It is common for candidates to feel that there is not enough time to answer all the questions in Post-UTME examinations at some Nigerian universities and polytechnics. This is why learning how to manage your time effectively should be an important part of your preparation. You may understand the subjects, remember the formulas, and know how to solve the questions, but if you cannot work quickly enough within the time provided, you may still lose valuable marks. Preparing for Post-UTME therefore requires more than studying your books. You must also develop the speed and accuracy needed to complete the examination within the allotted time.
Just like other competitive examinations, time management is a major factor in Post-UTME performance. Candidates are often expected to answer numerous questions within a limited period, and every minute counts. If you struggled to finish all your questions during JAMB, you should take that experience seriously and prepare to manage your time better during Post-UTME. Although the examination formats differ across institutions, practising under timed conditions can help you become more comfortable with answering questions quickly without sacrificing accuracy.
I still remember the first time I sat for the Post-UTME examination at the University of Benin (UNIBEN). Before I fully understood what was happening, the invigilators were already collecting our answer scripts. It felt as though an examination scheduled to last an hour had lasted barely twenty minutes. The experience was both funny and dramatic because I had expected to have enough time to work through the questions, only to realise how quickly the minutes were passing. That experience made one thing clear: in Post-UTME, you cannot afford to ignore the time factor.
One common mistake candidates make is spending too long on a difficult question because they are determined to solve it before moving on. Unfortunately, this approach can prevent them from answering several easier questions that they could have completed within a short time. A better strategy is to answer questions you understand first and return to more difficult ones when the examination format and instructions permit. You should also avoid repeatedly checking the clock to the point that it distracts you. Instead, develop a sense of how much time you can reasonably spend on each question and monitor your progress at sensible intervals.
The most effective way to improve your speed is to practise with a timer before the examination. Obtain relevant Post-UTME practice questions, set a time limit similar to the one used by your preferred institution, and attempt to answer the questions without unnecessary interruptions. After each practice session, check your answers and identify the questions that consumed too much time. If calculations are slowing you down, revise the necessary formulas and practise solving problems manually. If reading and understanding questions is your main challenge, work on identifying keywords and interpreting instructions accurately.
In this guide, you will learn practical ways to manage your time during Post-UTME and improve your chances of completing the examination successfully. You will discover how to allocate time to questions, avoid common mistakes, improve your answering speed, and practise under realistic examination conditions. Remember that knowing the answers is only part of the task; you must also be able to provide them within the time allowed. Start practising early, measure your progress, and enter the examination hall with a clear strategy for making every minute count.
Mark the word “The first time I wrote post UTME examination”. That means I wrote Jamb and post UTME more than once.
If you are planning to quit because you failed then it is time to have a rethink. Keep trying until you win. There is no award for the first person to gain admission in your set.
Now, even if you would not be able to finish everything in the post UTME, there are steps you must take to cover much in the limited time frame.
I will make this article as short and simple as possible so that you can continue preparations for your Unliag, UI, OAU, Unilorin, Abu Zaria, Uniben, Lasu, Unijos, etc.
1. Research On Post UTME Questions
Many Nigerian Universities and Polytechnics Repeat or Modify Jamb Past Questions in their Post UTME. Others set Unique Questions. You may Click here to Install Savina Academy Post UTME App to see for yourself.
Just like Unilag doesn’t set the same type of questions with Uniport, so also does Uniben set post UTME questions different from that of OAU.
Post UTME in Nigerian Universities differ by difficulty and number of questions. Some set as low as 40 questions while others set as high as 200 questions. OAU is reported to even set Advance level questions which are usually difficult for students to attempt.
The more the number of questions asked, the more the time frame, however, the time allocated to one question is usually not enough in any of the top Universities.
I won’t discuss how to pass post UTME examination here because I have already done that. You may want to Click Here to see the 17 laws that will make you pass post UTME once and for all.
When you know how your school sets questions, you will know how to approach and answer the questions “at the speed of light”.
2. Revise a Few Days to Post UTME
Stop reading when it is 5 days to the examination; even if you still have topics not covered. This is because your speed depends on the topics you know very well. Engage in serious revisions a few days to the exam and practice more past questions.
The more you revise and solve past questions, the more your examination speed will build up. This is because you would have already come across familiar questions before the post UTME examination date. It will then be easier for you to meet the speed required in the live post UTME examination.
Don’t assume you know any topic or can answer any question. Solve them as many times as possible and without spying. If you can’t answer a question at least 10 times without spying, then you don’t understand.
3. Post UTME Venue On Time
The early bird catches the worm… The earlier you are to the post UTME hall, the more relaxed you are and the less you are able to answer questions without pressure.
Also, stay calm when you get to the exam hall. Free your mind, stop thinking about how prepared you are or how difficult the examination would be. In fact, stop thinking about the time frame.
You will many aspirants carrying big textbooks on the venue and asking questions you may not have read. It shouldn’t freak you. Simply write your exam and walk out.
Have a success mindset say. Tell yourself, “this examination will be simple and I will answer everything right now”. This will boost the confidence you need to pass your post UTME examination.
4. Pick Questions At Random
To finish on time, you may not necessarily need to attempt the questions serially. Quickly glance through the questions and see the time each would require. Attempt your post UTME questions in the four manners below:
- Start with the easiest subject.
- Attempt all the questions that would take you seconds.
- Answer those that would take you a minute to tackle.
- Proceed to answer the time-consuming questions.
Make sure that you have answered as many past questions as possible.
5. Shade Randomly:
Now, time may not actually be enough for you. Since there is no negative marking in post UTME, therefore, begin to pick random answers when it is already getting close to the end of time.
You may decide to shade option A, B, C or D throughout depending on the option that seems more correct. I explained this in my article on how to answer questions correctly even when you are not sure of the answer.
To pass in post UTME exam, you don’t necessarily need to attempt all the questions. The number of questions you attempted doesn’t count on its own. What really matters is the number of questions you answer correctly.
6. Don’t Waste Time On Questions
When it comes to questions in the examination hall, five things can happen…
- You can’t remember the answer to some questions at the moment
- Some questions will take more of your time
- You can’t answer some questions
- Some questions are very easy for you to solve
- You don’t need to solve some questions before picking answers.
In this case, answer the ones that are easy for you before attempting the ones that will waste your time. For the ones you don’t know, do a meaningful quess.
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