JAMB Sets 320 UTME Score As Condition For Underage Admission
Underage candidates who scored below 320 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will not qualify for exceptional admission, despite the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) releasing their results for viewing.
JAMB said the results of all underage candidates had been released to enable them, as well as their parents and guardians, to ascertain their performance, but stressed that the release did not amount to an automatic qualification for admission.
The Board, in a statement by its Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, said an underage candidate is any applicant who will be below 16 years of age as of September 30, 2026.
According to JAMB, only candidates who satisfy the conditions for exceptional admission would be considered for placement in tertiary institutions.
It explained that such candidates must demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity and successfully pass the various stages of assessment and verification prescribed by the Board.
Among the conditions is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside a minimum of 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.
JAMB therefore cautioned candidates and their parents or guardians against interpreting the release of the results as an assurance of admission, noting that eligibility for consideration remains subject to the stipulated requirements and verification process.
