The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed that only 467 out of 40,247 underage candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored high enough to be classified as having “exceptional ability.” This represents just 1.16% of the underage test takers.
The statistic emerged from JAMB’s analysis of 1,955,069 processed UTME results. The announcement was made via the board’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, where it noted that while the underage candidates were allowed to participate and showcase their talents, they still face three more stages of evaluation before their status can be fully determined.
JAMB also highlighted several issues surrounding the conduct of the 2025 UTME, including malpractices and non-participation. According to the board, 97 candidates were caught engaging in examination infractions, while another 2,157 are currently under investigation for suspected misconduct.
In addition, a staggering 71,701 candidates failed to show up for the exam, though JAMB did not provide specific reasons for the absences.
The board acknowledged persistent biometric verification issues, stating that affected candidates are under review and, if cleared, will be rescheduled to sit for the exam at approved centres.
Furthermore, results for certain groups — including visually impaired candidates and others under special examination conditions — are still being processed. JAMB added that a press conference will soon be held to provide additional updates and enable result-checking for all candidates.
Performance Breakdown: Majority Score Below 200
JAMB also released a detailed statistical breakdown of scores from the 2025 UTME, revealing that over 75% of candidates scored below 200, a common benchmark for admission into competitive programs.
Key statistics include:
- 320 and above: 4,756 candidates (0.24%)
- 300–319: 7,658 candidates (0.39%)
- Total scoring 300 and above: 12,414 candidates (0.63%)
In mid-tier performance:
- 250–299: 73,441 candidates (3.76%)
- 200–249: 334,560 candidates (17.11%)
The majority of candidates clustered in lower score bands:
- 160–199: 983,187 candidates (50.29%)
- 140–159: 488,197 candidates (24.97%)
- 120–139: 57,419 candidates (2.94%)
- 100–119: 3,820 candidates (0.20%)
- Below 100: 2,031 candidates (0.10%)
Key Takeaways:
- More than half of candidates scored between 160–199, reflecting average performance.
- Less than 1% of all candidates reached the elite bracket of 300 and above.
- Over 75% of candidates fell below the 200 mark, reinforcing concerns about academic preparedness.
JAMB’s data paints a sobering picture of performance trends and emphasizes the need for continued educational reforms and support for students at all levels.
