Use the Christmas Holiday to Get Ahead for JAMB 2027

Christmas is for family, food and rest. You deserve all three. But if you're writing JAMB in 2027, this holiday could also be your secret weapon. Here's why, and how to use it without missing the fun.

JAMB is coming earlier

The federal government has proposed a new exam timetable for 2027. Under it, the UTME would run from 15 to 25 March 2027, with NECO from 1 April to 14 May and WAEC from 11 May to 18 June.

In 2026, the UTME started on 16 April. By our sum, the proposed 2027 date is about a month earlier. So you'd have about a month less than last year's candidates to prepare.

And by our sum, from Christmas Day to 15 March is only about 11 to 12 weeks.

One important note. JAMB has said the timetable isn't final yet:

"the dates published are proposed timelines and not confirmed final dates." JAMB, as reported by Legit.ng, October 2026

So plan as if it's March, and keep checking JAMB's official website and social media pages for the final dates.

More candidates every year

About 2.24 million candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, up 10.5% on 2025. By our sum, that's over 200,000 more people chasing university places in a single year.

How did people score? After JAMB's resit for candidates affected by a technical problem in 2025, JAMB said 29.3% of results were 200 or above, and 70.7% were below 200. By our sum, that's about 3 in every 10 candidates reaching 200.

The minimum for university admission in 2026 was 150, and 100 for polytechnics. But popular courses ask for much more. That's why getting ahead matters.

What research says actually works

Two study habits stand out in the research.

1. Test yourself instead of rereading

A big 2013 review of ten study methods rated practice testing as one of the two most useful. Rereading and highlighting were rated low value.

In a famous 2006 experiment, students who reread a passage did better on a test five minutes later. But on tests two days and one week later, students who had practised recalling it from memory remembered much more. And here's the trap: rereading made students feel more confident than they should have.

For JAMB, that means past questions and recalling things from memory, not reading your notes again and again.

2. Spread your study out

The same 2013 review rated spaced practice, studying a topic a little at a time over days and weeks, as the other most useful method. A 2006 review of 317 experiments found spaced study beat cramming, and the further away the test, the longer the gaps between reviews can be.

So instead of cramming one subject for a whole day, touch each subject a little, then come back to it a few days later.

Don't let the break undo your progress

Research from America has found that some students lose part of what they learned during the long summer holiday. One large study of nearly 18 million students found that, on average, students lost 17% to 34% of the year's gains over the summer, more in maths.

Be careful with that. America's summer break is 10 to 12 weeks, much longer than our Christmas break, and newer research suggests the losses vary a lot between tests. But the lesson is simple: a little practice keeps your brain warm.

A simple three-week Christmas plan

Keep it to about two hours a day, split into two short sessions. Take Christmas Day and New Year's Day off.

By our sum, two hours a day for 19 days is about 38 hours of focused practice before school resumes. That's a big head start.

Week 1: Find your gaps

• Do one timed past paper in each of your four JAMB subjects.
• Mark them honestly.
• Write down the topics and types of question you got wrong. That list is your plan.

Week 2: Fix the biggest gaps

• Pick your three weakest topics.
• Learn each one once from your notes or textbook, then go straight to past questions on it.
• Check every wrong answer the same day.

Week 3: Mix it up

• Do short timed sets that mix all four subjects.
• Go back to the topics from week 1 and test yourself again. This is spaced practice in action.
• Finish with one full timed practice under exam conditions.

Get ready for registration too

JAMB hasn't announced 2027 registration dates or fees yet. In 2026, registration ran from 26 January to 28 February, and the UTME fee was ₦7,200, or ₦8,700 with the optional mock exam. With the exam coming earlier, registration may open earlier too.

Use the holiday to get ready:

• Make sure you have your NIN.
• Have a working email address and phone number of your own.
• Decide on your course and subject combination with your parents or a teacher.

For the full year, see our SS3 study plan for WAEC and JAMB and our guide on how to raise your JAMB score.

Enjoy the holiday too

Rest isn't wasted time. Sleep, family and fun help your brain store what you've learned. Two focused hours a day still leaves you most of the holiday to enjoy.

On Scholarleveling, you can join live classes with teachers over the holiday from any phone, and practise with quizzes in your JAMB subjects.

Read next: how to study when there's no light, or getting through JAMB, WAEC and NECO without burning out.