Reasons Why Students Fail JAMB UTME Exam in Nigeria

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In this article, we will be sharing with you some reasons why students do fail the Jamb UTME examination in Nigeria. So, if you are aspiring to participate in the 2024/2025 Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), or maybe you have written the examination before and you didn’t ace through it, therefore wanting to rewrite the exam in 2024, then this post is for you.

About the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) UTME Exam

Popularly known as JAMB, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME is a transitional exam that’s written by secondary school certificate holders who want to further their education in any Nigerian university.

The UTME exam helps the examination regulatory body known as JAMB to select candidates that are eligible to gain admission in Nigerian universities.

JAMB was mandated in Nigeria in the year 1978, and it’s come to stay over the years past.

Nevertheless, let move to see the common reasons why Nigerian students fail JAMB exam.

Reasons Why Students Fail JAMB UTME Exam in Nigeria

Improper Preparation

Bad Reading Habit

Not Following Syllabus and Brochure

Choosing the wrong course

Wrong Subject Combinations

Inability to Understand what you read

Not having the right study resources

Procrastination

Depending on Exam Malpractice

Settling your mindset for a low JAMB score

Lack of Self-confidence

Computer illiteracy

Lack of Proper Rest and Other Health Complications

Reasons Why Students Fail JAMB UTME Exam in Nigeria

1. Improper Preparation 
2. Bad Reading Habit
3. Not Following Syllabus and Brochure
4. Choosing the Wrong Course
5. Wrong Subject Combinations
6. Inability to Understand what you read
7. Not having the right study resources
8. Procrastination
9. Depending on Exam Malpractice
10. Settling your mindset for a low JAMB score
11. Lack of Self-confidence
12. Computer illiteracy
13. Lack of Proper Rest and Other Health Complications

1. Improper Preparation

One of the main reasons why students in Nigeria fail the JAMB examination is improper preparation. 

Yes, most students think the JAMB examination is simply or probably something they can be easily MANÖVER. As such they neglect to start preparing early for the exam by creating a study timetable, and taking their time to study each subject for a better understanding. 

Some students believe they know it all, and therefore fail to review the JAMB syllabus, read the given novel, give to past question practicing, and ask for assistance from subjects expert or another student who knows the subject better than they do, where they don't understand.

Start the preparatory process early. 

You can check out our JAMB preparatory materials here - https://examguide.com/offline/products/utme

2. Bad Reading Habit

A bad reading culture can influence your performance in any examination you want to participate in, and the JAMB Exam isn’t exempt.

A poor reading habit can as well influence your comprehension of passage reading on exam day.

Sometimes, it’s not that the prospective candidate didn’t read well for the examination, but, it could be that he/she failed to read based on the area of concentration such as the syllabus, and brochure. 

The emergence of the JAMB syllabus, and brochure is to help you tackle this particular reason why you might fail the examination. Failure to adhere to the stipulated syllabus and guidelines might lead to your failure in the exam. 

3. Not Following Syllabus and Brochure

A lot of students who are aspiring to write the joint admission and matriculation examination don’t know that following the JAMB brochure and syllabus is very important. 

So, as we earlier said, if you fail to follow the syllabus or guidelines provided on the brochure, there is every tendency that you might not have a good score.

4. Choosing the wrong course

A wrong choice of course can lead to failure in your JAMB examination. 

Ensure that your preferred course matches the subjects that you are good at, don’t choose a course just to prove a point, or please anyone. 

For example, if you know that you aren’t good in Chemistry, physics, and maybe mathematics, then you should not consider a course that will require you to write those subjects in your JAMB Exam. 

Choose a course that inspires you.

5. Wrong Subject Combinations

This is another reason why you might fail JAMB. 

Ensure to check if your subject combination is the right one for your choice of course. 

Please, don’t make the mistake of choosing the right course with the wrong subject combinations.

Check the right subject combinations for your course of study on the ExamGuide UTME learning app - https://examguide.com/offline/products/utme

6. Inability to Understand what you read

I know a lot of JAMB candidates in my environment who fall under this category of persons. 

Yes, they seem to study hard and read, but the problem is that; they don’t understand what they are reading. 

So, if you happen to be in this category, kindly look for our published article on how to understand what you read.

7. Not having the right study resources

Lack of the right study materials can lead to you not passing the JAMB exam. 

Study material is not limited to past questions! Yes, a lot of candidates do only buy past questions, study, and cram. 

But, it will interest you to know that there are over 10 JAMB study materials or resources that you have yet to use for your preparatory studies. 

You can also find most of the study materials on our UTME app. Just download the application, and begin to explore the amazing features of the app. 

EXAM UTME CBT PRACTICE APP

8. Procrastination

Delay, they say, is dangerous. This can influence your JAMB examination performance negatively. So, stop postponing when it’s time to read!

Start your preparation early, and stop saying “I will do that tomorrow”. It might be too late, and dangerous.

Always remember that time is free, yet priceless.

9. Depending on Exam Malpractice

Some JAMB candidates depend solely on examination malpractice, which is a bad influence on their overall performance, thus the reason for failure.

Please, in the name of whatever you worship, when planning to write any examination or test, let go of your reliance on malpractice, and you will be glad you did. 

10. Settling your mindset for a low JAMB score

I was once a victim of this. 

Yes, my subject combination was Chemistry, Math, English, and Physics, and my course cut-off point for the university I wanted to attend was about 180. 

I was like “Omor, if I can score at least 50 in all the subjects I am writing, that will be about 200 score points.

Lo, and behold it didn’t turn out as planned, simply because i was settling for less. 

Little wonder motivational speakers do say “Aim at the sky, so if you don’t hit the sky, you will hit a bird”

PS: Don’t make the same mistake that I made.

Ensure to study with our CBT practice app, so as to enhance your chance of scoring higher than your expectation. 

11. Lack of Self-confidence

Self-confidence plays a vital role in your ability to ace through a particular examination or any given task. 

Always remember that if you don’t believe in yourself, no one will do that for you! 

Stop having the mindset of doubt! Wake up, and be courageous. Always tell yourself that you can do it without anybody’s assistant. 

Stop depending on that your brilliant friend because you’re also brilliant, but you only need to unlock that by doing away with self doubt. 

Study, and confide in yourself that you too can make it all alone.

12. Computer illiteracy

This can also lead to your failure in the JAMB examination, and as such you have start learning how to use computer. Most especially, how to navigate through the JAMB CBT platform. 

Start practicing now with Examguide CBT Practice Software to get familiar with the platform interface.

13. Lack of Proper Rest and Other Health Complications

When preparing to write JAMB examination, ensure that you are in a good health condition, as this might act as a stumbling block to your success. 

Imagine waking up on the examination day with a severe fever! It’s either you will stay back from writing the exam, or you will go with illness to the exam hall which is either ways not good for you. 

Also, make sure that you have enough rest when preparing for any examination! Relax your mind after each studies because you really need it at the point.

Lack of rest can cause stress and anxiety.

Conclusion

The above given tips are the reasons why you might not pass your JAMB examination with flying colors. So, try as much as possible to avoid the common mistakes that are outlined over there, and you will be happy with yourself that you did that. 

If you have any question pertaining to JAMB examination, kindly use the comment section to reach out to us, and our team of research experts will attend to your query ASAP.

Goodluck to all the JAMBITES!