The JAMB Exam, properly called the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is a test used to determine the eligibility of students for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Scoring very high in the JAMB Exam is a goal that many students aspire to achieve so that they may gain admission into their dream courses and schools.
Sadly, a high number of students either retake the JAMB exam or abandon their dream courses due to their low JAMB scores. For some students, it’s a lack of adequate preparation, for a few others, it is the fear they face in the Jamb exam hall due to the weight of the exam. Here, I will show you the game-changing secrets that will help you pass your JAMB exam. If you follow these secrets, you’ll definitely score extremely high in jamb.
But before I proceed, I want to tell you my personal story.
From this story, you’ll understand why these secrets worked for many people and why they’ll work for you.
--
In 2013, over a decade ago, I was just like you, when I applied for my first JAMB.
As a boy with a long record of excellence in my secondary school, I desired to study Medicine and Surgery at the esteemed University of Nigeria. As usual, I hit the books hard, studying with determination, dedicating countless hours to prepare, while putting into consideration the course I desired, and the tight requirements of the choice I had made. When the results came out, I joyfully checked and was disappointed because I had a terrible score of 184.
I called it terrible because the score was far from the cut-off mark for the course I wanted to study. As of then, the cutoff mark for Medicine and Surgery was 292.
Imagine the distance to my dream. In 2014, I gave Medicine and Surgery a second shot at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. This time my JAMB score improved, having taken notes of my previous errors in my first JAMB. But that was not still enough. I scored 222 out of the required cut-off mark of 285.
As these years passed, I watched my Secondary School classmates matriculate in their various universities and polytechnics for admission. While I was happy for them, I was unhappy and pained that I wasn’t part of them.
But from that pain, a vow and determination was born. I realized that securing a high score in JAMB requires a well-structured plan and effective strategy.
I took it upon myself to start all over. This time I analyzed my previous Jamb experiences and my previous reading strategy, then took thorough note of all the mistakes I made and began to fix them one step after the other. And guess what? It worked!
The following year, I aced JAMB with a remarkable score of 295 against a cut-off mark of 290, opening the doors to my dream course and university, the University of Nigeria.
Then and there, I promised to share these strategies (secrets) with as many people as possible to stop the frequent JAMB resitting and switching of dream courses in Nigeria. I started with eight of my friends, and the results were nothing short of excellent.
None of them scored below 255, with one even achieving a remarkable 321. In this post, I will unveil these ultimate secrets that changed my JAMB journey and that of many others for free. Let’s get right into it!
How to Score Extremely High in JAMB
1. Start Early One of the major reasons students score low in JAMB exam is their habit of starting to study late. They tend to cram a lot of books just a few weeks or even the night before the exam, which often leads to a misunderstanding of what they have read.
As a result, when they encounter questions on topics they have read, they get confused because they are not well-versed in the topic. Starting your JAMB preparation early is an investment in your admission to your academic future. It allows you to approach the exam with a strong foundation of knowledge, effective test-taking strategies, and a positive mindset, all of which contribute to achieving a high JAMB score.
Starting JAMB exam preparation early has other numerous benefits, which includes:
- Thorough coverage of the JAMB syllabus,
- Improved understanding and retention,
- Practice with past questions,
- Reduced stress and anxiety,
- Opportunity for clarification and revision, and
- Better study habits and discipline
There are also factors that can make you prepare late for the JAMB exam, which includes:
- Lack of motivation
- Poor time management
- Overconfidence
- Fear of failure
- Distractions
- Unrealistic expectations
- Poor study habits
- Changes in circumstances
- Lack of guidance
If you are struggling to prepare for the JAMB exam, it is important to reach out for help.
Talk to your teacher, counselor, or parents about your concerns, this can help you get back on track.
2. Set a Target
For example, If you are aspiring for law, and you do your research and the average cut-off mark for previous years in your chosen university is 290, then set your target to 310 and work with that.
This will enable you to put in the right quantity and quality of effort required.
3. Have a Reading System
If you find yourself reading extensively but struggling to understand, to such an extent that you cannot answer questions about what you have read, it’s likely that you have not yet discovered your ideal reading system.
Each student has their own unique reading system that works best for them. Some people prefer reading early in the morning, while others prefer the afternoon and the rest thrive at night.
Some students can read in a noisy environment, while others prefer a quiet one. There are also students who find it easier to absorb information while listening to music, while others prefer silence.
Some students prefer to take long breaks during reading in order to fully understand what they are reading, while others prefer shorter breaks. It’s important to discover what reading system works best for you in order to avoid over-reading while not actually understanding the material.
Another reason why an ideal reading system is important is to enable time for proper rest. You can’t properly assimilate what you are studying by reading day in and day out without proper sleep.
Agnes Maduafokwa, the 2020 JAMB Highest scorer, in an interview, revealed that adequate sleep and a good reading technique were her secrets to scoring 365 in JAMB. Therefore to attain your desired heights in JAMB you must prioritize adequate rest.
4. Create a Reading Timetable
A study timetable is a great way to stay organized and achieve your desired score in the JAMB examination.
To make a realistic study timetable,[5] start by identifying your priorities and allocating time for each subject accordingly. While creating your timetable, make sure you leave time for breaks to avoid burnout. It’s also important to be realistic about the amount of time you can devote to studying each day.
Don’t overload your timetable with too many subjects and make sure you leave enough time for revision and practice. Another tip is to create a visual timetable that you can refer to throughout the day. This can be drafting your timetable on a neat paper. Life happens, and unexpected events may come up that require you to rearrange your timetable. When necessary, adjust your timetable.
Don’t beat yourself if you don’t meet the timetable sometimes. The important thing is to keep striving toward your goal of achieving a high score in JAMB while maintaining a healthy balance between studying, resting, and playing.
5. Study With JAMB Syllabus
The JAMB syllabus is a vital tool for students who want to score very high in the JAMB Exam.
The syllabus provides a detailed outline of all the topics that are covered in the exam, ensuring that students are well-prepared and able to focus their studies on the right areas.
By using the syllabus, students can identify the topics that they need to focus on and allocate their study time accordingly.