Over 200,000 Candidates Cross 200 Mark in JAMB Re-evaluation!

 

Good news is finally rolling in for thousands of Nigerian tertiary education aspirants! Following a widely anticipated resit examination, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced today, Sunday, May 25th, that over 200,000 additional candidates have now surpassed the coveted 200-mark threshold in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). This significant improvement comes after JAMB's decisive action to address the widespread technical and human errors that marred the initial examination exercise.

The updated performance statistics, released alongside the rescheduled exam results, paint a picture of cautious optimism. While 1,365,479 candidates (70.7% of the total 1.9 million) still scored below 200, this figure represents a "notable improvement" from the initial announcement on May 9th, 2025, which saw over 1.5 million candidates below the 200 marks, triggering national concern over perceived mass failure.

JAMB's internal investigation, prompted by public outcry and scrutiny, revealed systemic issues, particularly in Lagos and the South East where most irregularities were detected. In response, approximately 379,000 candidates were given a second chance through a rescheduled examination. The results from this resit clearly indicate that a substantial number of these previously underperforming candidates managed to significantly improve their scores.

JAMB proudly stated that this improved outcome is among the best recorded since the introduction of the Computer Based Test (CBT) format in 2013. With a total of 1,931,467 UTME results now released for 2025, surpassing 2024's 1,842,364, it reflects a steady rise in UTME participation.

Breaking down the numbers further, 117,373 candidates (6.08%) scored 250 and above, a commendable rise from previous years. In the elite 300+ category, 8,401 candidates (0.46%) achieved this feat, a remarkable increase from just 724 in 2021. The 200-and-above category now includes 565,988 candidates (29.3%), up from 24% in 2024.

JAMB attributes this positive shift to ongoing reforms and enhanced candidate familiarity with the CBT system. As the nation anticipates further guidance on the 2025/2026 tertiary admissions process, this wave of improved results offers a glimmer of hope for thousands of aspiring students.