2025 UTME Result Breakdown: Only 0.63% Scored Above 300 as Majority Cluster Between 160 and 199

 

Massive Score Gaps Highlight 2025 UTME Performance Disparities as JAMB Releases Official Analysis

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the official performance analysis of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing a stark contrast in candidate performance and highlighting concerns over malpractices and underage participation.

Following the conclusion of this year’s examination exercise, a comprehensive data breakdown published by JAMB on Monday provides a sobering insight into how nearly two million candidates fared. The statistics suggest that while a small fraction of students attained exceptional scores, the overwhelming majority clustered around the lower to middle bands of the score range.

Only 4,756 candidates managed to score 320 and above — a figure representing just 0.24% of the total candidates. An additional 7,658 candidates scored between 300 and 319, making up 0.39% of the total. Combined, this brings the number of those scoring 300 and above to 12,414 — a mere 0.63% of all test-takers.

Candidates achieving between 250 and 299 numbered 73,441, which accounts for 3.76% of the total. Slightly more impressive, but still far from the majority, were those in the 200–249 range — with 334,560 individuals falling into this category, representing 17.11% of the candidates.

The most significant portion of the examinees — more than half — found themselves in the 160–199 range. A staggering 983,187 candidates scored within this band, making up 50.29% of all who sat the examination. This segment starkly illustrates the academic median for the cohort, raising questions about the distribution of preparedness and access to quality educational resources across the country.

Another notable chunk of candidates — 488,197 individuals — scored between 140 and 159, translating to 24.97%. A lower band saw 57,419 candidates earning scores from 120 to 139 (2.94%), and only 3,820 candidates (0.20%) landed in the 100–119 range. At the very bottom of the performance ladder were 2,031 candidates who scored below 100, representing 0.10% of the total population.

Altogether, 1,955,069 candidates participated in the 2025 UTME across various centers nationwide. However, not all candidates registered showed up for the exam. A total of 71,701 individuals were absent, a figure that JAMB attributed to a combination of logistical challenges, health concerns, and personal circumstances.

The examination body also acknowledged the presence of 40,247 underage candidates who were permitted to take the exam under a special demonstration clause aimed at testing exceptional ability. Yet, only 467 of them — around 1.16% — managed to score high enough to be considered for advancement into subsequent evaluation stages. These candidates will undergo further assessments before being deemed eligible for university admission consideration.

While releasing the performance data, JAMB also noted that 97 candidates were directly implicated in examination infractions. Additionally, a further 2,157 are currently under investigation for various suspected malpractice offenses. These cases are being handled with what JAMB describes as “utmost seriousness,” with outcomes pending the conclusion of ongoing probes.

Some candidates faced technical and biometric challenges that impeded their participation. The board confirmed that rescheduling is in place for candidates whose identity can be verified and cleared through investigative channels. For these students, designated centers will host make-up exams in the coming days or weeks, depending on the resolution timeline.

Also of note is the status of results for special groups, including blind candidates and those classified under the JEOG (JAMB Equal Opportunity Group) umbrella. Their results are still under processing due to the additional validation required to ensure fairness and accuracy in assessment.

A press conference is scheduled for later this week, during which the board will unveil access modalities for individual results. This session will also serve as an opportunity for JAMB to address broader concerns around examination integrity, support mechanisms for disadvantaged groups, and the roadmap for ongoing reforms in the tertiary admission process.

As education stakeholders across Nigeria continue to digest the newly released figures, many will likely question the continued prevalence of low to average scores and what this trend says about the broader state of the education system. The data, while comprehensive, reflects a need for systemic evaluation — one that stretches beyond examination halls and into classrooms, policy frameworks, and community engagement.

The release of the 2025 UTME result analysis underscores the magnitude of the challenges ahead for Nigeria’s educational advancement. With a clear majority of candidates performing within a narrow middle range, the need for targeted academic support, especially in underserved areas, is becoming increasingly urgent.