Computer-Based Tests (CBT) is the way the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adopted to test its candidates. One of the successes JAMB has made in the past few years is moving from paper-based tests to CBT.
This new process has helped in reducing malpractice, saving time, and cost-effective means of making UTME a fair playing ground for all candidates. In the time past, the rate of malpractice was high but this has been reduced via the introduction of CBT.
However, many students haven’t been able to integrate well with the CBT and this has led to failure or underperformance of many students. For any student to pass JAMB successfully, he/she must master the act of taking CBT which is quite different from paper paper-based test. Mastering this act will enable you to pass JAMB successfully.
In this article, I will discuss the top tips to ensure you score high. This will enable any candidate who reads this to know JAMB’s secret, how to study for the exam and pass successfully.
CBT guide
- When you log in you will see your picture and Name at the right-hand side of the login. Make sure your Name and Picture are correct, If not inform the invigilators. You should also the the four subjects you have registered for, if there is a mistake call the attention of the invigilators.
- You can skip questions and come back to answer them later
- The timer shows you the number of times left to answer the current subject
JAMB CBT Guides in Pictures
Here are the steps to success:
Study well before you write UTME
For the exam, past questions are a must-have. Firstly, it serves as a means of making the students familiar with the way questions are being set and it properly conditions your mind on what to look out for when you are reading. Secondly, most times, past questions are reset in subsequent years, so it’s sort of a ‘legal expo’ since you have seen the questions before the exam.
Another thing is frequent study, once you keep your brain afresh by going through your notes and textbooks as a way of revising; you tend to remember things more
For the Use of English, build your diction and vocabulary as it will help you in the synonyms and antonyms section. How can you build your vocabulary? When you go through the past questions, have a dictionary, a book, and a pen beside you. This will enable you to check up on a complex word and understand its context usage, and by writing it down, you won’t forget easily.
Some students do think about how to study for JAMB. The suggestion above has answered the question of how to study for JAMB. Past questions are guidelines that will navigate you through the way JAMB uses to set their questions and those areas that do occur the most. I will advise that you pay attention to areas where JAMB like bringing out questions and you will see yourself scoring high. In addition, for students who will be writing Mathematics, pay close attention to differentiation, integration, binomial expansion, sequence, word problem, permutation and combination, probability, circle geometry, etc.
Relax and be calm
Don’t allow the fear of the exam to get hold of you when you get into the testing hall. Fear may make you forget all you have read and eventually throw you off balance. Taking a deep breath will help you dissipate the negative emotion.
Build a Time Budget
At any given point during an exam, you should know the maximum number of minutes you have to spend on the current question before moving on to the next. This will help you to pass. Try to lay down very strict time limits for yourself on each question.” This strategy goes a long way toward avoiding time trouble; it keeps your attention focused and prevents you from spending too much time on any particular question. The key to maintaining this keen awareness is to build a time budget. First, take the time allotted for the exam and subtract ten minutes. Next, divide this amount by the number of questions. The result is how long you have to spend on each prompt. This provides a safety buffer. You want a few extra minutes available here and there to be able to double-check your answers when you are finished.
Hint: Building a time budget will enhance your speed and accuracy. Don’t dwell too much on a question, there is no penalty if you guess and move on (No negative marking).
Proceed from Easy to Hard
The most effective way to tackle an exam is to answer the easiest questions first, and this is exactly what you should do. Start with the most approachable questions before moving on to the difficult ones. Don’t worry if this has you skipping around all over the exam—in most cases the provided order is irrelevant.
It is also important to note that there is no particular order when writing JAMB CBT. You can start with any subject you find easy before you proceed to difficult ones.
Hint: For science students, especially those doing calculation subjects like Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry, formulas are keys to solving any calculation. Once you see a question involving calculations, first bring out all the parameters given, then try to analyze the topic this question came from, after this, you find out how the parameters are related, this is where the use of formulas comes in. By doing this chances of getting the right answer are higher
God factor
This can’t be overemphasized. He is the only person who can dot your I’s and cross your T’s. And also silence other unforeseen factors that are beyond your power. Commit your study each day into His hands and ask Him for the grace to read, understand, and retain.
Credit: Phy Ay, Adrain Onyia, and Cal Newport
