The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has warned that scoring 300 marks and above does not guarantee admission to a university in Nigeria as such candidates may eventually rank below some others with UTME score of 200 when all other scores are aggregated.
The board in its latest weekly Bulletin, also explained that meeting the minimum cut-off score for admission as set by the board, does not guarantee a candidate’s admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The board said that the decision to admit a candidate ultimately lies in the hands of the university, adding that many factors come into play before admissions are offered.
The exam body reminded candidates that each programme (course) has a different minimum score which is usually very high for competitive programmes. It said, “UTME is a ranking examination designed to place the best available registered candidates into Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other accredited tertiary institutions in Nigeria. As such, the minimum scores into each institution or programme varies based on academic performances of candidates who applied to such institutions.
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“Over the years, few programmes such as MBBS, Engineering, Law and Pharmacy are oversubscribed by candidates. Also, some of the institutions attract more candidates than many others, thereby making it imperative for each institution to set its own minimum score, based on its circumstances and as approved at the Policy Meeting.”
It said even within each institution, there is a different minimum score (cut –off) for admission into different programmes (courses). “They are usually significantly higher for courses such as MBBS, Engineering, Nursing, Law, etc, with overall available space of less than 10% of the applicants,” it said.
The examination body said that some candidates and certain members of the society have come under erroneous impression that there is a minimum national UTME score, which they also refer to as “cut -off point,” describing as a myth the impression that only the UTME score constitutes the benchmark for admission. It said, “This is far from the truth. Some candidates on attainment of particular grade in UTME celebrate in advance their imminent placements, which in reality may not be at the end of the day.”
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The board also said there is no uniform minimum UTME score (cut -off) for all universities, polytechnics or colleges of education in Nigeria. “Each institution determines and submits to JAMB its minimum UTME score after having analyzed the UTME performances of its applicants against its available quota.
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“Decisions at the annual Policy Meeting on Admission does not reduce the minimum prescription of the institutions except the few institutions whose submitted minimum UTME- scores fall below what the Policy Meeting considers as the minimum score acceptable.
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“UTME score is just one of the two or three scores that are generally added together to obtain the eventual aggregate score and ranking of the candidates. Other parameters are Post-UTME/Post A-level qualifications screening/test score; O/L grade score; and in some cases, physical test (such as applicable in the Nigerian Defence Academy/Police Academy).
“Therefore, It is the score from all the segments that are added together to have eventual ranking table or “cut off” score,” It said.
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