JUST IN: JAMB Acknowledges Errors Affecting 2025 UTME Performance

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially admitted to errors that impacted candidates’ performance in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, revealed during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.

“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Oloyede stated, acknowledging the issues that marred the examination process.

The UTME, a crucial exam for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, tests candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English and three others related to their intended field of study.

Out of the nearly 1.9 million candidates who sat the exam, over 1.5 million scored below 200 out of 400, a performance level that has raised alarm across the education sector.

JAMB processed 1,955,069 results, with only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scoring 320 and above, and 7,658 (0.39%) scoring between 300 and 319. A total of 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 or more.

Further breakdown shows 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299, 334,560 (17.11%) between 200 and 249, and 983,187 (50.29%) between 160 and 199, the latter often considered the minimum admission threshold.

Scores below 160 included 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scoring 140-159, 57,419 (2.94%) scoring 120-139, and smaller percentages scoring even lower.

The mass failure has sparked outrage, with some candidates threatening legal action against JAMB.

Details on the ongoing review and corrective measures are expected soon.