Rectors, Provosts, Principals, Examiners to Meet JAMB Officials as Candidates Report Discrepancies in Results

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will hold a review of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results on Thursday, in response to what it termed “unusual” public complaints.

A notice obtained by The PUNCH in Abuja confirmed that the meeting would include vice-chancellors, provosts, rectors, school principals, examiners, and technical experts to examine the examination process and address the widespread dissatisfaction voiced by candidates and stakeholders.

This move follows growing protests from candidates and parents regarding the results released last Friday, with many citing technical issues and inconsistencies during the exam.

The official notice stated that the review panel will consist of members from the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, the Computer Professionals Registration Council of Nigeria, the Educational Assessment and Research Network, as well as senior officials from Nigeria’s tertiary institutions. The panel will assess both the conduct and the results of the 2025 UTME.

“In furtherance of the commitment of the board to earn public confidence in its processes, the management of the board has approved your participation to be part of the review panel constituted to appraise the conduct of the examination with the mandate to identify challenges, if any, and proffer relevant recommendations to prevent a recurrence,” the notice reads in part.

It was also mentioned that the panel's work will be carried out at no expense to the board.

The UTME is a crucial requirement for admission into Nigeria's tertiary institutions. It assesses candidates in four subjects, including the mandatory Use of English, with the other three based on their chosen field of study.

Out of the 1.9 million candidates who took the UTME, more than 1.5 million reportedly scored below 200 out of the maximum 400 marks, sparking concerns throughout the education sector.

The examination body processed a total of 1,955,069 results. Of these, only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, which is considered top-tier performance. Additionally, 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total number of candidates scoring 300 and above to 12,414 (0.63%).

Furthermore, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299, while 334,560 candidates (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249.

A total of 983,187 candidates (50.29%) scored between 160 and 199, which is often regarded as the minimum threshold for admission in many institutions.

In comparison, 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, and 2,031 candidates (0.10%) scored below 100.

In total, over 75% of the candidates (1.5 million) scored below 200, indicating a concerning trend given that the exam is graded out of 400.

Some affected candidates have threatened to take legal action against JAMB over the results.

In response to the controversy, JAMB's spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, stated on Monday that the board is fast-tracking its annual post-examination system review. This review, which usually evaluates the registration, examination, and result phases, is typically conducted months after the examination.

“We are particularly concerned about the unusual complaints originating from a few states within the federation,” Benjamin stated.

“We are currently scrutinising these complaints in detail to identify and rectify any potential technical issues.”

The statement revealed that the board is thoroughly investigating these complaints to identify and address any potential technical issues.

JAMB clarified that its annual review covers three main stages: registration, examination, and result release.

The board further explained that during the examination process, every candidate is given the opportunity to take the test, and if any technical problems occur, JAMB ensures that affected candidates are given a chance to retake the examination.

JAMB stated that experts have been brought in to help with the review process.

In response to the results, JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede noted that the performance statistics for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are consistent with those recorded over the past 12 years. He emphasized that such results are not out of the ordinary and follow historical trends.

“This is not peculiar to this year. The performance statistics are consistent with those of the last 12 years,” he said.

In 2024, 76% of candidates who took the UTME scored below 200 points.

In 2022, 78% of candidates, or 1.3 million out of 1.7 million, scored below 200, according to JAMB.

In 2021, only 803 candidates, or 0.06%, out of 1.3 million, scored above 300 in the UTME.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, in response to the results, stated that the high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice efforts are having a positive impact, particularly within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system.

Meanwhile, JAMB assured that any candidates affected by technical disruptions during the examination would be given another opportunity to take the test, in accordance with its established procedures.

Regarding the results, Dr. Alausa emphasized that they reflect the federal government’s strengthened commitment to tackling examination malpractice and upholding integrity in the admissions process.

However, candidates and parents continue to raise concerns over discrepancies in the results, with some calling for transparency regarding the scoring methods used for each candidate. A number of candidates have also rejected their results, claiming they do not accurately reflect their performance.

A group of more than 8,000 candidates have reportedly filed complaints about technical glitches encountered during the examination.

One social media user, @Pennyfabz, who scored 156, voiced her concerns, noting that she had previously scored 285 in the earlier edition of the UTME.