The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) will release the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) today, Friday, May 9, 2025. This announcement means that over 1.9 million candidates who sat for the exam can begin checking their scores starting from 8 a.m. this morning.
The news was confirmed in a statement issued by JAMB’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, “The release of the 2025 UTME is scheduled to hold tomorrow, Friday 9th May, 2025; Venue: JAMB National Headquarters Bwari Abuja; Time: 8am,” the notice stated.
As anticipation grows among candidates and parents nationwide, early data provided by JAMB paints a concerning picture. According to official figures, over 1.5 million out of the total 1.9 million candidates scored below 200. With the UTME graded over a total of 400 marks, a score of 200 is widely regarded as the average benchmark for gaining admission into many Nigerian universities.
The UTME tests students in four subjects: Use of English, which is compulsory for all candidates, and three others chosen based on the student’s preferred field of study—such as science, social science, or the arts.
The high rate of low scores has sparked conversations across the education sector. Commenting on the situation, Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the results are an indication that efforts to tackle exam malpractice are beginning to show results.
“The high failure rate in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is clear evidence that the government’s anti-malpractice measures are yielding results, especially within the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board system,” the minister said.
In recent years, JAMB has introduced strict biometric registration, CCTV monitoring at exam centers, and real-time reporting systems to reduce cheating and improve credibility in the examination process. While these efforts have been praised, some education stakeholders argue that deeper issues—such as poor teaching standards and inadequate preparation—must also be addressed to improve student performance.
The 2025 UTME was conducted across the country in April, with candidates writing the exam in accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centers. The process was largely peaceful, though there were isolated reports of technical glitches in some centers, which JAMB officials said were swiftly resolved.
Parents and students are advised to check their results through official JAMB portals or by using SMS codes provided by the board. Candidates will need the phone number they used during registration or their JAMB registration number to access their scores.
JAMB is expected to hold a press briefing today to provide further breakdown of performance by states, gender, and subject area, as well as to address concerns over the mass failure rate.
