Mastering CBT in 10 Days: Keyboard Shortcuts, Time Management, and On-Screen Calculator Tips

Computer-based tests are now the standard for JAMB UTME, Post-UTME, and many professional exams. If you are not comfortable with the CBT environment, you lose time and marks. This 10-day plan will make you a CBT pro.

Days 1–2: Learn the Interface. Open the Highscore CBT Simulator. Familiarise yourself with every button. Know where the timer is. Know how to flag a question for later. Know how to move between questions. Spend these days clicking around until it feels natural. Day 3: Keyboard Shortcuts. The mouse is slow. Use these keys instead:

● Press A, B, C, or D to select an answer.

● Press N to go to the next question.

● Press P to go to the previous question.

● Press S to submit your exam.

Practice these until your fingers move without thinking.

Day 4: Time Management Fundamentals. In JAMB UTME, you have 2 hours for 180 questions. That means roughly 40 seconds per question. Do not spend 2 minutes on a tough question. Answer what you know first. Skip the hard ones and come back.

Day 5: The On-Screen Calculator. For science and math exams, an on-screen calculator is provided. Practice using it. Learn to switch between the calculator and the question screen quickly. Do not rely on your phone calculator during practice. Use the on-screen one. Day 6: Speed Drills. Pick a subject. Set a timer for 20 minutes. Answer as many questions as you can. Focus on accuracy. Repeat twice. Speed comes from familiarity, not rushing. Day 7: Subject-Specific Timing. Allocate time per subject. For JAMB, English takes about 30 minutes. Each other subject gets 25 minutes. That leaves 15 minutes for review. Write this plan on your rough sheet at the start of the exam.

Day 8: Full Mock Exam. Take a full 2-hour mock test on the Highscore platform. No breaks. No distractions. Treat it like the real thing. After, review every wrong answer.

Day 9: Analyse Your Performance. Look at your analytics. Which subject ate up the most time? Where did you panic? Adjust your strategy.

Day 10: Final Run. Take one more full mock exam. This time, your goal is calm execution. You know the interface. You know the shortcuts. You know your pace. You are ready. The CBT format is not your enemy. It is just a tool. Master the tool, and you free your mind to focus on the questions themselves.