JAMB introduces 8 Keys CBT exam, Says no going back

On Wednesday, March 29, 2017, Reports says that the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB was going to stop the computer based testing, CBT mode of conducting the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME.

It was reported to be dumping the CBT due to the low computer literacy level of candidates across the nation.

In an effort to make CBT responsive and friendly, JAMB announced the use of 8 keys without a mouse

JAMB also debunked the report that it would be abolishing the CBT mode, describing it as misrepresentative while also reaffirming its determination to carry on all its examinations using the mode.

The spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, said in a statement issued in Abuja, on Thursday, March 30,  that the headline: ‘JAMB dumps CBT, adopts eight keys’, was misleading and capable of triggering fear, misrepresentation and confusion in the minds of Nigerians principally the candidates preparing to take the 2017 UTME.

Benjamin said: “At the meeting, the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, restated the determination of JAMB to continue to innovate on policies that will ease the phobia for CBT, one of which is the introduction of the use of 8 keys without a mouse and nowhere was the issue of dumping CBT contemplated.”

According to Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the CBT is still the only mode for the forthcoming UTME.

The use of 8 keys without a mouse was introduced by JAMB to make the CBT mode friendly.

The 8 keys are as follows;

A - for choosing option A in response to questions

B - for choosing the B option

C - represents option C

D - for selecting option D

P – represents previous question

N – is for next question

S – is for submit

R – is for reverse

It was also earlier reported that candidates sitting for this year UTME will spend two hours instead of the contemporary three hours to sit for the exam.

Currently, a total of 240,000 applicants were said to have registered for the examination which is to take place on May 20.

Yet, candidates have been finding it difficult to register for the examination. Many complains about invalid ePINs.

However, JAMB stated that the cause of the invalid pin being experienced by candidates was due to the rate at which candidates buys ePINS without first creating their profile, and providing incorrect email address at the bank teller and unexpected technical issues in the PIN vending system.