Nigeria's JAMB Clarifies: 80% Score Doesn't Guarantee Admission for Under-16 Candidates

Nigeria's Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified that achieving an 80 percent benchmark score does not automatically guarantee university admission for underage candidates. Candidates classified as underage, meaning they will be younger than 16 by September 30 of the admission year, are eligible for consideration only if they meet specific academic thresholds.

According to JAMB's "JAMB Explained" series, these underage candidates must score at least 80 percent in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the post-UTME screening, and their O-Level results to be considered. However, the board stressed that this benchmark merely qualifies them for consideration, and final admission decisions rest solely with the chosen tertiary institutions.

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An underage candidate must score 80 per cent in UTME, post-UTME and O-Level screening to be eligible for admission.

The clarification separates eligibility from admission, highlighting that even underage candidates who meet the academic requirements must still satisfy the specific admission criteria set by their desired universities. For the 2026 admission exercise, the Federal Ministry of Education's age policy requires candidates to be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026.

JAMB advised that while underage individuals can participate in the UTME, their admission is contingent upon falling under the exceptional-candidate category and meeting the required performance standards. The board's explanation aims to manage expectations for exceptionally young candidates and their parents, emphasizing that a high UTME score is a prerequisite for consideration, not a guarantee of entry.

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Please note that your admission is solely dependent on the choice of your institution.