Over 1.5 Million Candidates Scored Below 200 in 2025 UTME – JAMB Reveals Performance Breakdown

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a detailed breakdown of how candidates performed in the recently concluded 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing that more than 1.5 million candidates scored below 200 — a score considered by many institutions as the minimum benchmark for admission into competitive programmes.

Out of a total of 1,955,069 registered candidates, a staggering 1,511,654 candidates — approximately 77.3% — scored less than 200. This means only about 22.7% of candidates scored 200 and above.

Detailed Breakdown of Scores:

• 160–199: 983,187 candidates
• 140–159: 488,197 candidates
• 120–139: 57,419 candidates
• 100–119: 3,820 candidates
• Below 100: 2,031 candidates

This alarming statistic has raised serious concerns among stakeholders in the education sector, especially as the number of available admission slots in Nigerian tertiary institutions continues to fall short of the demand.

While JAMB has not yet released the official cut-off marks for admission, it is widely known that most federal universities accept scores starting from 180–200 for various programmes, with more competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Engineering, and Pharmacy requiring even higher scores.

JAMB’s data shows that only:

• 4,756 candidates scored 320 and above,
• 7,658 candidates scored between 300–319, and
• 12,414 candidates in total scored 300 and above, which is just 0.63% of the total candidates.

Underage and Special Needs Candidates

Among the registered candidates were 40,247 underage candidates, defined as those below 16 years of age. These individuals were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional academic capabilities. However, only 467 of them — representing just 1.16% — achieved scores deemed high enough to qualify as “exceptionally brilliant,” and their final consideration will depend on performance in subsequent stages such as post-UTME and SSCE.

In addition, 501 visually impaired candidates across 11 special centres are still writing their own version of the UTME under the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG). Their results are still being processed and will be added to the national statistics once concluded.

Malpractices and Technical Challenges

JAMB also reported that 97 candidates were involved in confirmed examination malpractices, while another 2,157 are currently under investigation for suspected irregularities. Additionally, 71,701 candidates were recorded as absent during the exams, and a number of others are still being investigated for biometric and technical issues that may have prevented them from sitting for the exam as scheduled.

The Board stated that those who are cleared after verification will be rescheduled to sit for the exam in coming weeks.

What This Means for Admission Seekers

The sharp dip in performance — especially with the majority scoring between 140 and 199 — means that competition for admission into top institutions will be intense, especially for candidates applying for high-demand courses.

Candidates are advised to begin preparing for the next stage of the admission process, which may include post-UTME or internal screening. Those whose scores fall below the typical university thresholds may consider applying to polytechnics, colleges of education, or exploring change-of-course options when the portal opens.

JAMB is expected to hold a policy meeting in the coming weeks, where official cut-off marks and other admission guidelines for the 2025/2026 academic session will be announced.

Would you like to write a follow-up post focusing on schools that accept below 200 or how to prepare for post-UTME?