{"id":11141,"date":"2026-04-11T17:07:38","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T17:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/?p=11141"},"modified":"2026-04-11T17:11:50","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T17:11:50","slug":"6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Costly Mistakes JAMB 2026 Candidates Must Avoid in the Exam Hall"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#1_Spending_Too_Much_Time_on_One_Question\" >1. Spending Too Much Time on One Question<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#2_Not_Reading_Questions_Properly\" >2. Not Reading Questions Properly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#3_Allowing_Anxiety_to_Take_Over\" >3. Allowing Anxiety to Take Over<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#4_Not_Keeping_Track_of_Time\" >4. Not Keeping Track of Time<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#5_Leaving_Questions_Unanswered\" >5. Leaving Questions Unanswered<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#6_Getting_Distracted_in_the_Exam_Hall\" >6. Getting Distracted in the Exam Hall<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/6-costly-mistakes-jamb-2026-candidates-must-avoid-in-the-exam-hall\/#Conclusion\" >Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JAMB 2026 UTME starts April 16\u201325. Avoid these 6 costly mistakes in the exam hall that can ruin your performance even for well-prepared candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the JAMB 2026 UTME scheduled to start on April 16, thousands of candidates are in the final stretch of preparation. Yet many may not perform up to par, not because they failed to study, but due to avoidable mistakes made inside the examination hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re searching for common mistakes in JAMB, JAMB 2026 exam tips, or how to pass JAMB, this guide reveals the top pitfalls that occur during the actual CBT test and how to dodge them successfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Spending_Too_Much_Time_on_One_Question\"><\/span>1. Spending Too Much Time on One Question<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the most common score killers is getting stuck on a single difficult question. Many candidates spend 3\u20135 minutes thinking \u201cI should know this but I\u2019m not sure,\u201d while easier questions go unanswered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The JAMB CBT allows only 120 minutes for 180 questions. Don\u2019t let one stubborn item cost you marks from several simpler ones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Practical tip: <\/strong>Limit yourself to 30\u201345 seconds per question. Skip difficult ones and return to them later if time permits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Not_Reading_Questions_Properly\"><\/span>2. Not Reading Questions Properly<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rushing through questions causes candidates to miss critical words such as NOT, EXCEPT, ALWAYS, or MOST LIKELY. One overlooked word can turn a question you actually know into a wrong answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>JAMB 2026 tip: <\/strong>Slow down slightly and read each question at least twice before selecting an option. Clear understanding is far more important than finishing first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Allowing_Anxiety_to_Take_Over\"><\/span>3. Allowing Anxiety to Take Over<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exam hall pressure is real. When anxiety kicks in, it often leads to rushing, misreading questions, and forgetting material you studied thoroughly. The difference between a good performance and a disappointing one frequently comes down to mental composure under pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>How to stay calm: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Take a few deep breaths before you begin.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on one question at a time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remind yourself that you have prepared for this moment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Control anxiety and maintain steady focus throughout the two hours.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Not_Keeping_Track_of_Time\"><\/span>4. Not Keeping Track of Time<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The computer-based test does not give gentle reminders when time is running low. Many well-prepared students finish the first half comfortably but rush the remaining questions, leading to careless errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Effective time management strategy:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check the on-screen timer every 10\u201315 minutes. Aim to complete Use of English first as it carries the most marks (60 questions).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Practice full-length timed mock exams regularly before the main test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Download and practice with the Exam Scholars CBT Practice App. Full mock exams, practice questions, and tutorials available across all subjects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.examscholar.app.utme\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOWNLOAD THE EXAM SCHOLARS APP ON GOOGLE PLAYSTORE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/examscholars-utme-cbt-practice\/id6738136424\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">DOWNLOAD THE EXAM SCHOLARS APP ON APPLE STORE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">or visit <a href=\"http:\/\/www.examscholars.com\">http:\/\/www.examscholars.com<\/a> for more info and updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11112\" srcset=\"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1.png 1200w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-725x725.png 725w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-495x495.png 495w, https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/EXAM-SCHOLARS_20260313_010337_0000-1-120x120.png 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Leaving_Questions_Unanswered\"><\/span>5. Leaving Questions Unanswered<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leaving questions blank or unanswered because you don\u2019t know the answers is one of the most painful mistakes candidates make. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here\u2019s a very important news: <\/strong>A guessed answer still gives you a chance at earning a mark, while a blank answer guarantees zero. Therefore, never leave a question unanswered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Golden rule<\/strong>: Attempt every single question during your JAMB 2026 exam. Educated guesses can significantly improve your final performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Getting_Distracted_in_the_Exam_Hall\"><\/span>6. Getting Distracted in the Exam Hall<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking around, reacting to noise, or noticing others submitting early can quickly break your concentration and reduce accuracy.During the exam, your entire focus should be on the screen in front of you from start to finish, nothing else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion <span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">JAMB 2026 tests not only what you know, but how well you manage yourself under real exam pressure. Most performance drops come from poor time management, lack of focus, and anxiety, not from lack of knowledge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid these 6 costly mistakes in the exam hall, and you will give yourself a strong advantage as the UTME runs from April 16 to 25.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ve invested time and effort into preparation. Now train yourself to execute smartly on exam day. Help other JAMB 2026 candidates by sharing this post.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>JAMB 2026 UTME starts April 16\u201325. Avoid these 6 costly mistakes in the exam hall that can ruin your performance even for well-prepared candidates. With the JAMB 2026 UTME scheduled to start on April 16, thousands of candidates are in the final stretch of preparation. Yet many may not perform up to par, not because [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":21,"featured_media":8385,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,8],"tags":[535,14449,8755,14503,14505,14504,14506,536,14502,14507,14457,14442],"class_list":["post-11141","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-exams","category-jamb","tag-how-to-pass-jamb","tag-how-to-pass-jamb-2026","tag-jamb-2026","tag-jamb-2026-exam-hall","tag-jamb-anxiety-tips","tag-jamb-cbt-tips","tag-jamb-common-mistakes","tag-jamb-exam-date","tag-jamb-exam-tips-2026","tag-jamb-time-management","tag-mistakes-to-avoid-in-jamb","tag-utme-2026"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11141","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/21"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11141"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11141\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11145,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11141\/revisions\/11145"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8385"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11141"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11141"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/examscholars.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11141"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}