Lagos Model Colleges 2026: the second-run CBT screening — dates, who it's for, and how to prepare

July 21, 2026

If your child's screening date clashed with another exam this year — or you simply missed the first window — Lagos has given you a second chance. The State has opened a second run of the 2026 Model Colleges screening, and because it's computer-based, a little of the right preparation goes a long way. Here's exactly what's happening and how to use the time well.

The dates, plainly

Straight from the Lagos State Examinations Board's announcement:

Registration: opened Tuesday, 14 July 2026, closes Saturday, 15 August 2026.
Screening test: Friday 21 – Saturday 22 August 2026, at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo, Lagos.
Who it's for: candidates for admission into Lagos's Model Colleges and Upgraded Junior Secondary Schools whose original screening date clashed with exams run by other bodies (and others who need this window).
The format is computer-based (CBT).

(Note for parents juggling dates: this Model Colleges screening in August is separate from the Lagos JSS Placement Test for public junior secondary schools, which was moved to Tuesday, 28 July 2026. Different exam, different date — check which one your child is actually sitting.)

Why "computer-based" is the detail that matters most

Here's the thing most families underestimate: for a ten- or eleven-year-old, the format can be as big a hurdle as the content.

Reading a question on a screen, moving through a timed test by clicking, keeping track of where you are — these are ordinary skills for an adult and genuinely new ones for a child who has practised mostly on paper. On the day, if the screen itself feels strange, it quietly steals attention from the actual questions. Familiarity with the format frees the mind to think.

The good news: unlike the years of learning behind the content, format-familiarity is quick to build. A few sessions on a real, timed, on-screen practice run and the machinery stops being a distraction.

A calm two-week plan (you have the time)

With the test in late August and registration open through 15 August, there's room to prepare without cramming. A simple rhythm:

Week 1 — get comfortable.

Two or three short, calm practice sessions in the core subjects.
One full session on a screen, on a timer — the goal here isn't the score, it's making the CBT format feel normal.
Afterwards, ask one question: did it feel less strange the second time? It will.

Week 2 — rehearse the real thing.

Two timed, full-length runs on a screen, ideally around the time of day the test runs.
Practise the small things that win marks: pacing so the clock never surprises you, and letting a hard question go instead of freezing on it.
Review pace before score — a child who finishes calmly is usually closer to ready than one who scores higher but runs out of time.

By test day, the aim is for the whole experience to feel almost boring in its familiarity. That's exactly what you want.

The honest quick-start

You don't have to guess whether the format will throw your child. Let them try a few real, exam-style questions on a timer and watch how they handle it.

You can do that free, with no sign-up, in about five minutes: qualificant.co/try. It's the fastest way to see how ready your child feels on a screen and a clock — before it counts. If it helps, a free trial covers proper timed practice in the run-up to test day.

Second chances are rare in exam season. This one comes with enough runway to use it calmly — so use it calmly.

Qualificant is an independent exam-readiness platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Lagos State Examinations Board, NECO, or any school. This article is general information, not a guarantee of any exam outcome. Always confirm dates and requirements on the official Lagos State registration portal.

Sources: Nairametrics — Lagos approves harmonised 2026/2027 academic calendar · Punch — Lagos shifts 2026 JSS placement test to July 28 · Legit — Lagos begins registration for 2026 Model Colleges entrance exam.