing for the JAMB exam by reading topics at random. I want to let you know it is the wrong approach.
The correct method of studying is to see what is expected of you in each topic. For example, for elasticity in physics, you must know Young Modulus Law, understand Hookes Law, interpret force-extension curves, etc.
So, you must study the objectives in every topic to say that you have covered any topic.
You can get the JAMB syllabus for all subjects by clicking here.
3. Create a Personal Timetable
A personal timetable is a breakdown of the subject you want to study and the time allocated. It is a compilation of your reading schedule.
Not having a reading timetable will affect your exam preparations, and you won’t be able to set or meet your study goals.
A common mistake many students make is waking up in the morning and deciding to read whatever subject they feel like studying. They remain in their comfort zone, reading a topic they find easy.
Creating a reading timetable will help you study complex subjects and guide you in covering the syllabus.
Now, I know the question on your mind is how to create a study timetable; well, I have got you covered.
JAMB Study Timetable
A study timetable should be created based on the time of the day best suited for your study. So, there is no single timetable that all students must use to prepare.
Here is a sample of a JAMB reading timetable for applicants sitting for the following UTME subjects;
- Use of English
- Chemistry
- Biology
- Physics.
| Day | Morning | Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | Chemistry | Chemistry | Past Questions |
| Tuesday | Physics | Physics | Past Questions |
| Wednesday | Biology | Biology | Past Questions |
| Thursday | Chemistry | Chemistry | Past Questions |
| Friday | Use of English | Use of English | Past Questions |
| Saturday | Rest | Physics | Past Questions |
| Sunday | Rest | Revision | Past Questions |
From the above timetable, you can see that I have assigned a particular subject to each day. Well, I recommend you follow this format of studying one topic per day.
Let me know in the comment if you need help drafting your timetable. I am available to assist you.
4. Study Using the Recommended Textbooks
Using the JAMB recommended textbook is an open secret to getting a high JAMB score. The reason is that the examination board will always set questions for them.
For the most part, you cannot use the textbooks you used for your O’level exams like WAEC for JAMB, except JAMB also recommends it.
The recommended JAMB textbooks are available in the JAMB syllabus. Ensure you get at least one of these textbooks. Buying all the books recommended by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board is unnecessary.
In addition, here is a list of textbooks I recommend you use for your JAMB examination preparation;
| Subject | JAMB Textbook |
|---|---|
| English | The Invisible Teacher of JAMB’s Use of English by Dele Ashade |
| Engish | A-Z English Textbook by Dele Ashade |
| Chemistry | Lamlad’s SSCE & UTME Chemistry by F. O. Ayinde and F. O. Asubiojo |
| Physics | Lamlad’s SSCE & UTME Physics by O. Ajaja and H.B. Olaniyi |
| Mathematics | Integrated Mathematics Textbook by Afolabi J.R |
| Physics | Senior Secondary School Physics by Okeke, P. N and Anyakoha, M.W |
| Biology | Explicit Biology by O.J. Olaoye |
Let me know if you still have any textbook questions in the comments.
5. Practice Past Questions
Practicing JAMB past questions is the best method to determine your level of preparation and enhance your study strategy.
The mistake many students make is getting past questions and trying to cram the answers. It is a wrong approach because it defeats the purpose, as you will get confused on the day of your exam.
I placed past questions from the study timetable above to end your study routine. Please answer questions from topics you read each day. For example, you read Cell Biology and answer questions about the topic before you quit studying.
If you get the textbooks I recommended, you see that they all have past questions at the end of each topic. It is precisely what you need to succeed in this exam.
6. Attend JAMB Lesson Tutorials
Attending lesson tutorials is a practical way to prepare for your upcoming exam. Here, you will meet tutors who can guide you based on your wealth of experience with the UTME exam.
Wherever you’re based in Nigeria, there are tutorial centers you can enroll at an affordable fee.
However, the problem with these centers is that many students go there for fashion and money showoffs. No real learning takes place because of the distractions.
I advise you to look for a lesson tutorial that comprises serious-minded students who want to get a high JAMB score.
You don’t need to attend tutorials, as you may decide to rely on YouTube tutorials. For me, the videos online are more than enough for you to use for your exam preparation to perform excellently.
7. Form a Study Group With Your Friends
Forming a study group is another excellent approach to increasing your chances of success in your upcoming exam.
All you need to do is meet with about three friends interested in getting above 300 to form a reading group.
In this study group, you guys would share topics to teach each other and answer past questions together. I bet you will find this extremely helpful even after you gain admission to the university in your first year.
But, ensure you are not more than three in a study group and put ground rules in place to prevent gossiping or discussing topics unrelated to your exam.
And if you find out the group is not helping you or the members are unserious, do not hesitate to withdraw.
8. Avoid Social Media Distractions
Many students perform poorly in their exams due to distractions from social media platforms like TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram.
As a young student, it is easy for you to be distracted by these platforms because you want to be up-to-date and follow the trends of your friends.
Well, it has disadvantages because when you check your Instagram or TikTok feed before studying, you’ll not be able to concentrate.
My advice to solve this problem is to check your social media accounts only at the end of the day after you have achieved your study goals.
Set goals for yourself; for example, if I don’t cover a topic in the syllabus, understand it, and answer past questions about it, I will not check my TikTok. Trust me, this will help you stay focused to achieve success.
Still talking about social media, it is also necessary to join Facebook groups and subscribe to YouTube channels where helpful information about the JAMB exam is discussed.
9. Stay Healthy: Get Enough Sleep & Exercise
Staying healthy by eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep are necessary to perform excellently in your upcoming exam.
I have encountered students who did not take care of their health because of their unhealthy approach to studying but failed to seek just before the exam.
Ensure you get enough sleep before your following study schedule. Your brain can only retain the information you have read when you sleep.
You can do night reading if you assimilate better at night. Otherwise, you’re better off studying during the day.
Conclusion
Achieving a high score in the JAMB exam requires a strategic and dedicated approach. By following the tips outlined in this blog post, you can significantly improve your chances of success.
Remember to create a conducive study environment, utilize effective techniques, practice consistently, and stay motivated throughout your preparation.
With consistent effort and the right strategies, you can confidently conquer the JAMB exam and secure your desired university admission.
