The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has recently concluded the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) cycle, a process marked by both successes and challenges. The board disbursed N3 billion to accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers across the country for their services in administering the exam. However, the examination period also saw a significant number of results come under scrutiny due to suspected infractions. JAMB is currently investigating 12,617 results for a range of issues, including biometric verification failures, examination malpractice, image blending problems, fingerprint mismatches, and registration irregularities. These results remain pending until a final review and authentication process is completed. This large-scale investigation underscores JAMB’s commitment to ensuring the integrity and validity of the UTME results.
The 2025 UTME cycle also highlighted the performance disparities among candidates, particularly concerning age. Of the over 40,000 candidates under the age of 16 who sat for the examination, only 597 achieved satisfactory scores, while the remaining 39,002 were categorized as underperforming. This stark contrast raises questions about the preparedness of younger candidates for the demands of the UTME and the potential need for targeted interventions to bridge the performance gap. While early entry into tertiary education can be beneficial for some, it’s crucial to ensure that these young candidates are adequately equipped to handle the academic rigors of university-level studies.
The initial release of the UTME results in May 2025 sparked widespread concern among stakeholders and the public. The results showed that over 1.5 million out of the 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam scored below 200 out of a possible 400. This outcome triggered an internal investigation by JAMB, which revealed both human and technical errors in the conduct of the examination. These errors, ranging from technical glitches to administrative oversights, contributed to the unexpected results and necessitated corrective measures to address the concerns raised by stakeholders.
In response to the identified errors and public outcry, JAMB organized a resit examination for 379,000 candidates. The resit was primarily focused on Lagos and South-East states, where the majority of disruptions and inconsistencies were reported. This targeted approach aimed to provide affected candidates with a fair opportunity to retake the exam under improved conditions. The resit was a crucial step in mitigating the impact of the initial errors and ensuring a more equitable outcome for the affected candidates. This demonstrates JAMB’s commitment to addressing issues and ensuring fairness in the examination process.
The financial implications of the 2025 UTME cycle are substantial. JAMB has already disbursed N3 billion to CBT centers nationwide for their services in administering the main examination. However, additional payments are still pending for the resit examinations. These payments will be processed and disbursed upon the completion of any mop-up tests, ensuring that all centers are fairly compensated for their involvement in the entire examination cycle. This significant financial investment underscores the scale and complexity of conducting a nationwide examination like the UTME.
JAMB has assured candidates and the public that the ongoing review process for the contested results is being conducted with utmost transparency. The board is committed to thoroughly investigating each case of suspected infraction and ensuring that all valid results are released accordingly. This commitment to transparency aims to build public trust in the integrity of the examination process and maintain the credibility of the UTME results. The meticulous review process, though time-consuming, is essential for upholding the standards of the examination and ensuring fairness to all candidates.
