As concerns grow over the calculator limitations experienced during the 2025 JAMB mock examination, another candidate, Umar Faruq Wada, has shared his personal struggle and how it negatively impacted his performance.
Umar explained that during the mock, he was forced to skip 12 questions — mainly from Physics and Chemistry — because the calculator provided by JAMB lacked essential scientific functions.
Calculator Problem Made Exam Difficult
Sharing his experience, Umar said:
“Yes of course I had experienced difficulties using JAMB calculator during the mock exam. That’s why I even raised the problem, because I skipped 12 questions that demanded the use of a scientific calculator both from Physics and Chemistry. I just guessed.”
Without access to functions like logarithms, square roots, and trigonometric ratios (sin, cos, tan), Umar and many others had no choice but to guess answers or leave questions unanswered, which could seriously affect their final scores.
Broader Candidate Complaints
Umar’s story adds to the growing number of candidates who have appealed to JAMB to upgrade the calculator before the main UTME begins on April 25, 2025.
Key missing features candidates are asking for include:
- Logarithms (log)
- Square roots (√)
- Trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan)
Candidates argue that memorizing complex values during an exam creates unnecessary pressure and could lower performance, especially in science-based subjects.
JAMB’s Position and Candidate Hopes
Although JAMB provides a simple calculator to maintain exam security, candidates like Umar are hoping that their feedback will lead to immediate improvements.
They emphasize that a better calculator would help ensure fairness without compromising the integrity of the examination process.
Final Advice
Candidates sitting for the main UTME are advised to:
- Practice using basic calculations by hand as much as possible
- Memorize critical values that may not be easily solved without a scientific calculator
- Stay updated in case JAMB makes any official changes before the exam day
Have you also struggled with the JAMB calculator during mock or practice sessions? Share your experience. Stay tuned for more verified JAMB 2025 news and exam preparation tips.