2027 UTME: Five common mistakes candidates must avoid

As preparations for the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) gather momentum, prospective candidates have been advised to begin early preparations and avoid common mistakes that could affect their chances of securing admission into their preferred institutions.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in a video posted on its X handle on Wednesday, identified late preparation, poor course selection, incorrect subject combinations, failure to follow official announcements and registration errors as some of the major challenges confronting UTME candidates.

JAMB stressed that addressing these issues early would help candidates improve their examination performance and reduce avoidable admission setbacks.

1. One of the major mistakes identified is starting preparation too late. Many candidates reportedly delay serious studying until a few weeks or months before the examination, leaving them with insufficient time to cover the syllabus, practise past questions and improve their understanding of difficult subjects.

Candidates have therefore been encouraged to develop consistent reading habits, prepare a realistic study timetable and begin covering the UTME syllabus well ahead of the examination.

2. Another common mistake is failing to make an informed choice of course and institution before registration.

Some candidates reportedly register for the examination without properly understanding the admission requirements of their preferred courses and institutions.

To avoid this, prospective candidates have been advised to identify their preferred courses early, research institutions offering them and confirm the required O’level credits before completing their registration.

3. The third mistake is choosing the wrong UTME subject combination, which could affect a candidate’s eligibility for admission regardless of the score obtained.

Candidates have been advised to confirm the specific subjects required for their preferred courses through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) Integrated Brochure and Syllabus System (IBASS).

The official platform, ibass.jamb.gov.ng, provides information to help candidates verify the appropriate subject combinations and admission requirements.

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4. Another issue highlighted is failure to follow official JAMB updates.

Missing announcements concerning registration procedures, deadlines, examination schedules and other important guidelines could expose candidates to unnecessary difficulties.

Candidates have consequently been urged to regularly visit JAMB’s official website, www.jamb.gov.ng, and follow its verified communication channels to obtain accurate and timely information.

5. The fifth mistake is providing incorrect personal information during registration.

Errors involving names, dates of birth, National Identification Number (NIN) details, telephone numbers and other personal information could create verification challenges during registration and admission processing.

Candidates have therefore been advised to ensure that their personal details are accurate and consistent across relevant records before visiting accredited registration centres.

They were also encouraged to carefully review all information entered during registration before submission.

The advisers emphasised that success in the 2027 UTME requires more than academic preparation, noting that candidates must also make informed decisions, understand admission requirements and comply with official examination guidelines.

They urged prospective candidates not to wait until registration begins or the examination date approaches before taking their preparation seriously.

According to the guidance, early preparation, proper course selection, correct subject combinations, regular attention to official announcements and accurate registration details could help candidates avoid common setbacks and improve their chances of gaining admission in 2027.