The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has published detailed statistics for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing that a large majority of candidates scored below average.
According to a post on JAMB’s official X account on Monday, a total of 1,955,069 candidates took part in the exam. Out of this number, 1,534,654 candidates—approximately 78.5%—scored below 200 out of a possible 400.
A closer look at the results shows that only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) attained scores of 320 and above. Meanwhile, 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319. In total, just 12,414 candidates (0.63%) achieved scores of 300 or higher.
In the 250–299 range, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) were recorded, while 334,560 candidates (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249.
The largest portion of candidates, 983,187 (50.29%), scored between 160 and 199. Additionally, 488,197 (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159, and 57,419 (2.94%) scored between 120 and 139.
Further down the scale, 3,820 candidates (0.20%) fell within the 100–119 range, while 2,031 (0.10%) scored below 100.
Underage Candidates and Exceptional Ability
JAMB also revealed that 40,247 underage candidates were permitted to take the exam on account of their reported exceptional abilities. However, only 467 of them (1.16%) scored within the threshold considered to reflect such abilities. These candidates will undergo further assessment in the next three phases of evaluation.
Examination Malpractices and Investigations
In its report, JAMB disclosed that 97 candidates were involved in confirmed cases of misconduct during the exam. An additional 2,157 candidates are under investigation for suspected examination malpractices.
Furthermore, 71,701 candidates were marked as absent during the UTME. The board is also reviewing cases involving biometric verification issues. Those who are cleared will be rescheduled to take the exam at designated centers.
JAMB added that some results, including those for blind candidates and those under the JEOG category, are still being processed and will be released once final checks are completed. The board emphasized that affected candidates will be treated fairly and given the opportunity to take the exam once the issues are resolved.
A press briefing is expected later this week to provide guidelines on how to check results and to address public inquiries.
Previous Year’s Comparison
In the 2024 UTME, over 1.94 million candidates registered, and 1,904,189 participated in the exam across 118 towns and over 700 centers. According to JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, only 0.4% of candidates scored above 300, while 24% scored 200 or higher, meaning 76% scored below the 200 benchmark.
That year also marked the first time in three years that female candidates (50.6%) outnumbered male candidates (49.4%).
Additionally, 3,164 persons living with disabilities registered for the UTME in 2024—a 36.2% increase from the previous year.
