As the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) gears up for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), candidates are advised to take note of critical information regarding the conduct of the Computer-Based Test (CBT), including session schedules, question breakdown, and essential keyboard navigation commands.
According to KIIN360’s investigation into the structure of this year’s UTME, the CBT exercise will be conducted in four distinct sessions daily. The first batch is expected to begin as early as 7:00 a.m., followed by the second batch at 9:00 a.m. The third group will commence their exam at exactly 12:00 noon, while the final batch of the day will begin by 3:00 p.m. This four-batch daily arrangement is JAMB’s approach to accommodate the large number of candidates across approved centres nationwide while ensuring seamless administration of the exam.
Candidates will be tested in four subjects as part of the JAMB examination framework, with English Language remaining a compulsory paper for all applicants. The English paper consists of 60 questions, to be answered within 40 minutes. This section will also include 10 questions derived from the official JAMB recommended novel, which is compulsory reading material for all candidates.
The other three subjects based on the candidate’s UTME combination will each consist of 40 questions. The second and third subjects are allocated 27 minutes each, while the fourth subject is allotted 26 minutes. In total, every candidate will be expected to answer 180 questions within a fixed duration of 2 hours. With this in mind, experts recommend that candidates spend an average of 40 seconds per question to effectively manage their time.
Given the nature of the CBT environment, candidates may not be provided with a mouse during the exam. As such, a solid understanding of the eight essential keyboard commands is crucial for smooth navigation. These are: pressing A to select Option A, B for Option B, C for Option C, and D for Option D. The R key allows a candidate to revisit a previously answered question, while N moves the user to the next question. Pressing P takes the candidate to the previous question, and finally, S is used to submit the exam once completed.
Candidates are strongly urged to familiarize themselves with these keyboard shortcuts, as any confusion on the examination day could negatively impact performance. It is equally important to practice CBT mock tests ahead of the main UTME to develop both speed and confidence under timed conditions.
With JAMB’s continued emphasis on integrity, precision, and digital literacy, this year’s UTME is expected to maintain the standard of transparency and efficiency that the examination body has worked to uphold in recent years. Candidates are reminded to arrive at their respective centres well ahead of their batch’s start time and to carry only approved items, as strict security protocols will be in place.
For more educational updates and verified information on UTME 2025, always stay connected with KIIN360.
