The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially acknowledged that errors occurred during the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), contributing to the widespread poor performance recorded across the country.
Speaking during a press briefing held in Abuja on Wednesday, the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, admitted that the examination process was marred by certain technical issues that affected candidates’ performance.
“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Prof. Oloyede stated, confirming public concerns about the integrity of the examination process.
The UTME is a mandatory national examination that determines candidates’ eligibility for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It assesses applicants in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English, with the remaining subjects drawn from their chosen field of study.
Out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 marks out of the maximum 400, a figure that has raised alarm among education stakeholders and parents.
A breakdown of the results provided by JAMB shows:
- Only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above.
- 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319.
- In total, 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 and above
- 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299.
- 334,560 candidates (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249.
- 983,187 candidates (50.29%) scored between 160 and 199 — a range considered the minimum admission threshold in many Nigerian institutions.
Lower bands of performance also reflected disturbing numbers:
- 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159.
- 57,419 candidates (2.94%) scored between 120 and 139.
- 3,820 candidates (0.20%) scored between 100 and 119.
- 2,031 candidates (0.10%) scored below 100.
With over 75% of candidates scoring below 200, concerns about the credibility and fairness of this year’s examination have intensified. Some affected candidates and parents have reportedly threatened legal action against JAMB, demanding accountability and possible redress.
As the controversy unfolds, JAMB has promised to release a detailed report and take corrective measures to ensure the integrity of future examinations.
