How to Prepare for University Screening Exams: 7 Shocking Secrets to Secure Your Admission (Don't Fumble)

So, you crushed JAMB. You saw your score—maybe a 260 or a 280—and you started feeling like the “IDAN” of your set. You probably thought, “That’s it, I’m going to university.”

But here is the bitter pill: High JAMB scores have deceived many brilliant students into staying at home for another year.

It sounds harsh, but it’s true. The University Screening Exam (or Post-UTME) is the final boss. It is the filter schools use to separate the lucky guessers from the actual scholars. If you mess this up, that beautiful JAMB score becomes a waste.

I’ve seen students with 290 in JAMB fail the University of Lagos (UNILAG) screening because they prepared for the wrong exam. If you want to know how to prepare for university screening exams without tears, you need a different strategy.

Let’s break down exactly what you need to do to see your name on that admission list.

Table of Contents

1. Know Your “Enemy” (The Format Check)

Here is where most people get it wrong. They assume Post-UTME is just “JAMB Part 2.”

It isn’t. While JAMB tests your subject knowledge (Physics, Chem, Bio), many schools test your aptitude.

For example, a school like the University of Ibadan (UI) might stick strictly to your four JAMB subjects. But other schools might give you a “General Paper” covering Mathematics, English, and Logic—even if you applied for Law.

Before you open a single book, ask questions. Does your school of choice do “Subject Combination” or “Aptitude Test”? If you study Biology for a school that sets questions on Current Affairs, you are playing a losing game.

2. Get the School-Specific Past Questions

You might think all past questions are the same. Honestly, that’s a dangerous assumption.

A generic “Post-UTME Past Questions” book you bought in traffic won’t help you much. You need the specific booklet for your university.

Why? Because universities are lazy (sometimes). They often recycle questions from their own internal pool. A question asked in the 2018 OOU screening is very likely to appear in 2025. Dig for these specific booklets. Ask seniors in the department or visit the school gate bookshops. That N1,000 booklet could be the difference between admission and frustration.

3. Speed is Everything (The 40-Second Rule)

JAMB gives you time. Post-UTME does not.

In many screening exams, you might have 60 questions to answer in 40 minutes. That is less than a minute per question. It’s a sprint, not a marathon.

If you spend 5 minutes trying to solve one difficult Calculus problem, you have successfully failed the exam. You need to practice answering with speed. When you practice at home, set your timer to be faster than the real exam. If the exam is 1 hour, force yourself to finish in 45 minutes.

4. The “Current Affairs” Curveball

“Who is the current CBN Governor?” “What year did Nigeria become a republic?”

You applied for Medicine, so why are they asking you this? Many universities include a Current Affairs section to test your general awareness. It is an easy way for them to drop candidates who are only “book smart.”

Don’t ignore the news. Know the names of key ministers, the states and their capitals, and major historical dates. It sounds silly, but these “bonus” marks often decide who gets the merit list. Check reputable platforms like The Guardian Nigeria to stay updated on current events.

5. Verify Your Documents Early

Imagine getting to the exam center, ready to write, and the security man bounces you because your Post-UTME slip isn’t colored.

It happens every year. The screening isn’t just about the test; it’s about the process. Ensure your O’Level results are uploaded correctly on the JAMB CAPS portal. Print your exam slip days before the exam.

Don’t be the guy looking for a cyber café at 7:00 AM on exam day. That panic will scramble your brain before you even see the first question.

6. Dealing with the “African Time” Factor

Your slip says the exam is by 8:00 AM. You arrive by 8:00 AM. Guess what? You are late.

In Nigerian universities, the queue for accreditation can be longer than the queue for fuel. If you arrive “on time,” you might end up standing in the sun for 3 hours before you enter the hall. By the time you sit down, you are exhausted.

Get there by 6:30 AM or 7:00 AM. Find a cool spot, relax, and go over your summary notes. Being physically fresh is a huge advantage.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for your screening is about precision.

Don’t just read hard; read smart. Know the format, get the right past questions, and work on your speed. The distance between you and that matriculation gown is just one good exam score.

You have come too far with JAMB to fumble now. Go and smash it.