
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced key dates for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
According to JAMB Registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, the sale of forms will begin on January 31, 2025, and close on March 5, 2025.
Professor Oloyede said that for direct entry candidates, the sale of application documents and e-PIN vending will begin on March 10, 2025, and end on April 7, 2025.
He said that the mock UTME is scheduled for February 23, 2025, while the main UTME will occur on March 8, 2025 — just three days after registration ends and barely 6weeks from today.
The Registrar said that candidates registering for UTME with a mock exam will pay ₦8,200, while those opting for UTME only (without the mock) will pay ₦7,200. A trial-testing mock, exclusively for underage candidates or those seeking Computer-Based Test (CBT) experience, will cost ₦5,700. Direct Entry candidates will also pay ₦5,700.
Prof. Oloyede explained that a mock UTME has been introduced specifically for candidates below the age of 16, adding that the initiative is not for admission purposes but is intended to allow underage candidates to test their abilities in preparation for future exams.
He emphasized that candidates must be at least 16 years old on or before September 30, 2025, to qualify for admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education.
“However, gifted candidates under 15 years may be considered if they score at least 280 in the UTME and perform exceptionally in their Senior Secondary Certificate and post-UTME examinations.
The JAMB Registrar reiterated the enforcement of the 16-year age limit for the 2025 UTME registration, stressing that JAMB has faced legal challenges in the past regarding age requirements, leading to the adoption of 16 years as the minimum age for tertiary admissions.
A previous attempt to raise the age limit to 18, announced by former Minister of Education Prof. Tahir Mamman, was reversed following public outcry.
His successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa, suspended the 18-year benchmark in November 2024.
Prof. Oloyede disclosed that 870 computer-based test (CBT) centers had been screened and provisionally listed for the 2025 UTME, compared to 747 centers in 2024.
He also encouraged candidates not seeking immediate admission but wishing to familiarize themselves with the CBT format to register for the trial-testing mock exam.
This year’s updates reflect JAMB’s commitment to improving the UTME process while maintaining adherence to age and academic performance standards for tertiary admissions.
How to Score 300+ In 2025 JAMB
Early Studies: Most students make the mistake of waiting till the wee hour before reading for examinations. That is a recipe for failure. It is said that those who fail to plan, plan to fail. This is true, in that, studying when the examination is at hand leads to little or no retention of knowledge and that can be detrimental to the outcome of the examination. Start reading and preparing for the examination months earlier. In fact it is advisable to start reading and studying before the commencement of the examination registration.
Be aware of your capacity: we all have different learning capacities. Whereas there are people who can learn and grab something in two hours, others need eight hours of study to grab and understand the same thing. You must know and be sincere with yourself of the category you fall under and work towards it accordingly. If it takes you time to comprehend in class or while studying, start studying at a time that would allow you to cover all the materials you need before the time for the examination. This will help you in being more confident and ready for the examination.
Furthermore, you should know your subject combination and work on the subject you’re not so good at. For instance, if you are looking to apply study Engineering in the higher institution, you would need to have mathematics as one of your subject combination. If you are a student who finds mathematics hard, dedicate more of your time to studying the mathematics. Practice it often to help you gain a mastery of it and ask questions where you’re confused.
Join Study Groups: The importance of joining study groups or online classes can not be overemphasized. Thank God for technology and civilization which has made the world a global village. Find a tested and trusted tutorial group or online class that is keen on ensuring that students pass their examinations. A highly recommended group with highly effective tutors that can help you realise your dream school is the Allschool JAMB tutorials which is run yearly. This tutorial class has had many testimonies from students who were able to ace their examinations. Studying as a group helps in the sharing of information more effectively.
Understand how JAMB Examination works:
JAMB examination is not like other examinations like WAEC or NECO, JAMB has it’s own unique style and format which s a student needs to follow. Understanding the format for sitting for JAMB will enable you to works towards getting yourself acquainted with how the examination works. JAMB examinations are in form of Mutiple Choice Questions also know as MCQs.
What this implies is that a question is asked and options are given with the expectations that students would choose or select the most appropriate option for the question.
Practice Time Management: Most students fail to understand that, when it comes to JAMB examinations, they do not have the luxury of time. JAMB examination time is limited, they system is design in such a way that once a students logs in and begins, a timer is automatically activated. Once the time is up, irrespective of whether a student is done with he examination or not, such student will be logged out and that would be then end of the examination. There have been stories of many students who performed poorly in their UTME not because they didn’t know the answers to the questions, but because they didn’t have enough time to answer all the questions. Do not dwell so much on a particular question.
Once you can remember the answer to a particular one, leave it and go to the next. After you’re done and you still have time on your side, you can the revisit the question and answer it. Note that all questions in JAMB carries equal marks. It’s therefore unwise to dwell so much on a particular question.
Be knowledgeable in the use of computer gadgets: unlike the system before where UTMEs were written with pencil and paper, the UTME is now computer based and the examination is known as CBT (Computer Based Tests). As a student who intends to succeed in the examination, you need to be able to navigate around a computer.
This will make it easier for you to answer questions and move to the next without delays. Students who are computer illiterate have had to complain in previous years of their inability to pass the UTME due to their lack of knowledge on how a computer works. You can avoid this by getting yourself equipped with the right knowledge on how to operate a computer.
Eat Healthy: although this ordinarily does not sound like an academic advice, but eating healthy helps you to be in your best form. Do not study when you’re hungry, it is hard to comprehend anything in such a situation. Also ensure you have enough sleep to rest and calm your brain.
Register and Arrive Early: Try to register for your UTME on time to avoid anxiety and uncertainty.
Late registration can play with your mental health which can then result to poor performance even after doing all that has been listed above. Also make sure you are at your examination centre in tim for your examination. Going at least forty-five minutes earlier to the time given to you will be an ideal thing to do.