The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the official performance statistics for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a concerning trend in national academic performance.
Out of the 1,955,069 candidates who took the exam this year, only 420,415 — approximately 21.5% — scored above 200 out of a possible 400 marks. This means that more than 1.5 million students, or nearly 78.5%, scored below the 200 mark, which is often considered the baseline for competitive entry into many Nigerian universities.
Breaking down the higher score brackets, JAMB disclosed that:
- Only 4,756 candidates scored above 320.
- A further 7,658 candidates scored between 300 and 319.
These figures underscore how few candidates are performing at the top levels in a national exam designed to assess readiness for tertiary education.
JAMB also highlighted a special category of candidates: 40,247 underage students — those below the typical age requirement — were granted permission to sit for the exam, a move meant to accommodate exceptionally gifted learners. However, just 467 of these students (about 1.16%) attained scores that met JAMB’s criteria for “exceptional ability.” The board noted that these candidates will still need to undergo three additional assessment stages before a final decision on their academic advancement is made.
The low number of high scorers raises broader questions about the quality of education, preparation levels, and support systems in place for Nigerian students aiming for higher education.
