THE Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) on Monday, April 29, released the results of this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), showing that 1,402,490 candidates out of the 1,842,464 candidates that sat for the test failed to score 200 out of the 400 maximum marks.
This number represents 78 per cent of the candidates whose results were released by JAMB.
Giving a breakdown of the results of the 1,842,464 candidates released at a press conference held at the Board’s headquarters in Bwari, Abuja, on Monday, April 29, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, stated: “8,401 candidates scored 300 and above; 77,070 scored 250 and above; 439,974 scored 200 and above, while 1,402,490 scored below 200.”
On the top scorers, Oloyede said: “It is common knowledge that the Board had, at various times, restated its unwillingness to publish the names of its best-performing candidates, as it considers its UTME as only a ranking examination on account of the other parameters that would constitute what would later be considered the minimum admissible score for candidates seeking admission to tertiary institutions.
“Similarly, because of the different variables adopted by respective institutions, it might be downright impossible to arrive at a single or all-encompassing set of parameters for generating a list of candidates with the highest admissible score, as gaining admission remains the ultimate goal.
“Hence it might be unrealistic or presumptive to say a particular candidate is the highest scorer, given the fact that such a candidate may, in the final analysis, not even be admitted.
“However, owing to public demand and to avoid a repeat of the Mmesoma saga, as well as provide a guide for those who may want to award prizes to this set of high-performing candidates, the Board appeals to all concerned to always verify claims by candidates before offering such awards.”
He said the results of 64,624 out of the 1,904,189 that sat for the test were withheld by the Board and would be subject to investigation, adding that though a total of 80,810 candidates out of the 1,989,668 registered candidates were absent.
“For the 2024 UTME, 1,989,668 candidates registered, including those who registered at foreign centres. The Direct Entry registration is still ongoing.
“Out of a total of 1,989,668 registered candidates, 80,810 were absent. A total of 1,904,189 sat the UTME within the six days of the examination.
“The Board is today releasing the results of 1,842,464 candidates; 64,624 results are under investigation for verification, procedural investigation of candidates, centre-based investigation and alleged examination misconduct.”
Oloyede stated that at the moment, the Board conducts examination in nine foreign centres- Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire; Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Buea, Cameroun; Cotonou, Republic of Benin; London, United Kingdom; Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and Johannesburg, South Africa.
“The essence of this foreign component of the examination is to market our institutions to the outside world, as well as ensuring that our universities reflect the universality of academic traditions, among others.
“The Board is currently fine-tuning arrangements for the conduct of the 2024 UTME in these foreign centres,” he said.
