As the countdown to the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) continues, many candidates are raising an important concern: the calculator provided during JAMB exams needs urgent improvement.
During the recent mock examination, hundreds of candidates expressed frustration over the basic calculator offered on the CBT platform, which lacks the scientific functions needed for technical subjects like Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.
The Challenges Candidates Are Facing
Many candidates reported being forced to guess answers or skip questions entirely because the calculator could not:
- Calculate square roots (√)
- Solve logarithms (log)
- Handle trigonometric functions (sin, cos, tan)
Without these basic scientific functions, candidates lose valuable exam time trying to manually memorize or estimate complex answers.
One candidate, Andrew Joel, passionately described the current calculator as something only useful for “plus and minus” like a market woman’s calculator — a comment that has since gone viral among students preparing for the exam.
Why JAMB Must Act Fast
Upgrading the calculator would:
- Level the playing field for candidates writing science and technical subjects
- Reduce exam stress and anxiety caused by unnecessary manual calculations
- Encourage fair competition based purely on knowledge, not on guessing
- Boost candidate confidence as they enter the exam hall
A scientific calculator doesn’t compromise the security of the exam; it simply gives students the right tools to apply the knowledge they have been taught.
JAMB’s Role in Supporting Candidates
Over the years, JAMB has introduced important innovations to improve exam processes. Upgrading the CBT calculator would be another strong step towards:
- Strengthening exam integrity
- Protecting students’ efforts
- Reducing the number of candidates who are unfairly disadvantaged by poor exam tools
Listening to candidate feedback shows responsiveness and strengthens trust in the system.
Final Word
The 2025 UTME is not just about passing an exam — it’s about preparing the future doctors, engineers, scientists, and leaders of Nigeria.
They deserve the right tools to showcase their knowledge without unnecessary barriers.
JAMB is urged to seriously consider upgrading the calculator ahead of the exam starting on April 25, 2025.
Candidates, what improvements would you like to see? Share your thoughts in the comment section. Stay tuned for more JAMB 2025 updates.