A steady plan for UTME, grounded in how learning works

The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), is a computer-based test in four subjects, one of which is Use of English. Each subject is scored out of 100, giving a total out of 400. Because the examination is broad and timed, high scores usually come from months of steady, well-directed work rather than intensive revision in the final weeks. This article sets out a plan grounded in what is known about effective study.

Begin with the syllabus and the brochure

JAMB publishes a syllabus for each subject and a brochure listing the subject combinations required for each course. Confirm the combination for your intended course before you begin, then use each syllabus as a checklist of topics. Studying from the syllabus prevents two common errors: spending time on topics that are not examined, and missing topics that are.

JAMB also prescribes a literature text for Use of English, which changes periodically. Read it early and more than once.

Study methods that work

In 2013 Dunlosky and colleagues reviewed ten common study techniques. Two were rated as having high utility across many subjects and age groups: practice testing and distributed practice. Highlighting, rereading and summarising were rated low, not because they are useless but because they yield much smaller gains for the time invested. For UTME preparation this sets a clear priority: answer questions regularly, and spread the revision of each topic over weeks rather than concentrating it.

Practise in the real format

Because the UTME is computer-based, familiarity with the interface matters. Practising on a CBT platform builds speed in reading questions on screen, moving between subjects and managing the timer. Students who are comfortable with the format lose less time and make fewer avoidable errors.

Timed mocks and an error log

• Sit a full timed mock across all four subjects at regular intervals, for example weekly.
• Record every question you got wrong, its topic and the reason: a gap in knowledge, a misread question or a careless slip.
• Revise the weakest topics in the days that follow, then test them again.
• Track your score by subject over time, so that you can see which subject is limiting your total.

The review is where most of the benefit lies. A mock that is marked and forgotten adds little; a mock whose errors are studied changes the next result.

A twelve-week outline

Preparation that begins earlier can follow the same shape over a longer period. For a student with about three months, a workable outline is:

• Weeks 1–2: obtain the syllabuses, sit a baseline mock, and list the topics in each subject from weakest to strongest.
• Weeks 3–8: work through the syllabus topic by topic, answering questions on each topic as you study it and revisiting earlier topics each week.
• Weeks 9–11: sit a full timed mock each week, study every error, and concentrate on the weakest subject.
• Week 12: lighter revision, mixed questions across all subjects, and enough sleep before the examination.

Allocating time between subjects

Students naturally gravitate to the subjects they enjoy. A better rule is to give extra time to the subject with the lowest mock score while maintaining the others with regular practice. Gains are usually easier to make in a weak subject than in one where the score is already high.

Managing time in the examination

Because all four subjects share one timer, time management is itself a skill to practise. Decide before the examination roughly how many minutes each subject will receive, answer the questions you are sure of first, and mark uncertain questions to return to. Avoid leaving any question unanswered at the end if there is no penalty for a wrong answer; confirm the current rules before the examination.

Reading and Use of English

Use of English rewards wide reading. Comprehension and summary questions favour students who read quickly and accurately, and vocabulary grows with exposure. A daily reading habit, even twenty pages, supports every subject, because every question must be read and understood under time pressure.

Sleep and wellbeing

Sleep is part of learning. Research on memory consolidation shows that sleep after study helps stabilise newly learned material (Stickgold, 2005). Students who give up sleep for extra hours of study often retain less. Regular meals, physical activity and short breaks also support concentration.

After the UTME

Most universities hold a post-UTME screening, and admission depends on the UTME score, O-Level results and the institution's own assessment together. Keep studying after the UTME, and prepare for the specific format of your chosen institution.