JAMB Abolishes Cut-Off Mark (No Cut-Off Mark)

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) issued a statement on its official platform on Thursday. The statement addressed recent reports concerning standardized cut-off marks for admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

JAMB emphasized that it does not have any special cut-off mark for admissions. Instead, each tertiary institution has the authority to determine its own “minimum tolerable score” for admission purposes.

“There’s no such thing as ‘cut-off mark’ in the admission process to tertiary institutions in Nigeria, what’s obtainable is minimum tolerable score determinable by individual institutions,” it said.

This clarification comes after widespread reports claimed JAMB had established cut-off marks of 140 for universities and 100 for polytechnics and colleges. The statement highlights the distinction between JAMB’s role in conducting entrance exams and the individual institutions’ responsibility for setting admissions criteria.

The JAMB statement follows a policy meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday. The meeting involved key figures in Nigerian education, including the Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, vice-chancellors, rectors, registrars, and other stakeholders. While details of the meeting’s discussions haven’t been publicly disclosed, the statement clarifies its position regarding cut-off marks for admissions.

Understanding the admissions process is crucial for prospective students in Nigeria. While JAMB conducts standardized entrance exams, individual universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education hold the authority to establish their own minimum score requirements for admission. This means that students should research the specific requirements of their desired institutions in addition to taking the UTME entrance exam.