JAMB Releases Underage UTME Results, Sets 320 Minimum Score

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of candidates below the age of 16, while clarifying that the release of the results does not automatically make them eligible for admission.

In a statement, JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, said an underage candidate is an applicant who will be below 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.

The Board explained that the results were released to allow underage candidates, as well as their parents and guardians, to know their performance in the examination.

However, JAMB stressed that the results cannot ordinarily be used to secure admission into tertiary institutions unless the candidate qualifies under its exceptional admission provisions.

According to the Board, candidates seeking admission below the prescribed minimum age must demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity before they can be considered.

Such candidates are required to undergo a series of assessments and verification processes designed to determine whether they meet the conditions for exceptional admission.

Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320.

Candidates must also obtain at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable, alongside meeting other assessment and verification requirements set by the Board.

JAMB said the measures are intended to ensure that only candidates who demonstrate the required academic strength and maturity are considered for admission before attaining the stipulated age.

The Board therefore advised parents, guardians and underage candidates not to interpret the release of the UTME results as an automatic confirmation of admission eligibility.

Candidates and their families are expected to follow JAMB’s prescribed procedures and await the outcome of the relevant assessments before assuming that admission can be granted.

The development comes as JAMB continues to enforce its age requirements for admission into Nigeria’s tertiary institutions while providing a pathway for candidates who can demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity.