Big Changes Coming for JUPEB Candidates: CBT might emerge in subsequent examination
JUPEB has dropped a major announcement that will change how students write their exams starting from 2026. In a letter dated October 20, 2025, the examination board told Vice-Chancellors of approved universities that they're moving the Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) part of the exam to Computer-Based Test (CBT) format.
This isn't a small change. It's going to affect every single student preparing to write JUPEB exams from next year onward. And there's more to it than just using computers instead of paper.
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What's Actually Changing?
Here's the deal. JUPEB exams will now be in a hybrid format. That means some parts will be on computer, others will stay the old way.
The MCQ questions - you know, the ones where you pick A, B, C, or D - those will now be on computer. But the essay parts? Still paper and pen. You'll get your question paper printed, and you write your answers in the answer booklet they give you. Same thing for practical and oral exams. Those stay as they are.
So it's not like everything is going digital overnight. They're taking it step by step.
The letter from Professor Adeniola Adeleke, the JUPEB Registrar, made this clear. They're being careful about how they do this transition. It makes sense when you think about it. Some things just work better on paper, especially when you need to write long essays or show your workings in practicals.
Why This Change is Happening Now
This didn't just come out of nowhere. Back in February 2025, JUPEB had already sent out a letter talking about moving from Paper and Pencil Test to CBT. But now it's actually happening.
The push is coming from the top. In January 2025, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the Federal Government wants all national exams in Nigeria to be 100% CBT by 2027. That's a pretty tight deadline when you think about it.
WAEC and NECO are already on this train. WAEC announced their 2026 exams will be CBT. NECO is also working on switching over. So JUPEB is basically joining what's already happening across the country.
It's part of a bigger plan to modernize how we do exams in Nigeria. Whether you like it or not, this is where things are heading.
The Real Game Changer - Random Questions for Everyone
Now here's where things get really interesting. And this is probably the biggest change of all.
JUPEB has introduced what they call "paper options." What does that mean? Simple - you and the person sitting next to you in the exam hall won't be answering the same questions anymore.
Let that sink in for a minute.
Student A gets one set of questions. Student B gets completely different questions. You might both be writing English or Biology, but your exam papers will be different. Not just the order of questions - the actual questions themselves will be different.
And it doesn't stop there. Even the MCQ questions will be shuffled around. So if by some chance you and another student get similar questions, they won't appear in the same order on your screens.
This is huge for exam security. All those tricks students used to use - copying from the person next to you, waiting for "expo" (those leaked answers people sell), using pre-arranged signals - none of that works anymore. Your neighbor's answers are useless to you because you're not even answering the same questions.
Some students might think this is harsh. But honestly, it levels the playing field. The serious students who actually studied will do well. The ones looking for shortcuts are out of luck.
What This Means for Exam Centers
Here's something a lot of people might not be thinking about yet. For this CBT system to work, every JUPEB center needs to have the right equipment and facilities.
We're talking about:
- Enough computers for all students
- Good internet connection that won't crash in the middle of exams
- Steady power supply (and backup generators because this is Nigeria)
- Servers that can handle hundreds of students logging in at the same time
- Technical staff who know how to fix problems when they come up
The letter specifically told Vice-Chancellors to "optimise their CBT infrastructure and equipment" for the 2026 exams. That's exam board language for "get your act together or you can't host exams."
For universities in cities like Lagos, Abuja, or Ibadan, this might not be a huge problem. They probably already have some CBT facilities. But what about smaller universities in rural areas? What about schools that are already struggling with basic infrastructure?
These institutions need to start preparing now. We're talking about serious money here - buying computers, installing networks, training staff. And they only have until 2026 to get it done.
Any center that can't meet the requirements might lose their accreditation to conduct JUPEB exams. That would be a disaster for students registered there.
The End of Question Prediction for Literature Students
If you're studying literature subjects, pay attention to this part. It affects you directly.
You know how students used to predict which texts would come out in exams? How you could study just two or three books and hope they'd be enough? Yeah, forget about that.
With the new paper options system, questions will come from multiple texts across different papers. You can't predict anything anymore. One student might get questions from "Things Fall Apart" and "The Lion and the Jewel." Another student in the same exam hall might get questions from "Othello" and "Purple Hibiscus."
This changes everything about how you prepare for literature exams.
Before, some students would take calculated risks. They'd focus heavily on two texts they liked and barely touch the others. Sometimes it worked out. Sometimes it didn't. But at least you could try.
Not anymore. Now you have to read and understand ALL the prescribed texts. Every single one. There's no shortcut, no smart way to game the system.
Teachers need to adjust too. You can't just teach the "popular" texts anymore and hope for the best. Students need to cover everything in the syllabus.
Is this more work? Yes. But is it better education? Also yes. You're actually learning literature properly instead of just cramming for exams.
Students Need to Know About This NOW
The JUPEB letter stressed something important - candidates need to be informed about these changes so they're not caught off guard.
This is serious. Imagine showing up for your exam expecting to write on paper, and suddenly you're sitting in front of a computer. Or imagine you only studied three literature texts and the questions come from the two you skipped. That's a nightmare situation.
Students preparing for 2026 exams need to know:
- You'll be writing MCQ on computer, not paper
- Your questions will be different from other students
- You can't predict which texts will appear in literature exams
- You need to be comfortable using computers for exams.
If you've never written a CBT exam before, you need practice. The experience is different from paper exams. You're reading from a screen. You're clicking instead of shading. You need to manage your time differently.
Schools and tutorial centers should start organizing mock CBT exams. Students need to experience what it feels like before the real thing. Get familiar with the interface. Practice moving between questions. Learn how to flag questions you want to come back to.
And for those in areas without much access to computers, this is even more critical. Find a way to get computer practice. Visit a cybercafe. Use a friend's laptop. Do whatever you can to get comfortable with the technology.
The Bigger Picture
Look, change is never easy. A lot of students are probably reading this and feeling worried. That's normal.
But step back and think about what this really means. Nigeria is trying to modernize its education system. We're moving toward international standards. CBT is how exams are done in most developed countries now.
Yes, it's going to be challenging. Yes, some students and schools will struggle with the adjustment. But in the long run, this is better for everyone.
The randomization system makes exams fairer. The student who actually studied gets rewarded. The one looking for shortcuts gets exposed. That's how it should be.
The CBT format is also more efficient. Results can come out faster. Marking is more accurate. There's less room for human error or corruption in the grading process.
And forcing students to study all their texts instead of predicting questions? That's just good education. You're supposed to be learning, not just passing exams.
What Needs to Happen Next
For this transition to work smoothly, several things need to happen:
Universities need to invest in infrastructure immediately. Don't wait until the last minute. Start buying equipment, training staff, and testing systems now.
Students need access to practice materials and mock exams. JUPEB should consider releasing sample CBT interfaces so students can familiarize themselves.
Teachers need to adjust their teaching methods. Cover all syllabus topics thoroughly. Teach students how to study effectively for randomized exams.
Parents need to support their children through this transition. It might mean buying data for online practice or paying for extra computer training.
The government needs to support schools that lack resources. Not every institution can afford to set up CBT centers from scratch. There should be grants or partnerships to help.
Final Thoughts
The 2026 JUPEB exams are going to look very different from what students have experienced before. The move to CBT for MCQ questions, the introduction of randomized paper options, and the shuffling of questions represent a fundamental shift in how the examination is conducted.
For students, the message is clear: start preparing now. Get comfortable with computers or even app like FreshNote. Study all your texts. Don't rely on prediction or shortcuts. Put in the actual work lest you waste this one year program
For schools, the clock is ticking. Infrastructure needs to be in place. Staff needs to be trained. Systems need to be tested.
This is happening whether we're ready or not. The best approach is to accept it and prepare properly.
Change is coming to JUPEB. And honestly, it's about time. Do you need free JUPEB CBT practice app? Download FreshNote
