A disclosure first
We make JAMBUDDY, a JAMB practice bot on Telegram, so treat what follows with that in mind. The criteria below are the ones we would use to judge any app, ours included, and we have said where other kinds of app do some things better.
The six things that matter
- Real past questions. Not "likely questions" someone wrote last week. Real UTME questions show you how JAMB phrases things, and phrasing is half the difficulty.
- Working, not just the answer. An answer key tells you that you were wrong. Working tells you why, which is the only thing that stops you making the same mistake again.
- Full timed mocks. The UTME is 180 questions in two hours. An app that only offers untimed practice leaves you unprepared for the clock, and the clock is what catches people out.
- A score you can compare to your cut-off. A mark out of 400 tells you how far you are from the course you want. A percentage per quiz does not.
- Weak-topic tracking. Most candidates spend their time on topics they already pass. A good app notices which ones you keep missing and points you at them.
- It fits your phone and your budget. Storage, data, battery, price. The best app is the one you will still be opening in March.
And one rule that has nothing to do with features: walk away from any app, group or website that promises leaked questions or a guaranteed score.
The three kinds of JAMB app
| Kind | Good at | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Offline download apps | Work with no data once installed; large question banks | Big downloads that fill cheap phones; easy to install and forget |
| Web CBT simulators | Look closest to the real CBT screen | Need data and a decent browser; usually no memory of your weak topics |
| Telegram bots | Nothing to install; questions come to you; light on data | Need a connection; a chat, not a copy of the CBT screen |
None of these is best for everyone. If you are often without data, an offline app makes sense. In the last few weeks, a simulator that looks like the CBT screen is worth a few sessions so the layout is familiar on the day.
Where JAMBUDDY fits
JAMBUDDY is the Telegram option. Against the six criteria:
- 20,000+ real past questions in Use of English and the main UTME electives
- The working appears the moment you get a question wrong
- Full 180-question, two-hour mocks, or 40 questions in 30 minutes
- A predicted score out of 400 after each mock, shown as a range because it is an estimate
- Every answer tracked, and a daily 11am challenge aimed at your weakest topics
- Free for 14 days, then ₦300 a month or ₦1,500 a year, paid by transfer, USSD or card
What it does not do: it does not work offline, it does not imitate the CBT screen, and it does not yet cover Literature in English or Computer Studies.
How to test any app in one evening
- Answer 20 questions in your weakest subject and get some wrong on purpose. Is the working clear enough to learn from?
- Start a timed mock. Does it feel like exam conditions, or like a quiz?
- Check whether it knows what you got wrong the next day.
- Look at the price after the trial, and whether you need a debit card to pay.
An app that passes all four is worth keeping. Most people install three and use none, so pick one and give it two weeks.
Questions people ask
What is the best app for JAMB preparation?
The one you will actually use every day that has real past questions, shows the working, runs full timed mocks and tracks your weak topics. Offline apps suit candidates with little data; Telegram bots like JAMBUDDY suit candidates who want nothing to install.
Is there a free JAMB CBT practice app?
Many apps have free tiers or trials. JAMBUDDY is free for 14 days with full access, and its daily challenge stays free after that.
Do JAMB apps use real past questions?
Good ones do. Check a few questions against a past paper you already have. Be wary of apps that promise this year's questions, which nobody can have.
Can I practise JAMB CBT on Telegram?
Yes. JAMBUDDY (@jamb_buddy_bot) runs timed UTME mocks and topic practice inside Telegram, with no download.
Test it the way this page says. Get a few questions wrong on purpose and see whether the working is clear. JAMBUDDY is free for 14 days, with no card and nothing to install. Open @jamb_buddy_bot.