The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will on Monday, April 14, 2025, hold its annual admission policy meeting with heads of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria to determine the national minimum cut-off marks for the 2025/2026 admission exercise.
This crucial meeting, which will take place in Abuja, will involve vice-chancellors, rectors, and provosts of all public and private universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.
What Are Cut-Off Marks?
Cut-off marks are the minimum UTME scores candidates must attain to be considered for admission into tertiary institutions. While each institution may set its own preferred score, JAMB and stakeholders must agree on a National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS), below which no institution is allowed to admit any candidate.
In 2024, the minimum was:
- 140 for universities
- 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education
The same or adjusted benchmarks will be discussed and decided tomorrow, based on collective input from institutional heads.
How Are Cut-Off Marks Decided?
All participating institutions submit their proposed cut-off marks ahead of the meeting. At the policy gathering:
- These proposals are reviewed collectively
- Institutions vote on the national minimum cut-off
- No school is permitted to admit candidates below the agreed score
- Institutions may adopt higher cut-off marks internally based on competitiveness
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, is expected to oversee the process, emphasizing transparency and fairness through JAMB’s Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).
CAPS Still in Use
JAMB maintains that it does not interfere with institutional autonomy. Instead, CAPS serves as a platform to rank candidates based on merit, using factors such as:
- UTME score
- O’level grades
- Post-UTME performance (if applicable)
- Other institution-specific requirements
CAPS also aims to eliminate manipulation and favouritism in the admission process by ensuring highly qualified candidates are given first consideration.
Age Requirement and Past Controversy
Last year, there was debate about the minimum age for admission, with a brief directive suggesting 18 years before it was reversed. The current approved minimum age for admission remains 16 years, as directed by Education Minister Tunji Alausa after taking over from former Minister Tahir Mamman.
Public Concerns
Despite efforts at standardization, some Nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the current centralized system, suggesting that universities should be allowed to conduct their own entrance exams and set unique guidelines. JAMB, however, insists that CAPS only helps coordinate and streamline admissions — final admission decisions rest with each institution.
What to Expect
Monday’s meeting is expected to:
- Confirm the national minimum cut-off marks for 2025
- Reaffirm CAPS as the primary admissions tool
- Clarify admission timelines and requirements for new institutions
- Address issues of age eligibility and admission quotas
Stay with us for full coverage of the JAMB 2025 Admission Policy Meeting, and the official announcement of cut-off marks as soon as it’s released.