Daniela Owoeye, the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), has revealed how disciplined preparation, concept-based learning and the use of Prep50 contributed to her remarkable score of 372.
Owoeye made the disclosure during an interview with Emeka Ejeziem, Chief Executive Officer of Deacons Publishers Limited, the publisher of the Prep50 series.
According to the UTME top scorer, she began preparing for the examination around September by studying past questions, using online tutorials and consulting other learning materials. However, she said her revision became more organised after she introduced Prep50 into her preparation.
She described the topic-by-topic structure of the study material as particularly helpful because it followed the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) syllabus.
Owoeye explained that each topic was broken down and summarised before the practice questions, making it easier for her to identify areas where her understanding was weak.
She said the approach also reduced the feeling of being overwhelmed by the large volume of material required for the examination. The outstanding candidate further noted that Prep50 served as a useful supplement to her teachers, textbooks and online lessons, particularly when she needed to confirm answers or clarify concepts she found difficult.
Asked whether she would have achieved the same score without the material, Owoeye said she could not say for certain, but acknowledged that Prep50 had become one of her major revision tools in the weeks before the examination.
She said she used it extensively during her final preparation because it helped her discover concepts she might otherwise have overlooked and gave her a more structured approach to revision.
Beyond the study materials she used, Owoeye said understanding concepts rather than simply memorising answers was central to her success.
She advised UTME candidates to focus on the ideas behind examination questions, carefully assess the available options and learn to recognise common traps that could lead to wrong answers.
The 2026 top scorer also challenged the belief that candidates must spend up to 15 hours studying every day to perform exceptionally well.
According to her, she averaged about eight hours of study daily, but placed greater emphasis on the quality, consistency and effectiveness of her preparation.
She identified regular Computer-Based Test (CBT) practice, proper time management and continuous revision as other important factors that contributed to her performance.
During the examination itself, Owoeye advised candidates to tackle questions they found easier before moving to more difficult ones, pointing out that all questions carry equal marks.
She also warned prospective UTME candidates against depending exclusively on past questions, urging them to combine them with textbooks, classroom instruction, mock examinations and concept-focused study.
Owoeye maintained that outstanding UTME performance is not limited to students considered naturally brilliant.
Instead, she said candidates who consistently prepare, identify their weak areas early and deliberately work on improving them can achieve excellent results.
The interview was organised by Deacons Publishers Limited to highlight the preparation methods and study experience of the 2026 UTME highest-scoring candidate, including her use of the Prep50 series.
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