Nigeria is the only country needing 3 exams for admission- Expert

….JAMB is a ranking exam, not an achievement exam

Yomi Fawehinmi, a Canada-based education and human resources expert, has admitted that he is unaware of any other country in the world like Nigeria where students write three examinations to gain admission to a college or university”.

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He stated this during an interview with Channels TV, where experts called for a reform of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) body, which has systemic challenges that have burdened students.

“I have taught in five institutions around the world. I don’t know anywhere else in the world where students write three examinations to gain admission to a college or university”.

“In Nigeria, students sit WAEC, NECO, JAMB, and Post-UME. In the United States (U.S), they take the SAT, which they can retake multiple times. In Canada, students complete their final school exams, with no additional entrance test required,” Fawehinmi remarked.

According to him, Nigeria is unique in requiring multiple exams for university admission. Compared to other countries, students undergo an unusually high number of assessments before securing a place.

This raises questions about why Nigerian students face excessive testing, especially when WAEC results are recognised internationally for admissions in countries like the UK, US, Canada, and Australia.

“Why does a student from Queen’s College in Lagos need to sit three exams to gain admission to nearby Unilag, but only WAEC to enter a top-ranking university in the UK?”

“We are overloading young people with unnecessary exams. WAEC is recognised globally, but why isn’t it sufficient for Nigerian universities?” Fawehinmi questioned.

JAMB, a ranking exam;, not an achievement exam

He also explained the fundamental difference between an achievement exam which measures subject competence and a ranking exam, which ranks candidates according to their performance in order to secure the limited spaces at universities.

“WAEC is an achievement exam, testing knowledge. JAMB is a ranking exam, designed to sort candidates,” he stated.

This distinction means that while WAEC allows students to pass or fail, JAMB does not have a failing grade. Instead, scores are used to rank applicants against each other, determining university placements.

Also, a common misconception is that scoring 200 marks (50 per cent) in JAMB determines success or failure.

However, he argued that focusing on a particular score misinterprets JAMB’s purpose.

“Fixating on 200 as a cut-off is misleading, because JAMB does not determine pass or fail—it ranks candidates against each other. The real issue is that universities do not have enough spaces, which is why students must be ranked,” he explained.

The origins of JAMB and its intended role 

To put this in context, Fawehinmi highlights JAMB’s history, noting that it was not originally designed to be an examination body, but was established in 1978 following recommendations from the Committee of Vice-Chancellors, which sought a centralised admission system to streamline placements into universities.

“JAMB’s primary role is not to conduct exams. Its mandate includes five responsibilities, with examinations being just one part. Yet, today, we focus only on the exam, causing ongoing challenges”.

“If you notice, the word ‘exam’ does not exist in the name of JAMB…. because that is not its primary purpose”, he explained.

JAMB as a ‘clearing house’

He also likened JAMB to a clearinghouse, which is meant to facilitate university placements efficiently.

“For several years, JAMB has struggled to get students into universities. It functions like a stock exchange, matching applicants with available spaces. But the system is not working as it should,” he observed.

In a similar vein, Prof. Kolawole Kola-Kazeem, former provost, College of Education, Ilesha, has admitted JAMB needs continued support, urging stakeholders to rally behind efforts to improve transparency and efficiency.

He asserted, “We must support the registrar to make all of the amendments that are necessary”.

He also clarified a common misconception regarding the validity of JAMB results, pointing out that by law, the results should be valid for three years, not one.

“By law, JAMB results are supposed to be valid for three years… anything less is an aberration,” he stated.

This raises broader concerns about whether Nigeria’s university admission system needs reform to align with international best practices and enhance efficiency.