The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has advised prospective 2027 UTME candidates to avoid five common mistakes that have continued to affect admission chances, including late preparation, wrong subject combinations and registration errors.

According to JAMB, many candidates lose admission opportunities not because of low intelligence but due to avoidable errors made before, during registration and in the examination hall.

The board said early preparation remains critical to success in the computer-based test.

The first major mistake identified is waiting until the examination is close before preparing. JAMB noted that late preparation often leads to inadequate coverage of the syllabus and panic. Candidates are advised to begin studying at least three to six months before the exam and use the official JAMB syllabus as a guide.

Another common pitfall is wrong subject combination and incorrect course or institution selection. The board explained that choosing a subject combination that does not align with the requirements in the JAMB brochure can lead to automatic disqualification, even with a high UTME score.

Registration errors also account for a significant number of failures. JAMB listed wrong spelling of names, mismatch between JAMB details and NIN records, entering incorrect O’Level grades, registering at unapproved CBT centres and using another person’s phone number as errors that must be avoided. Candidates are urged to ensure all biodata matches their NIMC records exactly.

The board further warned against ignoring past questions and failure to practise under time constraints. It noted that UTME is a timed examination and candidates who do not practise with past questions or CBT simulators often struggle with time management and the computer-based format.

JAMB advised candidates to practise regularly with past questions, understand why an option is correct, simulate real exam conditions with a timer, and verify all information from official sources before registration. It added that early preparation, correct subject combinations and accurate registration remain key to securing admission.