With the 2020 JAMB UTME commencing on Saturday, March 14, how you manage the final 24 hours before your examination is just as important as the months you spent studying. Here is a practical checklist of what to do the night before and on the morning of your exam.
The Night Before Your Exam
- Eat a Good, Balanced Meal: Eat a decent, familiar meal the evening before your exam to keep your energy up and avoid stomach upsets on exam morning.
- Do Light Revision and Sleep Early: Do not stay up reading all night into your exam morning; an exhausted brain makes careless mistakes under time pressure. Spend 30 to 45 minutes reviewing key formulas or past questions on the Mentra JAMB CBT app (available on both Android and iOS), then go to bed early so your brain is sharp.
- Set Multiple Alarms: Set at least two or three alarms and ask your parents or siblings to wake you up early, especially if you are in Batch 1 (7:00 am).
On the Morning of Your Exam
- Arrive at Your Centre 30 Minutes Early: Make sure you already know the exact street address of your CBT centre and arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled batch time.
- Drink Moderately: Drink enough water to stay hydrated, but avoid drinking excessive liquids right before entering the hall so you do not lose valuable minutes needing the restroom during the 2-hour exam.
- Leave Prohibited Items Behind: Do not take wristwatches, mobile phones, calculators, pens/biros, ATM cards, key holders, or smart glasses to the examination hall. Only bring your printed JAMB Exam Slip (2 copies) and a pencil.
Inside the CBT Examination Hall
- Insist on Biometric Verification: Ensure your thumbprint is verified both before entering and as required at the centre. Never sit for the exam without biometric verification.
- Sit Comfortably and Stay Calm: Take a deep breath, read the on-screen instructions carefully, and check that your name, registration number, and four registered subjects match what is on your screen.
- Start With Your Strongest Subject: Begin with the subject you are most confident in to build momentum, skip any time-wasting question to return to it later, and make sure you answer all 180 questions before submitting.
EDITORIAL VERIFICATION
Published by Mentra Academic Research
Every study guide, syllabus analysis, and timing breakdown is cross-checked against official examination criteria (JAMB UTME, POST-UTME, and WAEC) by subject matter specialists.
