The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially confirmed that errors occurred during the conduct of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, affecting the performance of several candidates.
This disclosure was made on Wednesday by the Registrar of JAMB, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, during a press briefing held in Abuja.
“What should have been a moment of joy has changed due to one or two errors,” Prof. Oloyede admitted, acknowledging for the first time that technical or procedural issues may have influenced the outcome of the nationwide examination.
The UTME, a mandatory test for admission into Nigeria’s higher institutions, evaluates candidates in four subjects, including the compulsory Use of English. The remaining three subjects are aligned with each candidate’s intended field of study.
Out of the 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, a staggering 1.5 million scored below 200 marks, the average performance point on the 400-mark scale. The dismal results have sparked public concern and criticism of the board’s operations.
Data released by JAMB revealed that only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, while 7,658 (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319. Altogether, just 0.63% (12,414 candidates) achieved scores of 300 and above.
Furthermore, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) scored between 250 and 299, while 334,560 (17.11%) scored between 200 and 249. A majority—983,187 candidates (50.29%)—scored within the 160–199 range, which many universities accept as the minimum threshold.
The report also showed that 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159, while the lowest performance bracket included 2,031 candidates (0.10%) who scored below 100 marks.
The unusually high rate of low scores has provoked reactions from students and parents alike. Some aggrieved candidates are reportedly considering legal action against the examination body.
Education experts and psychologists have also expressed concern over the implications of the mass failure, warning of psychological impacts on students and calling for urgent reforms in Nigeria’s education system.