The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the results of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The board confirmed on Friday that a total of 1,955,069 results were processed, revealing a broad spectrum of candidate performance.

Results Breakdown

According to the statistics, only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) scored 320 and above, representing the highest tier of performance. An additional 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319, bringing the total number of candidates who scored 300 and above to 12,414, or 0.63% of all test-takers.

Further analysis showed that:

• 250–299: 73,441 candidates (3.76%)

• 200–249: 334,560 candidates (17.11%)

• 160–199: 983,187 candidates (50.29%)

• 140–159: 488,197 candidates (24.97%)

• 120–139: 57,419 candidates (2.94%)

• 100–119: 3,820 candidates (0.20%)

• Below 100: 2,031 candidates (0.10%)

This means that over 75% of the 1.95 million candidates scored below 200, the widely accepted minimum threshold for university admission in Nigeria.

JAMB Defends Results Amidst Growing Backlash

Reacting to the released scores, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, noted that the performance statistics for 2025 align with trends observed over the past 12 years, dismissing claims that the results were unusually poor.

“This is not peculiar to this year. The performance statistics are consistent with those of the last 12 years,” he said, pointing out that in 2024, 76% of candidates scored below 200, while in 2022, the figure was 78%.

Candidates, Parents Challenge JAMB

However, the results have sparked a wave of criticism, with many candidates and parents alleging discrepancies. Thousands have taken to social media, using the hashtag #thisisnotmyresult, to protest scores they believe do not reflect their actual performance.

One user, @Pennyfabz, who scored 156, wrote:

“Dear @JAMBHQ, Something is wrong with my result. I’m very confident that this is not what I’m meant to get. Please look into this matter. I can’t go from 285 to 156.”

Another user, @quwam001, also expressed frustration:

“Dear @JAMBHQ, Something is seriously wrong with the recently released UTME results. These scores do not reflect the abilities, efforts, or track record of our students. Egbaze Victoria scored 295 in last year’s UTME, and now she’s being told she scored 132? And many others.”

Some candidates have also reported technical issues, including missing questions and incomplete test sections. A candidate from a Maitama, Abuja, CBT centre told The PUNCH, “During the examination, for my Use of English, I noticed that some of my questions were missing... When my result came out, I scored 170. JAMB has not addressed the missing questions.”

JAMB Responds to Complaints

In response to the outcry, JAMB announced that it has initiated an urgent review of the results. According to the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the review will include a thorough examination of the entire testing process, from registration to result release, to identify and resolve any technical issues.

“If it is determined that there were indeed glitches, we will implement appropriate remedial measures promptly,” the statement read.

Legal Action Looms

In a related development, a public interest law firm, the Chambers of Evans Ufeli, has threatened legal action against JAMB, citing widespread technical malfunctions and alleged safety breaches during the 2025 UTME.

In a petition addressed to the JAMB Registrar, the firm demanded the immediate cancellation of the 2025 UTME results, citing “systemic breakdown” and “compromised credibility” in the conduct of the exams. The firm warned that failure to act on these concerns would result in legal proceedings.

What’s Next?

As the controversy deepens, candidates and parents continue to demand transparency, calling for a full release of mark sheets and an independent audit of the examination process.

For now, the education community waits anxiously for JAMB’s next move as the credibility of the 2025 UTME hangs in the balance.