The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has ushered in a significant change for direct entry applicants as it announces the incorporation of verbal reasoning tests into its examination process. The revelation came from the Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, during a virtual meeting with education commissioners from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
This innovative step aims to assess candidates beyond traditional subjects like Mathematics, Chemistry, Government, or Physics. The newly introduced test is designed to evaluate not only academic potential but also career suitability, as well as mental and physical capacity. Prof. Oloyede emphasized that this intelligent test would focus on measuring candidates’ current cognitive skills.
“It is an intelligent test that will measure the candidate’s current cognitive skills and will not be the usual subjects such as Mathematics, Chemistry, Government or Physics.” Oloyede concluded.
The comprehensive test includes elements such as verbal, abstract, mechanical, and numerical reasoning, along with data checking and work sampling. Unlike conventional examinations, this approach aims to provide a holistic understanding of candidates’ abilities and aptitudes.
As part of the new requirements, all direct entry candidates are obligated to furnish specific details during registration. These details include the matriculation number of the previous school attended, subject of qualification, institution attended, year of graduation, and, where applicable, the admission letter.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has determined to break the ice in its endeavour to change the tradition of giving admission to direct entry students by introducing another form of evaluation which is cognitive in nature for the students. By incorporating a broader spectrum of cognitive skills and reasoning abilities, JAMB aims to ensure a fair and comprehensive assessment that goes beyond the confines of traditional academic subjects.
