Must Read! See 11 Reasons Why Some Nigerian Students Always Fail JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has remained the major exam body conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in all the states of the federal republic of Nigeria. Since her inception, it has been the Achilles hill of many people as they can’t dance to the tune of the exams.

In order to be on the safer side, there are certain things which every student could do to emerge successfully in the exams. I bet you, if any candidate can avoid the common mistakes attributed to JAMB exam, then success could be theirs.

Here are 11 good reasons why students fail Jamb:

1. Failure to follow the syllabus

Jamb syllabus has been a veritable tool in the hand of students seeking admission into higher institution. Research has shown that 90 percent of those that excel in Jamb are those who study the syllabus comprehensively.

We strongly recommend all candidates to have a take a look at the syllabus for every subject they registered. Pay attention to the subjects you’re anticipated to master and let it guide your studies. This way, you’ll spend no time reading things which are irrelevant to the examination.

Many students have recorded successes in their UTME exams because of the adamant study of the syllabus.

2. Lackadaisical attitude toward the brochure

The syllabus has been an helpful tool, but many students have disputed the fact that the brochure is another veritable tool which students can use to scale through the hurdles of JAMB. Students preparing for UTME have neglected the study of the brochure. Some register to study a course blindly which may not be offered by their choice university.

Candidates are advised to study the brochure carefully before filling the JAMB online registration slip. This will also be a guide on a way to fill the Jamb utility form, and help you in making perfect preference of the courses you are intellectually suited.

3. Poor study habits

The word student only comes from the word study. You may follow the brochure and strictly adhere to the registration processes of JAMB, but the truth remains that academic excellence solely depends on vehement study of your textbooks and other recommended books in the syllabus.

The ultimate thing to do while preparing for UTME exams is to study JAMB CBT Past Questions since the exam is now computer-based. A good number of student give the excuse of being so busy, hitherto they can’t study. No matter the tight schedule of a candidate, it is advisable for a candidate to create time for effective studies. It will also be advantageous for a candidate to enroll in extra-moral classes.

4. Failure to register for JAMB in 

    time

"Time waits for no man" is a popular adage. "Tick tick says the clock"  is another adage. The fact that JAMB offers enough time for its registration is not a ground for candidates to register late for the exam. Procrastinating to register on time has caused a whole lot of failure for candidates in JAMB UTME examinations. But you ask, "How does late registration affect candidates?" 

Here is how late registration affects candidates:

Candidates are not given conducive and equipped centers. Some are slated for rural areas for the exams and guess what, it causes candidates to fail.

5. Lack of speed

Candidates who apply speed in the exams do emerge successfully. JAMB UTME examination is not an exam for the naive or faint of heart, but for matured minds who are ready to face the other world of the university. The examiners give a very limited time of about 120 minutes for about 180 questions. So automatically a student has less that one minute to spend on a particular question. However, this time waits for no man as it ticks every second.

Don’t forget this:

You can’t pause the time to do one thing or the order, like having a convenient or answering to the attendance. The time goes very fast and stops automatically for everyone. Whether you came to the exams venue late.

Did you know that intelligent students still fail Jamb?

Yes! Not because they are not intelligent, but because they do not apply speed.

6. Lateness to the exam hall

Tears dropped from her eyes, I could remember vividly she was a girl, tall and she spoke intelligently. She begged tirelessly but to no avail as the invigilator was so tenacious in his decision. Further findings revealed that she was the best in her secondary school who made history by recording 9A’s in the west African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE ), but on that faithful day she was late to her UTME exams. That was how she failed JAMB.

It is so obvious that many candidates are seen doing some print out on their exams day and this warrant their lateness to exams. It is advisable for candidates to do all necessary things prior to the day of their exams. If your exams center is in a long distance or in another state, try to be there at least a day before and get to know your center.

7. Computer illiteracy

Yes we are in a computer age where computer and other computer related devices are easily accessed, yet computer illiteracy still rocks among young school leavers. Since 2014, Jamb had progressed from the rostrum of PPT to the rostrum of CBT which made way for the utilization of computers for the exams.

It is appalling that many candidates still cannot operate this computers during exams and thereby failure comes in. It is advisable for candidates to undergo Computer Based Training before the day of their exams.

8. Incomplete materials

Yes, this has posed a problem to many candidates. The exam day is like an injury period which a simple mistake can hurt for life. Before departing for the exams hall check out for your materials such as your JAMB print out, Passports etc. Read the necessary instructions and adhere to them strictly. Where you are asked to bring a coloured print-out please don’t take a black and white print out.

9. Deafness to attendance

You must be all ears while writing your exams. Are you writing with your ears? Of course not, so candidates have to pay adequate attention to attendance while writing the exams. Your attendance indicates your present in the exams and failure to answer to it means that you did not write the exams.

10. Lack of conducive and well equipped exam centers 

One major thing that poses a threat to JAMB in Nigeria is their poor and unequipped exams environment. These have posed a psychological effect on many students. The progression from PPT (Paper and pencil test) to CBT (Computer Base Test) has not changed JAMB’s poor Examination Environment. Though they are working tirelessly to see that this anomaly becomes a thing of the past.

11. Misinformation

Many students are misinformed about JAMB exams. They are given fake information which has no relationship to the aforementioned exams. It is a known fact that are many myths and misconceptions surrounding the exams and the exam body. All this should be taken with a "pinch of salt" as many of them are rumors and not facts.