Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is indeed, one of the important exams in Nigeria. Notably, this exam is basically conducted to select students for the higher education institutions such as universities, polytechnics and colleges. In addition to this, this exam is conducted every year by The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Moreover, you might want to know more about this exam in depth. Right? Well, in this blog, you will be provided with all the relevant and sufficient information about this topic. You just need to stick around with this blog till the end of this discussion. This blog is all about Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
About Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is a computer based exam which is a standard of Nigerian students for higher education. This exam was basically designed for the students to standardize admission processes in Nigeria. Before its existence, each institution had its own entrance exams. Moreover, it was complicated and annoying for the students to apply in multiple schools. Hence, in 1978, The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) came into existence to solve this issue. However, its main aim is to ensure transparent admissions and fair examinations.
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination: Structure of the exam
Evidently, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination tests a student’s knowledge in four subjects. These subjects include English language and three other subjects that are relevant to the field of the student. For instance, a student who wants to pursue engineering, will be taking exams in Physics, Mathematics, Chemistry and English. In addition to this, the English language is mandatory for all the students of every field. Moreover, the exam is a MCQ, which is a multiple choice question test. Every subject has 40 questions, which makes a total of 160 questions. Notably, the exam has a total of 400 marks. The time duration of the exam is generally 2 hours.
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination: Registration process
Notably, the registration for this exam starts months before the exam date. Students are required to register online through the JAMB portal. They need to provide the mandatory details, choose their subjects and select their preferred examination center. In addition to this, the registration process also involves capturing biometric information such as fingerprints. This can prevent misuse and malpractices.
In addition, for a successful registration, the students are required to pay a registration fee. A student receives a reading text for the English language exam as a part of their registration. This text might be a novel or play that will be tested in the exam.
Preparation Tips for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
Here are some tips given to prepare for UTME exam:
Start early– Start studying months or year before the exam. This will give you enough time to study and cover all the relevant topics before the exam.
Use resources– Another important tip is to use resources like past year sample papers, questions and exam format. Examining the format of the exam from previous year resources will give you a rough idea of the type of questions asked.
Coaching class– Some students also attend extra classes or coaching classes to get additional help for the preparation.
Make a schedule– In brief, you need to create a proper time table to manage your study time effectively. Don’t waste your time and only focus on what is important to you.
Stay updated– Keep up to date with the latest announcements of JAMB. This will help you to stay informed and focused.
Exam date of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination
On the day of examination, it is very important for the students to arrive at their exam center on time. They are required to bring their registration slip and ID card. Notably, electronic devices such as mobile phones and smart watches are not allowed in the examination hall.
In addition to this, the exam is conducted through computers as it is a Computer-Based test. Moreover, every student gets a PC to answer the questions. After the exam, students can also check their result within a few days.
Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination: Results
Notably, JAMB announces the results of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination very early. The students who have given this exam can easily check their scores on the JAMB portal through their registration details. The higher the score, the higher will be the chance of getting a preferred institution. Moreover, after releasing the results, JAMB conducts a centralized admission process which is known as Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). CAPS ensures that the admission process is transparent as well as fair. The institution set their cut-offs marks. The students who meet these are eligible for admission in these universities. Also, CAPS allows a student to accept or reject admission offers. However, if a student rejects an offer, they might get an offer from another institution. This process continues until all the slots are filled.
Challenges
Despite being a standardized form of examination, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination also faces some notable challenges. One of the biggest challenges is exam malpractice. Even after the strict measures, some students still manage to cheat in the examination which undermines the integrity of the examination.
Another challenge is technical issues. UTME is a Computer-Based Exam, hence, sometimes, exam centers experience technical glitches and power outages. This can disrupt the exam and disturb the focus of the students.
Final words
In brief, Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is a CBT mode of exam which is very important for the students of Nigeria. Notably, the exam is conducted through JAMB. Moreover, the results are announced very early and the students can check their results easily through the JAMB portal. Tell us your opinion on this exam in the comments section. See you later in the next blog. Further, if you still have any queries on this topic, you can drop them in the comment box.
