The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that only 22.13% of candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored 200 and above.
This was disclosed in a statistical analysis released by the examination body on Monday.
Out of a total of 1,955,069 candidates who took the exam, only 432,829 scored 200 or higher.
JAMB broke down the score distribution as follows:
- 320 and above: 4,756 candidates (0.24%)
- 300–319: 7,658 (0.39%)
- 300 and above (total): 12,414 (0.63%)
- 250–299: 73,441 (3.76%)
- 200–249: 334,560 (17.11%)
- 160–199: 983,187 (50.29%)
- 140–159: 488,197 (24.97%)
- 120–139: 57,419 (2.94%)
- 100–119: 3,820 (0.20%)
- Below 100: 2,031 (0.10%)
JAMB also noted that 40,247 underage candidates were allowed to participate in the exam to demonstrate their “exceptional abilities.” However, the board stated, “Only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.”
On issues of malpractice and attendance, JAMB said, “Of the total number registered, 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions, while 2,157 others are currently undergoing investigations for suspected malpractices.”
The board added, “Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent. Those facing biometric challenges are also under investigation, and those who are cleared will be rescheduled for examination at designated centres.”
JAMB further noted that some results are still being processed. “A few of the results, including those of blind candidates and others in the JEOG candidates group, are still being processed,” it said.
“A press conference to announce the individual results of candidates and to facilitate result checking will be held later this week,” JAMB concluded.
JAMB reacts to exam location restrictions
JAMB had earlier clarified that candidates are free to sit the UTME in any part of the country, regardless of where they registered.
This comes in response to a misleading media report suggesting that candidates are restricted to writing the exam only within their state of registration.
In a statement released on Wednesday, April 16, the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, described the report as “inaccurate and misleading,” urging the public to disregard it.
“In a recent interview with a NAN reporter, I clarified that candidates are not restricted to taking the examination within their state of registration. They have the flexibility to register anywhere in the country and select any town nationwide from any registration point,” he said.
Dr Benjamin explained that Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres are organised by town for ease and convenience, allowing candidates to pick any preferred examination town across Nigeria. He emphasised that once a candidate selects an examination town, they must take the test in that specific location.
“For example, if a candidate selects Garki as their examination town, they must take the exam there and cannot be reassigned to another town, as is sometimes falsely claimed,” he stated.
