JAMB Releases Underage UTME Results, Sets Conditions for Admission

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination results of candidates below the prescribed admission age.

However, the Board warned that the release of the results does not automatically qualify any underage candidate for admission into a tertiary institution.

JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.

Benjamin explained that JAMB classifies a candidate as underage for the 2026 admission exercise if the candidate will be below 16 years by September 30, 2026.

He said the Board released the results mainly to allow candidates, parents and guardians to know how they performed in the examination.

The spokesperson stressed that candidates cannot use the results for admission or other official purposes unless they meet the requirements for exceptional consideration.

He advised candidates who do not meet the conditions to avoid presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.

According to him, candidates can check their UTME results by sending the word “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019. They must use the same SIM card they used during registration.

JAMB had earlier announced that only exceptionally performing underage candidates would qualify for consideration under its special admission process.

Benjamin said the process involves several stages of assessment and verification. The Board designed the procedure to determine candidates with genuine academic maturity and exceptional ability.

One of the key requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320. Candidates must also achieve at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.

“Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts,” Benjamin said.

He explained that a strong UTME score alone would not guarantee exceptional consideration. The Board will assess each candidate against all the prescribed requirements before reaching a decision.

The admission process for exceptional underage candidates remains ongoing. JAMB has yet to complete all stages of the assessment and verification.

Benjamin said the Board must also allow candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council results to submit them for verification before it concludes the exercise.

“The NECO results are yet to be released, and the Board would therefore await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment process,” he said.

He added that JAMB would announce the date for the final assessment after NECO releases the results.

Benjamin further stressed that the exercise goes beyond UTME performance. It combines academic results, institutional requirements and expert assessment to identify candidates who genuinely qualify for exceptional admission.

The Board also warned parents, guardians and candidates against admission agents who claim they can secure places for underage candidates outside the approved process.

Benjamin said participation in the UTME and access to a candidate’s result do not amount to an admission guarantee, especially for candidates who have not reached the prescribed age.

He assured the public that JAMB would maintain transparency and merit throughout the exercise. The Board, he added, would protect the integrity of the admission process by admitting only candidates who satisfy all established requirements.