5 Mistakes That Will Make You Fail JAMB 2027 (Avoid Them From Today)

Whether it is your first time writing JAMB or you want to pass once and for all this time, some mistakes can cost you marks, or even your chance, before you answer a single question. They have nothing to do with being smart. They are avoidable. If you plan to write the JAMB UTME in 2027, you have about six months. Here are five mistakes to avoid from today.

Mistake 1: Waiting For The Date

JAMB has not announced the 2027 registration date yet. But look at the last two years. In 2024, registration ran from 15 January to 26 February and the exam held from 19 to 29 April, according to Wikipedia’s page on JAMB. In 2026, Nairametrics reported the dates in mid-January, with registration from 26 January to 28 February, a mock on 28 March and the main exam from 16 to 25 April. So my expectation, and it is only that, is registration in January or February 2027 and the exam around April. A 19 January start date is doing the rounds online, but I have not seen JAMB confirm it. Do not wait. Use October to December to go through your syllabus and find your weak topics.

Mistake 2: Meeting The Computer For The First Time On Exam Day

In 2026, JAMB opened about 1,000 centres, up from fewer than 800 the year before, yet Nairametrics reported widespread glitches during the mock, with some candidates disconnected mid-exam. Pressure like that is easier to handle when a CBT screen is not new to you. Practise on a CBT system every week, with a timer, until it feels normal.

Mistake 3: Ignoring The New Arrival Time

JAMB has changed how 2027 will start. First-session candidates must now arrive by 7:30am, not 6:30am, and the exam starts at 8:30am. Within Nigeria has the full breakdown. When your slip comes out, read your own session and time carefully, and go to the centre early on the day.

Mistake 4: Rushing Your Registration

Many candidates choose courses and subject combinations in a hurry at the CBT centre. For 2027, JAMB is introducing a National Digital Pre-Registration App so you can plan course choices, check subject combinations and verify your details on your phone first. The Sun explains how it works. It does not replace official registration, but it helps you avoid errors. And be careful with your information: in 2026, 9jaPolyTV reported a JAMB warning of a three-year ban for candidates who falsify registration information.

Mistake 5: Studying Without Knowing Where You Are Weak

Reading everything from page one is how time runs out. The smarter way is to find your Strengths and Weaknesses first, then put your hours where they matter. That is the idea behind our most popular book, Your JAMB SWOT. It is now in its 2.0 edition at ₦2,500, and its name comes from Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. You can order it on WhatsApp through the link. More than 100 students have graduated through Nkuzify's JAMB preparation. We also run the After JAMB, What Next? programme, a Hall of Fame for our best candidates, and teachers who teach both online and offline.

Free CBT Practice, From 1 November

Many candidates pay a lot of money for CBT practice. We want you to have it free. From 1 November 2026 we are launching our CBT app, and everyone on the list can use it at no cost. To join, comment on this article and include your Gmail address and WhatsApp number. Comments are reviewed by me before they appear, and I will add you to the list from there.

Already failed JAMB this year and unsure what to do next? Read Failed JAMB? Read This Before You Write It Again.