The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disclosed that out of 40,247 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), only 467 (1.16%) qualified as exceptionally brilliant. These candidates are still undergoing further evaluation in three more stages. This figure is part of the 1,955,069 results processed for the year. The Board also noted cases of malpractice and absenteeism, with 97 candidates confirmed for examination infractions, 2,157 under investigation, and 71,701 recorded as absent. Additionally, some candidates face biometric issues, and results for blind and JEOG group candidates are still being processed.
JAMB’s data revealed a generally poor performance in the 2025 UTME. Only 0.63% of candidates scored 300 and above, with 4,756 scoring 320+, and 7,658 scoring between 300–319. In the competitive range, 3.76% scored 250–299 and 17.11% scored 200–249. The majority of candidates fell into the mid-to-low scoring categories, indicating widespread average performance and raising concerns about academic preparedness at the secondary level.
Over half of the candidates (50.29%) scored between 160–199, which is often the minimum requirement for tertiary admission. Another 24.97% scored between 140–159, with very few scoring below 120. The low percentage of high scorers and the concentration of scores in the mid-range suggest a need for systemic academic improvements. JAMB has scheduled a press briefing to further address these outcomes and will enable result-checking portals for candidates afterward.
