JAMB admits to error in 2025 UTME, orders resit for 387,000 candidates

BREAKING: JAMB admits to error in 2025 UTME, orders resit for 387,000 candidates

May 14, 2025 

There were errors in 2025 UTME, JAMB admits

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted to a technical error that compromised the integrity of the results from the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 157 centres across the country.

Ishaq Oloyede, JAMB registrar, during a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, said the results of over 387,000 candidates were affected.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has admitted to errors that impacted the performance of candidates in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Board’s Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the disclosure on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja.

“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Oloyede stated.

The UTME, which is a key gateway into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, assesses candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English and three others based on the student’s chosen field.

Out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of the total 400 marks — a result that has sparked widespread concern in the education sector.

According to JAMB, 1,955,069 results were processed. Of this figure, only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, while 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total number of candidates who scored 300 and above to just 12,414 (0.63%).

A further breakdown showed 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299, while 334,560 (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249.

The majority — 983,187 candidates (50.29%) — scored between 160 and 199, which is often considered the minimum threshold for admission in many tertiary institutions.

Additionally, 488,197 (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159; 57,419 (2.94%) scored between 120 and 139; 3,820 (0.20%) scored between 100 and 119; and 2,031 candidates (0.10%) scored below 100.

In total, over 75% of the candidates scored below 200, considered the average mark for an examination graded over 400.

Following the development, some affected candidates have threatened to take legal action against JAMB.