The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of the recently conducted 2025 UTME resit examination for candidates at centres impacted by the unfortunate incident.
While this situation is unfortunate, it has also revealed numerous alarming practices perpetrated by candidates, certain Proprietors of Schools/Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres, which have exacerbated examination irregularities.
It would be recalled that after the conduct of the resit examination, a meeting of the Board’s Chief External Examiners (CEEs) in all states of the federation was held to consider the results. In attendance at the meeting were a few notables.
After consideration of the report of the resit examination, and extensive deliberations thereon, the following resolutions were made:
i. Constitution of a Sub-Committee: A sub-committee, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University, Prof. Olufemi Peters who is also the CEE FCT, was constituted to confirm that the results are in order.
ii. Release of 2025 UTME Resit Examination: The CEEs reviewed the exercise and directed that an expert in psychometrics, Prof. Boniface Nworgu be invited to analyse and endorse the results for subsequent release.
iii. Release of Results of all Under-aged Candidates: As part of the healing process, the meeting resolved that the withheld results of the under-aged candidates (except where litigation is involved) who performed below the established standards be released. Such result does not however qualify them for admission, as they had previously signed an undertaking during the registration process acknowledging that only those who meet the prescribed standards would be considered for under-aged special admission.
iv. Release of Result of Candidates involved in “WhatsApp Runs” and other Misdemeanours: This category of candidates were found to have been involved in illicit solicitation of assistance. The meeting emphasised that its decision is not an endorsement of candidates’ unacceptable acts, rather a once and for all waiver. Candidates were thus advised to refrain from joining questionable “WhatsApp and other anti-social groups.”
v. Special Waivers for Absentee Candidates: While noting the over 93% attendance at the resit examination, the meeting offered all the candidates absent an opportunity to participate during the normal annual mop-up examination. This waiver is also extended to the candidates who for whatever reason must have missed the initial main UTME.
vi. CBT Centres involved in Registration Infractions: The meeting condemned the involvement of some CBT centres in perpetrating serious registration and examination malpractices and resolved that all the implicated CBT centres should be blacklisted while complicit owners should be prosecuted. In addition, the identified individuals who directly registered the candidates with modified pictures and biometrics be apprehended and prosecuted.
vii. Activities of Tutorial Centres: The meeting observed with great concern, the role of some tutorial centres in the perpetration of examination malpractices. It urged governments at all levels to take appropriate steps in ensuring that operators of tutorial centres are properly regulated, licensed and constantly monitored. This is to curtail the initiation of candidates into the path of dishonesty.
viii. Computer-Based Examination: The meeting acknowledged the significant contributions of Computer-Based Testing in diminishing instances of examination malpractice and advancing the nation towards a digital society. Despite some shortcomings, CBT remains the viable option for ensuring a malpractice-free examination process.
ix. Standardisation of Processes: The meeting acknowledged the detailed and rigorous processes adopted by the Board in the accreditation of CBT centres by state panels led by the CEEs. It was however advised that a reputable firm of management consultants be engaged to advise on improving the process of accrediting CBT centres, registration procedures, and other critical operational stages.
x. Tribal/Sectional Narrative: The meeting expressed with regret the attempts by some groups to exploit the unfortunate incident to disseminate tribal and sectional narratives. The unfortunate incident is not targeted at any section of the country, neither was it caused by any particular section of the country. It was emphasised that such narratives risk exacerbating existing divisions within society and even the JAMB workforce.
xi. Commendation and Endorsement: The meeting commended the Registrar and the Management of JAMB for the competent and sincere handling of the unfortunate accident and urged them to remain steadfast and courageous.
RESIT EXAMINATION RESULT
Consequent to the above, the result being released is as follows:
Of the 336,845 who were eventually scheduled after isolated good sessions of the affected centres were excluded and their previously unverified candidates were added, 21,082 were absent. Despite the ongoing inquiries, performance analysis remains consistent (between 11% in 2013 and 34% in 2016) with results from the past twelve years as shown in the table below:
COMPARISON OF UTME RESULTS SINCE THE INCEPTION OF CBT IN 2013
The Board has revealed that in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, 17,025 candidates representing 0.88 per cent of the total 1,931,467 scored 300 and above.
This marks the highest number recorded since the introduction of the Computer-Based Test.
According to a statistical report, this reflects a significant improvement in performance compared with previous years since the adoption of the CBT format in 2013.
The report showed that 1,931,467 results were released in 2025, representing 100 percent of the candidates who sat the examination.
This figure surpasses the 1,842,364 results released in 2024 and indicates a steady increase in UTME participation over the years.
In comparison, 8,401 candidates (0.46 per cent) achieved similar scores in 2024, while 5,318 (0.35 per cent) did so in 2023.
Earlier figures were generally lower, with only 724 candidates (0.06 per cent) scoring 300 and above in 2021, and none in both 2014 and 2013.
In the 250 and above category, 117,373 candidates (6.08 per cent) attained this range in 2025.
This is an increase from 77,070 (4.18 per cent) in 2024 and 56,736 (3.73 per cent) in 2023.
Similarly, “565,988 candidates, accounting for 29.3 per cent, scored 200 and above, compared with 439,961 (24 per cent) in 2024 and 355,689 (23.36 per cent) in 2023,” the report said.
Despite these improvements, the majority of candidates — 1,365,479 (70.7 per cent) — scored below 200 in 2025.
This represents a slight decrease from 76 per cent in 2024 and 76.64 per cent in 2023.
A year-by-year comparison reveals significant fluctuations in performance. For example, in 2021, only 168,650 candidates (13 per cent) scored 200 and above, whereas in 2016, 568,847 (34 per cent) achieved this range.
The number of high scorers has steadily increased in recent years, suggesting a trend of academic improvement and greater familiarity with the CBT system.
Since the introduction of CBT in 2013, JAMB has continued to refine its examination processes, and the 2025 results appear to reflect the positive impact of these efforts.
