JAMB reports that over 70% of candidates scored below 200 in the UTME

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed the results of candidates who took the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with 64,624 results being investigated.

Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, the board registrar, made the announcement during a news conference in Bwari on Monday.

According to Mr Oloyede, 1,989,668 individuals registered for the examinations, which were held in 118 towns across 774 computer-based test centres (CBT).

According to the registrar, 1,904,109 of the registered candidates took the examination, with 80,810 absent. He explained that 64,624 results were being investigated for a variety of reasons, including verification (2,896), procedural investigations (4,594), and prima facie examination misconduct (78).

He said other results under investigation were centre-based investigations involving 57,056 candidates in 18 centres across the country.

The 18 centres listed for the investigation were 12 in Edo, three in Akwa Ibom, two in Delta and one in Kwara state.

“The Board witnessed a near-zero infraction situation in the 2024 UTME except for a few cases, which represent just a tiny fraction of what was reported last year.

“This is encouraging and the board is poised to consolidate on the successes recorded,” he said.

While giving an analysis of the results, Mr Oloyede said 8,401 candidates representing 0.5 per cent scored 300 and above, and 77,070 candidates representing 4.2 per cent scored 250 and above.

He further said that 439,974 candidates, representing 24 per cent, scored 200 and above, and 1,402,490 candidates, representing 76 per cent, scored below 200.

“A total of 1,989,668 candidates registered for the examination, 24.7 per cent higher than the figure for year 2023.

“Of the 1,989,668 registered, 1,904,189 were present and verified, 2,899 were present but unverified, and 80,810 were absent.

“There is a significant improvement in the enrolment of females, with over 1 million girls registering for the examination.

“This is the first time in three years that the number of females will be greater than that of their male counterparts.

“Out of the total registration, 3,164 were of persons living with disabilities. There is a 36.2 per cent increase in the enrolment of PLWDs as compared to last year.

“The Board is today releasing the results of 1,842,464 candidates. 64,624 results are under investigation,” he said.

He added that the board had restricted publishing the name of the best candidate, noting that this was to guide against the Mmesomma saga in its examination in 2023.

The registrar explained that in the course of the examination, 25 sessions experienced hiccups, disrupting only 150 of the total 9,156 sessions in 95 of the 774 centres.

He said the affected sessions were promptly rescheduled, stating that only one centre, Makama School of Technology, Old Motor Park, along FCCE Road, Bichi, Kano State, was delisted for substandard performance.

He urged candidates to check their results starting at 7:00 a.m. on April 30 by sending UTMERESULT to 55019 or 66019.