How to practise for JAMB CBT with past questions

Use JAMB past questions in two stages. Start with small, untimed sets by topic so you can explain each answer. Then switch to mixed timed sets to practise recognising which method to use and moving on when you get stuck. Review guesses as well as wrong answers.

Start with an untimed topic set

Choose one topic you have already studied and answer five to ten questions with your notes closed. Try to solve the question before looking at the choices when that makes sense. On a passage question, identify the sentence that supports your answer. On a calculation, write down the operation you intend to use before substituting the numbers.

Mark each answer as sure, unsure, or guessed before you see the solution. A correct guess tells you that you still need to check the underlying idea. For every missed or guessed answer, find the step that would let you solve a new question on the same topic.

Try a mixed CBT pacing drill

Use JAMB’s official CBT practice resource to get familiar with answering on a computer. Follow the instructions displayed for your sitting and check JAMB’s current guidance for the exam itself. The drill below uses its own time limit for practice.

1. Choose 12 questions from several topics you have studied. Set a 15-minute practice timer. Use a computer if you can.
2. For the first 10 minutes, answer questions you can work through with a clear method. Keep a note of any question you leave unresolved if your practice setup allows it.
3. Use the next four minutes on unresolved questions. Start with the ones where you can name the missing step, such as converting units or rereading one part of a passage.
4. Use the final minute to check for unanswered items and accidental selections. When time ends, record how many you attempted before opening the solutions.

Adjust the split after two or three practice runs. If your first pass is fast but full of reading mistakes, give yourself time to restate what each question asks. If one calculation keeps taking most of the session, solve it untimed afterward and practise recognising when you have enough information to proceed.

Use the results to choose one improvement

Suppose you attempted 11 of 12 questions and got eight right. Two of those eight were guesses. Of the three wrong answers, two came from percentage change and one from misreading “except”. You have six confident correct answers, one unanswered question to revisit, and two clear tasks for the next session.

• For percentage change, try two examples and state the original amount before dividing.
• For a question that asks for an exception, say “I’m looking for the statement that fails” before checking each choice.
• For the correct guesses, explain why your chosen options work. Compare your explanation with a textbook or a teacher’s solution.

On the next mixed set, compare how many questions you answered confidently and whether the same errors came back. Use fresh questions where possible. Familiar answers can make a repeat set feel easier before your method has improved.

When to try a full mock

Try a longer mock once you can finish short sets at a steady pace and have spent time on all your registered subjects. Set aside a separate review block. During the mock, record which subjects leave you rushed. During review, use those notes to decide whether you need more topic practice or a change of pace.

Use the timed mock review guide to turn the results into a short list of tasks for your next sessions.

If the drill revealed a topic you haven’t studied yet, use the JAMB syllabus to plan your revision before trying another timed set.