Mistakes That Can Make You Miss Your JAMB 2025 Exam — and How to Avoid Them

The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) is just around the corner.
After months of preparation, study, and sacrifice, the last thing any candidate wants is to miss the exam because of simple, avoidable mistakes.

Unfortunately, every year, many candidates are turned back or even disqualified — not because they were not ready academically, but because they made errors that could have been easily avoided.

Now that the reprinting process is ongoing and the exam dates are already fixed, it is very important to be extra careful.

This article will guide you through the most common mistakes that can make candidates miss their JAMB exams, and most importantly, how you can avoid falling into the same trap.

Your hard work deserves a fair chance.
Don’t let small mistakes ruin it.

1. Not Printing Your JAMB Slip Early Enough

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make every year is waiting too long before printing their examination slip.
Some candidates assume they have enough time, while others keep postponing the task until it is too late.

Your JAMB slip is the only document that shows:

• Your exam date,
• Your exam time,
• Your exam centre.

Without it, you will not be allowed to write the exam, no matter how prepared you are.

Also, early printing helps you detect any issues on time — for example, wrong subject combinations, errors in your name, or even mistakes in your centre assignment.

If you wait until the night before your exam and the portal refuses to load or you experience technical issues, it may be too late to fix anything.

To avoid this mistake:

• Print your JAMB slip immediately if you have not done so already.
• Check all the information carefully.
• Keep at least two copies safe — one for backup.

The earlier you settle your slip printing, the more focused and relaxed you will be for your exam.

2. Arriving Late at the Exam Centre

Another serious mistake that can cost you your chance to sit for the exam is arriving late at your CBT centre.

JAMB operates with very strict timing.
Once a session begins and the biometric verification has been completed, no candidate will be allowed to enter, no matter the excuse.

Some candidates underestimate how long it takes to reach their centre.
Others miscalculate traffic, roadblocks, or unexpected delays, and by the time they arrive, the exam has already started or even finished.

Even if you have a genuine reason for being late, once the system has been locked for your session, nothing can be done.

To avoid this mistake:

• Know exactly where your centre is located ahead of time.
• Plan your movement carefully, considering traffic and possible delays.
• Leave your house very early, even if your exam is in the afternoon.
• If your centre is very far, consider sleeping closer to the location the night before.

It is better to arrive two hours too early than to arrive five minutes too late and lose your chance.

Punctuality can save your future — don’t joke with it.

3. Forgetting or Losing Your JAMB Slip on Exam Day

Another painful mistake that happens to some candidates is forgetting their JAMB slip at home or misplacing it on the way to the exam centre.

Remember, your JAMB examination slip is your official entrance pass into the CBT centre.
Without it, you will not be allowed to even pass the security checkpoint, no matter how ready you are.

Some candidates mistakenly assume that because they know their registration number by heart, they don’t need the physical slip.
Others forget to pick it up in the rush and panic of exam morning.

Even worse, some candidates fold their slip carelessly, damage it, or lose it inside public vehicles.

To avoid this mistake:

• Prepare your slip the night before your exam — not on the morning of the exam.
• Place it inside a strong transparent file or envelope to protect it.
• Make two or more copies and carry a backup copy in case anything happens.
• Keep your slip somewhere you cannot forget — like inside your bag or with your ID card.

Be wise.
A small piece of paper can determine whether you enter the exam hall or not.

4. Bringing Banned Items to the Exam Centre

Another common mistake that can lead to serious trouble is carrying banned items to the examination centre.

Every year, JAMB publishes a list of items that candidates must not bring into the CBT hall.
Unfortunately, some candidates either ignore the warnings or claim they didn’t know — and end up being disqualified or embarrassed on exam day.

Items you must not bring include:

• Mobile phones (whether switched on or off),
• Calculators (JAMB provides an on-screen calculator during the exam),
• Smart watches or any electronic gadgets,
• Bags, purses, wallets, or backpacks,
• Study materials, textbooks, or handwritten notes.

If you are caught with any of these items, even by accident, you may be disqualified immediately for malpractice.
Even pleading may not save you once the rules are broken.

To avoid this mistake:

• Carry only your JAMB examination slip and, optionally, a simple ID card.
• Leave your phone and gadgets at home. If you must carry a phone, switch it off and leave it outside the exam premises with a trusted person.
• Don’t bring unnecessary items to the centre. Travel light and stay safe.

Sometimes, it’s not what you bring that helps you — it’s what you leave behind.

5. Misunderstanding Your Exam Time or Date

One small mistake that has caused many candidates to miss their exams in the past is misunderstanding their scheduled exam time or date.

Some candidates mistakenly think their exam is in the afternoon when it is actually early in the morning.
Others mix up the date entirely — for example, believing their exam is on the 25th when it is actually on the 24th.

Unfortunately, if you miss your scheduled session, JAMB will not reschedule you.
Missing your session means missing the exam for that year.

To avoid this mistake:

• Read your JAMB examination slip very carefully. Don’t just glance at it — study the details properly.
• Note both your exam date and exam time clearly.
• Set reminders on your phone, wall calendar, or even ask family members to remind you.
• Plan your movement according to the exact time — not what you think or assume.

In JAMB, there are no second chances for missed sessions.
A simple reading mistake can cost you an entire year.

Always double-check your date and time!

Final Advice: Small Mistakes Can Have Big Consequences

After all your months of preparation, reading, and sacrifices, it would be heartbreaking to miss your JAMB 2025 exam simply because of a mistake that could have been easily avoided.

Now is the time to be extra careful.

• Double-check your exam date and time.
• Prepare your slip and other materials early.
• Plan your movement clearly.
• Follow all JAMB rules strictly.
• Stay calm, focused, and organized.

Remember, JAMB will not listen to excuses on exam day.
Responsibility is fully on you to show up at the right place, at the right time, and with the right things.

Small mistakes can destroy big dreams if you are not careful.

But with proper preparation, focus, and seriousness, you will avoid these traps and walk confidently into the exam hall, ready to succeed.

We wish you the very best as you move closer to your dream.

Stay sharp. Stay ready.