2025 UTME: JAMB gives 320 benchmark score for U-16 candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given the condition that candidates sitting the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) below the age of 16 would be considered for admission.

JAMB said that candidates under the age of 16 who scored 320 out of a total of 400 can be considered for admission into tertiary institutions because that demonstrates they are academically exceptional by scoring 80 per cent.

Recall that Tahir Mamman, the former minister of education had insisted on a mandatory 18-year admission age benchmark, however, this was reversed by Tunji Alausa, the incumbent minister of education.

Read also: JAMB announces exceptional U-16 candidates can sit 2025 UTME

Alausa reinstated the previous benchmark of 16 years, which had received massive support from stakeholders in the education sector.

Ishaq Oloyede, the registrar at JAMB, speaking during a recent meeting with key stakeholders including chief external examiners, chief technical advisors, and members of the equal opportunity group, stated that while the 16-year age requirement remains the standard, exceptional candidates under the age of 16 may be granted admission under strict conditions.

According to a transcript of the meeting, published in JAMB’s bulletin, Oloyede said; “This is about complying with the law. Age plays a crucial role in maturity and academic development. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have age limits for leadership positions such as local government chairman. Biological age is linked to intellectual growth, and while rules exist, there must be room for exceptions.

“The minister of education has clearly stated that the minimum age for admission remains 16. However, we acknowledge that some gifted children exist. These individuals should not be overlooked. We must identify them and allow them to sit for the examinations.”

Oloyede emphasised that exceptional students must demonstrate outstanding academic ability across multiple assessments, including the UTME, WASSCE, Post-UTME, and GCE O/Level.

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“If a candidate under 16 scores 200 out of 400 in the UTME, can they truly be considered exceptional? However, if they achieve 80% (320/400), that signals exceptional ability and warrants consideration,” he added.

He, however, expressed concerns over the role of private universities in admitting underage students, stating that many of these candidates struggle academically, with up to 80 per cent eventually being transferred to other programmes due to poor performance.

Oloyede also condemned the manipulation of birth records by parents seeking early admission for their wards, only to later attempt to alter their ages for eligibility in the National Youth Service Corps programme.

The JAMB registrar disclosed recently in Lagos that the examination body had introduced a mock UTME for underage candidates.

Oloyede explained that the mock UTME is not for the purpose of tertiary institution admission but for underage seeking to test their ability.

“We are starting the sale of forms on January 31 till March 5, 2025. There will be a mock examination on February 23, and on March 8 there will be UTME,” the JAMB registrar reiterated.