What High Scorers Do in the Last 24 Hours of JAMB. After nearly a decade of preparing candidates for UTME—and watching the difference between those who score 180 and those who cross 250+—one truth has remained consistent: the last 24 hours before JAMB can either protect your score or quietly destroy it.
By the time you are one day to your exam, reading new topics will not suddenly make you brilliant. What matters is control: of your mind, your materials, your timing, and your decisions. High scorers do not panic. They follow a protocol.
This guide breaks down, step by step, what serious UTME candidates do in the final 24 hours—and what weaker candidates do wrong.
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1. 24 Hours to the Exam: Stop Chasing New Knowledge
One of the biggest mistakes candidates make is believing that the final day is for “one last push.” In reality, the syllabus should already be exhausted long before this point.
What High Scorers Do
High scorers switch from learning mode to revision and reinforcement mode. They:
- Revisit summaries, not textbooks
- Review formulas, rules, dates, and definitions
- Skim through error notebooks—past mistakes they’ve already made and corrected
At this stage, the brain responds better to familiar material than fresh content.
What Low Scorers Do
They open a brand-new topic and end up confused, anxious, and mentally fatigued—often carrying that confusion into the exam hall.
Rule: If you have not mastered a topic before now, leave it.
2. Subject-Specific Final Revision Strategy
High scorers revise strategically, not randomly.
English Language
- Focus on lexis and structure, idioms, register, and comprehension strategies
- Do not cram essay formats or grammar rules at this point
- Practice reading questions first before passages—this saves time
Mathematics
- Revisit formulas, shortcuts, and common traps
- Solve a few familiar questions, not full sets
- Emphasize speed and accuracy over volume
Sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)
- Review definitions, laws, diagrams, and units
- For Biology, prioritize classification, ecology, genetics, and cell biology
- For Chemistry, focus on stoichiometry, periodic trends, and organic basics
- For Physics, revise formulas and interpretation of questions, not derivations
Arts & Social Sciences
- Revisit key dates, authors, themes, and concepts
- Avoid rereading novels or long passages—focus on exam-relevant summaries
3. Confirm Logistics Early—No Surprises Allowed
More UTME scores have been lost to logistics failure than poor preparation.
High scorers confirm everything at least one day before the exam.
Checklist
- Print your JAMB slip and confirm:
- Exam date
- Time
- Centre location
- Locate the centre physically if possible
- Plan transport and arrival time (minimum 1 hour early)
- Prepare:
- Slip
- Valid ID if required
- Face mask (if instructed)
Candidates who arrive late are already defeated psychologically—even if they are allowed in.
4. Sleep Is Not Optional—It Is Strategic
You cannot out-read sleep deprivation.
High scorers treat sleep as part of the exam strategy, not a luxury.
What to Do
- Sleep at least 6–7 hours
- Avoid overnight reading
- Avoid energy drinks or unfamiliar stimulants
The UTME is a speed-based CBT exam. A tired brain:
- Reads slower
- Misinterprets questions
- Makes careless mistakes
No amount of “last-minute reading” compensates for this.
5. Food and Mental State on Exam Day
What You Eat Matters
Eat something light but sustaining:
- Bread and tea
- Rice (small portion)
- Fruits
Avoid heavy, oily meals that can make you sluggish.
What High Scorers Do Mentally
- They accept nervousness instead of fighting it
- They avoid group panic and rumor-spreading at centres
- They remain inward-focused
Confidence is not arrogance; it is calm preparedness.
6. Inside the CBT Hall: The High-Scorer Playbook
This is where preparation meets execution.
Step 1: Start With Familiar Questions
High scorers:
- Answer questions they recognize first
- Skip difficult ones temporarily
- Build momentum early
This reduces anxiety and stabilizes focus.
Step 2: Time Control
- Never spend too long on one question
- Use the mark-and-return function wisely
- Keep an eye on the timer without panicking
Step 3: English Comes First—Use It to Set the Pace
English helps candidates settle into the CBT environment. Take it seriously, but do not rush blindly.
7. Avoid These Silent Score Killers
Even well-prepared students lose marks through avoidable habits:
- Over-changing answers unnecessarily
- Misreading “NOT,” “EXCEPT,” and “ALL OF THE FOLLOWING”
- Guessing without eliminating options
- Rushing due to panic, not time shortage
High scorers are not faster because they rush—they are faster because they are calm and precise.
8. Final 10 Minutes: How Smart Candidates Finish
In the last minutes:
- Review flagged questions only
- Do not start fresh mental battles
- Trust earlier decisions unless you spot a clear error
Random answer changes in the final moments often reduce scores.
Final Advice From the Tutor’s Desk
Your UTME score is not decided on exam day—it is revealed on exam day. The last 24 hours are about protecting what you have already built.
If you:
- Revise intelligently
- Sleep properly
- Arrive early
- Stay calm
- Follow a clear exam-hall strategy
you give yourself the best possible chance to score high.
Remember: JAMB does not reward panic. It rewards clarity, speed, and discipline.
