The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the detailed performance report of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing that more than 1.5 million candidates scored below the 200 minimum admissible marks for university admissions in Nigeria.
This has generated some reactions as the performance is seen as poor considering that most universities and courses require a score of 200 and above for students to gain admission despite the admissible cutoff mark pegged at 140.
The breakdown of the results statistics released on Monday by the Board showed that of the 1,955,069 results released, only 420,415 candidates attained scores above 200, while just 12,414 candidates, equivalent to 0.63% of total participants, scored 300 and above, placing them among the highest achievers in this year’s exam.
The breakdown shows that 983,187 (50.29%) scored 160 -199, while 488,197 (24.97%) scored 140 – 159.
At the lowest point is 57,419 (2.94%) candidates who scored 120 – 139 while 3,820 (0.20%) candidates scored 100 – 119 and 2,031 (0.10%) scored below 100.
For the high flyers, 4,756 candidates scored 320 and above, while 7,658 scored between 300 and 319.
Also 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored 250 to 299, while 334,560 (17.11%) scored 200 – 249.
Daily Trust reports that JAMB had allowed underage candidates to participate in the UTME under a special policy to give room for exceptionally gifted students below the minimum age of 16. These candidates were not considered for admission but were given the opportunity to prove their academic strength through the exam.
The statistics released by JAMB showed that 40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities. However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.
It said, of the total number registered, 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions, while 2,157 others are currently undergoing investigations for suspected malpractices.
Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent. Those facing biometric challenges are also under investigation, and those who are cleared will be rescheduled for examination at designated centres, while adding that few of the results, including those of blind candidates and others in the JEOG candidates group, are still being processed.
Meanwhile, JAMB clarified that these 467 candidates are not automatically offered admission. Instead, they will undergo additional scrutiny which includes verification of their academic credentials, confirmation of outstanding performance in their school records and possible testing or interviews by their chosen institutions.
The rest of the underage candidates — those who failed to meet the high-performance standard — will not proceed to the next stages. Most will likely need to wait until they are of age before they can legally secure admission into Nigerian universities.
In total, over 75% of candidates scored below 200. Less than 1% scored 300 and above while the majority of scores (over 50%) fell within the 160–199 range.
Although in the last few years, the JAMB admissible mark remains 180 and above, this is however not a guarantee of securing admission because universities have their own marks as well.
Potentially, the majority of candidates who scored 160 and below will have difficulty in securing admission or getting admitted into their choice courses across tertiary institutions.
The case of low performance was also cited in the 2024 results. But in comparison, the 2024 results have better performance from candidates who scored 200 and above than that of 2025.
However, the 2025 results have more high scorers, from 300 and above.
The breakdown of the 2024 UTME results showed that a total results of 1, 842, 464 candidates were released, out of the 1,842,464 released results, 8,401 candidates scored 300 and above, while 77,070 (4.2%) candidates scored 250 and above, 439,974 (24%) candidates scored 200 and above and 1,402,490 (76%) candidates scored below 200.
Daily Trust reports that between 2023 and 2024, there has been a slight increase in the number of candidates who scored below 200.
In 2023 about 1, 164, 893 (77%) scored below 200, while 1,402, 490 was recorded in 2024, and that of 2025 is 1,534,654.
There is also a slight increase in the number of candidates who scored between 300 and above as well as those who scored 250 and above.
In 2023, 5, 311 candidates scored 300 and above. In 2024, 8, 401 candidates scored 300 and above while 12, 414 candidates scored 300 and above, showing an increase in the higher performance.
For candidates who scored 250 and above, in 2023, we have 56, 649, in 2024, we have 77, 070 while 73,441 score the same in 2025, this showed that there was an increase in performance in 2024 but a drop in 2025.
Meanwhile, the number of candidates who scored 200 and above in the three years under review, were, 355,179 in 2023, 439,974 in 2024 and 334, 560 in 2025, showing an increase in 2024 and a drop in 2025.
Reacting to the development, the Principal of Voyage International Schools Abuja, Ayegboka Sulaiman said the recently released 2025 UTME statistical analysis is deeply concerning.
He said: “With over 75% of candidates scoring below 200, and more than 50% scoring between 160–199, it is clear that the performance of a majority of the candidates is far below expectation.”
Sulaiman pointed out that the results should compel them to reflect seriously on the state of education in Nigeria.
He identified the causes in poor performance to include weak foundational education in primary and secondary levels, especially in core subjects, overdependence on last-minute exam preparation rather than consistent study habits and deep understanding.
He further added that inadequate teacher training and motivation, leading to substandard classroom delivery as a factor as well as poor reading culture and limited access to quality learning resources and examination anxiety and lack of exposure to CBT (Computer-Based Testing) environments.
To address the challenges, the principal proposed a curriculum overhaul and emphasis on analysis, synthesis and application, not rote memorization, teacher retraining programmes focused on interactive, learner-centered methodologies and reintroduction of reading and writing competitions to revive reading culture.
He also proposed the integration of ICT in schools, including regular CBT mock exams to build familiarity, strong parental and community involvement in students’ learning journey and private and public partnership in funding and managing educational reforms.
“This is not the time to apportion blame, but a time to act with urgency. Our collective response today will determine the future of our nation tomorrow.
Let us rise to the occasion and commit to raising a generation of well-equipped, critically thinking, and academically sound learners,” Sulaiman said.
For Michael Sule, the performance is an indication that we are still not where we are supposed to be when it comes to education.
“We have many students who are not writing the UTME for the first time, so it will be expected that they should do better at every sitting, but that is not the case because of our poor reading habits,” he said.
He said he is not surprised with the low performance because JAMB has consistently improved its delivery over the years and keeps tightening areas that allow cheating.
“I believe so many do not have opportunities to get involved in malpractice. That is why we are having such records. This is to show you that the craze for certificates and not knowledge is still eating us up and we need to rise above that because it calls for serious concern,” he said.
He, however, advised candidates who are willing to write UTME to start preparing well ahead as there is no more room for others to write for them.
Meanwhile, JAMB’s Registrar, Prof Ishaq Oloyede had repeatedly said the institutions have the final say on the marks to determine the admission of students.
On the conduct of the UTME, he said JAMB’s robust and secure processes have set a new benchmark for examinations in Nigeria and affirmed the board’s commitment to sustaining and improving these standards.
Culled from Daily Trust
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