JAMB 2025 UTME: JAMB reviews how Candidates performs The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results and performance breakdown for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). While some students did exceptionally well, the overall performance reveals a worrisome trend over 1.5 million candidates scored less than 200 out of a total of 400.
Majority of UTME JAMB Candidates Score Below 200
Out of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, more than 1.5 million couldn’t cross the 200 mark. That’s nearly 8 out of every 10 candidates scoring below the average many universities require for admission.
This has raised questions among parents, educators, and education stakeholders about what could be going wrong — is it poor preparation, a failing educational system, or just exam tension? Whatever the reason, this number is alarming and may affect many candidates’ chances of gaining admission into their desired courses.
Some UTME Candidates Still Excelled
Despite the overall low performance, a few candidates stood out with remarkable scores. According to JAMB, 4,756 candidates scored above 320 — a score range often seen in highly competitive courses like Medicine, Law, and Engineering. Another 7,658 candidates scored between 300 and 319, which also puts them in a strong position for admission into top institutions.
These high scorers will likely be at the front of the line when universities begin their admission processes. Their results show that with the right preparation and support, excellent performance is still very possible.
Over 40,000 Underage UTME Candidates Wrote the Exam
Interestingly, JAMB revealed that 40,247 candidates who were technically underage were allowed to sit for the UTME. This was to give gifted young students a chance to prove their abilities.
However, only 467 of them — just around 1.16% — scored high enough to meet JAMB’s benchmark for “exceptional ability.” While this shows that some young minds are truly brilliant, it also highlights that age and maturity may still play a role in how students handle national exams like the UTME.
JAMB Calls for Better Preparation and Support
Reacting to the statistics, JAMB stressed the need for better exam preparation, not just from students, but from parents, schools, and tutorial centers. The board emphasized that these results are a reflection of wider challenges within the educational system — from poor teaching methods to lack of access to quality learning materials.
JAMB encouraged all stakeholders to take this performance seriously and work together to improve the academic success of future candidates.
What This Means for 2025 Admissions
With such a high number of students scoring below 200, getting into top universities this year may be tougher. Admission into courses with strict cut-off marks will be even more competitive. Candidates are advised to keep an eye on their preferred schools for Post-UTME updates, cut-off marks, and screening guidelines.
Those who scored lower than expected may want to explore alternative options, such as polytechnics, colleges of education, or even preparing for next year’s UTME with a stronger strategy.
Final Thoughts
The release of the 2025 UTME results has sparked important conversations about education quality and student readiness in Nigeria. While a few candidates managed to shine, the fact that over 1.5 million scored below average is a reminder that more needs to be done to support students.
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As the admission season kicks off, students and parents should reflect on these outcomes, seek guidance, and make informed decisions about the next steps. Whether through extra study, switching course options, or waiting for another attempt, there’s always a path forward.
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