JAMB Releases UTME Performance Statistics from 2013 to 2025

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a detailed performance breakdown of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 2013 to 2025, revealing striking patterns in candidate scores over the years.

You may want to view the document: JambHQ

The data, covering the Computer-Based Test (CBT) era since its inception in 2013, provides insight into how Nigerian students have fared, particularly in relation to the critical benchmark score of 200 — widely regarded as the entry point for competitive university admissions.

Key Statistics from 2025:

• Total Results Released: 1,931,467

• Scored 300 and above: 17,025 candidates (0.88%)

• Scored 250 and above: 117,373 candidates (6.08%)

• Scored 200 and above: 565,988 candidates (29.3%)

• Scored below 200: 1,365,479 candidates (70.7%)

Comparative Trends:

• The highest proportion of candidates scoring 200 and above was recorded in 2016, with 34% of candidates meeting or exceeding the threshold.

• The lowest performance was in 2013, when only 11% scored 200 and above.

• In recent years, performance has fluctuated: 2024 saw 24% score 200+, while 2023 posted a slightly lower 23.36%.

• Notably, 2021 had the lowest percentage of high performers in the past five years, with just 13% scoring 200 or more.

Alarming Patterns:

Despite advances in digital examination systems, the data indicates that a large majority of UTME candidates consistently score below 200 — often more than two-thirds of total test-takers each year.

For instance:

• In 2025, over 1.36 million candidates scored below 200.

• Similar trends were observed in 2024 (76%), 2023 (76.64%), and 2022 (77.5%).

Implications:

The persistent underperformance underscores the need for systemic reforms in Nigeria’s basic and secondary education systems. It also raises concerns about student preparedness, exam quality, and the broader challenges facing tertiary education access in the country.

JAMB is expected to work closely with stakeholders in the education sector to address these gaps and improve support systems for prospective candidates.