Top Mistakes Students Make with JAMB Past Questions in 2025/2026; JAMB (Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board) exams are one of the biggest exams in Nigeria. Many students get nervous, and sometimes make mistakes when using JAMB past questions for their preparation. This can make it harder to do well in the exam. In this article, we will look at the common mistakes students make when using JAMB past questions for 2025/2026, and how to avoid them.
Why JAMB Past Questions Are Important
Before we talk about mistakes, it’s important to understand why past questions are so important.
- Helps You Understand the Exam: By practicing past questions, you get a good idea of how the exam will look.
- Improves Speed: The more you practice, the faster you can answer questions.
- Identifies Weak Areas: If you practice often, you will notice the areas where you are weak and need more study.
Now, let’s look at the common mistakes students make when using JAMB past questions for 2025/2026.
READ ALSO: How to Organize JAMB Past Questions for Effective Study
1. Not Solving Enough Past Questions
One of the biggest mistakes students make is not practicing enough past questions. Just getting one or two questions to look at is not enough to prepare for the real exam.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Limited Exposure: If you only practice a few questions, you won’t be able to see the variety of topics that can appear on the exam.
- Lack of Confidence: If you don’t practice enough, you will not be confident when you face the real exam.
How to Avoid It:
- Practice Regularly: Make it a habit to solve JAMB past questions every day. The more questions you solve, the more prepared you will be.
- Cover All Topics: Try to solve questions from different topics in your science subjects. This way, you will be prepared for anything that comes up on the exam.
2. Not Understanding the Questions
Some students focus too much on memorizing answers without truly understanding the questions. They may quickly look at past questions and choose answers without taking time to understand the full meaning of the question.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Wrong Answers: Without fully understanding the question, you may end up picking the wrong answer, even if you know the correct answer for a similar question.
- Missed Marks: Understanding the question is the first step in getting the right answer. If you skip this, you may miss marks.
How to Avoid It:
- Read Carefully: Always take time to read each question carefully. Don’t rush through the questions.
- Understand the Question Before Answering: Make sure you know what the question is asking before you choose your answer.
3. Ignoring the Time Limit
Many students make the mistake of not practicing within the time limit. They may solve past questions, but they don’t pay attention to how much time they are taking. This is dangerous because JAMB is a timed exam.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Time Pressure: The JAMB exam is time-limited. If you don’t practice within the time limit, you may find it difficult to finish the real exam on time.
- Inaccurate Preparation: Practicing without a time limit can make you feel overconfident, but in reality, you may struggle with time during the actual exam.
How to Avoid It:
- Practice with a Timer: Set a timer for each set of questions you solve. This will help you get used to working quickly and efficiently.
- Start Timing Early: Begin using a timer early in your preparation. This way, you will get better at managing your time as the exam approaches.
4. Not Reviewing Mistakes
Some students make the mistake of not reviewing their mistakes after solving past questions. When they get a question wrong, they just move on to the next one without understanding what went wrong.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Missed Learning Opportunities: If you don’t review your mistakes, you will keep repeating them and not learn from them.
- Lack of Improvement: You may not improve if you keep making the same mistakes over and over again.
How to Avoid It:
- Review Your Mistakes: After each practice session, go back and check the questions you got wrong. Try to understand why the answer was wrong and how to solve it properly.
- Seek Help: If you don’t understand your mistakes, ask your teachers or classmates for help. They can explain the right way to solve the problem.
5. Not Following the Right Study Plan
Another common mistake is not following a clear study plan. Some students jump from one topic to another without having a plan for how they will cover all the important areas of the JAMB syllabus.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Disorganized Study: Without a plan, you may miss out on important topics that can appear in the exam.
- Wasted Time: If you are not following a study plan, you might spend too much time on areas that are less important, while neglecting more important ones.
How to Avoid It:
- Create a Study Plan: Make a timetable that includes all the topics you need to study. Make sure to cover all subjects and allocate enough time for each.
- Stick to Your Plan: Follow the study plan every day. If you feel behind, try to adjust your schedule to catch up.
6. Depending Only on Past Questions
Some students make the mistake of depending only on past questions and not studying the JAMB syllabus or textbooks. While past questions are very useful, they are not enough on their own.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Limited Knowledge: Past questions are great, but they cannot cover everything that could come up in the exam. You need to study your textbooks and the JAMB syllabus to have a complete understanding.
- Missing Key Concepts: Important concepts might not come up in past questions but could appear in your exam. If you don’t study the syllabus, you might miss these concepts.
How to Avoid It:
- Use the Syllabus: Make sure you have a copy of the JAMB syllabus. This will guide you on the topics to study.
- Study Textbooks: Along with practicing past questions, make sure you study your textbooks to strengthen your knowledge of each topic.
7. Not Practicing Different Types of Questions
JAMB exams can include different types of questions, including multiple choice questions, essay-type questions, and more. Some students make the mistake of only practicing one type of question.
Why It’s a Problem:
- Unprepared for Different Question Types: If you only practice multiple choice questions, you may struggle with other types of questions during the exam.
- Limited Understanding: You might not fully understand how to approach different types of questions without proper practice.
How to Avoid It:
- Practice Different Question Types: Make sure to practice a variety of question types. This will help you prepare for anything that might come in the exam.
- Learn Exam Strategies: Learn how to approach each type of question effectively. This will give you confidence and improve your performance.
Conclusion
Avoiding these common mistakes when using JAMB past questions in 2025/2026 will greatly improve your chances of success. Make sure to practice enough past questions, understand the questions, manage your time, review your mistakes, stick to a study plan, and use the syllabus and textbooks to guide your study.
By following these steps, you will be well-prepared and confident when the exam day comes. Good luck with your JAMB preparation!
READ ALSO: Common mistakes during JAMB 2025/2026 registration