Post-UTME: How to Ace Your University’s Aptitude Test

Scoring high in UTME is not the end of the journey. Most Nigerian universities conduct a Post-UTME screening. This is an aptitude test set by the school itself. Some universities use only a written exam. Others combine it with a physical screening. A few have moved to purely online assessments.

The Post-UTME syllabus is not as clearly defined as JAMB’s. It usually covers English Language, current affairs, and subjects related to your chosen course. Some schools, like the University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, ask general knowledge questions. Others, like the University of Lagos, include a Mathematics section for all candidates. Registration for Post-UTME opens after JAMB releases its results. You must visit the university’s portal, fill out your details, and pay a screening fee. Keep your UTME result slip, O-Level results, and birth certificate ready. Some universities also require a state of origin certificate.

To prepare, first find out the format used by your chosen university. Talk to students who wrote it the previous year. Get past questions if available. Practice under timed conditions. Focus on speed and accuracy. The Post-UTME is usually shorter and faster than UTME.

Your Post-UTME score is combined with your UTME score and O-Level grades to form an aggregate. The higher your aggregate, the better your chance of admission. Do not neglect this stage. Many candidates with high UTME scores miss out because they underestimated the Post-UTME.