JAMB kicks off UTME registration, warns against sharing phone number

$Over 78.5 percent of candidates who sat for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) scored below 200, according to data released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The examination body disclosed that out of the 1,955,069 registered candidates, 1,883,368 actually sat for the exam, while 71,701 were absent. Of those who participated, a staggering 1,534,654 scored below 200. In contrast, only 432,829 candidates scored 200 and above—an equivalent of 22.13 percent. The performance breakdown showed a significant drop in high scorers: 98,269 candidates scored 250 and above, representing just 5.02 percent. Only 24,828 candidates scored 300 and above, accounting for a mere 1.26 percent. “Of the total number registered, 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions, while 2,157 others are currently undergoing investigations for suspected malpractices,” JAMB said in a statement. Last year, the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS) was pegged at 140.$

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB has kicked off the registration for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination as scheduled earlier to begin on January 10, 2019.

Prospective candidates are required to firstly create their profile by sending their Surname, First name, and Middle name (where applicable) by SMS to the JAMB shortcode, 55019. When the text is successfully sent, the candidate will receive a confirmation code that they can use to purchase the UTME ePIN and form from Remita website.

The total cost of registration for the 2109 UTME is N4,700 which is spread out across: Cost of registration pin – N3,500; Compulsory reading text – N500; Service charge for registration – N700. Registrations will last for just six weeks as the exams are expected to hold in March, 2019.

Candidates are advised to ensure that the phone number they use for registration is not used by another person.

“As a rule, it has always been one person to a telephone number to get a profile number that will enable candidates do the proper registration and capturing.

“No two persons can share a telephone number for the purpose of confidentiality,” Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Media and Information Director disclosed.

The registration cannot be processed in a cyber cafe as earlier stated by JAMB. Students can only conduct all their registrations in any of more than 700 accredited Computer Based Test centres across the country.

JAMB has provided a list of CBT centres here (PDF).