Understanding the JAMB UTME
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) administers the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) as Nigeria's national gateway into universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, and innovation enterprise institutions. The exam is fully computer based and is written once every year across accredited CBT centres. Candidates register with their National Identification Number (NIN), capture biometrics, and receive a custom profile for tracking admission status.
Exam Structure
UTME consists of 180-200 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 2 hours. Every candidate sits for:
- Use of English (compulsory): 60 questions covering comprehension, lexis/structure, verbal aptitude, cloze tests, and reading passages.
- Three additional subjects: Determined by the candidate's chosen programme. For example, Medicine requires Biology, Chemistry, and Physics; Engineering requires Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry; Social Sciences often require Economics, Government, or Geography.
- Scoring: 1 mark per question, standardized to a 400-point scale. Wrong answers carry no penalty, so students are encouraged to attempt all questions.
Choosing the Right Subject Combination
JAMB publishes an annual brochure detailing acceptable subject combinations for each course. Selecting the wrong combination can disqualify a candidate from admission even with a high score. MetaSchool coaches guide learners to:
- Map intended university programmes to exact UTME subject requirements.
- Pair UTME preparation with WAEC/NECO/A-Level subjects so both transcripts align.
- Balance strengths across sciences, arts, and commercial disciplines to maximize composite scores.
Preparation & Testing Skills
Success stretches beyond content knowledge. Candidates must master CBT navigation, on-screen calculators, and the two-hour pacing strategy. We simulate real centres with timed practice, adaptive drills, and analytics that surface weak topics (e.g., functions in Mathematics, organic chemistry, or government structure). Students also receive weekly current affairs briefs for institution-specific post-UTME exams.
From UTME Score to Admission
After UTME results are released, institutions invite applicants for post-UTME screenings or direct admissions using prescribed cut-off marks. Candidates upload O'Level/A-Level results on the JAMB CAPS portal, monitor offers, and either accept or reject admissions digitally. Our counselors support students with change-of-course processing, Direct Entry (for diploma/A-Level holders), and timeline reminders up to matriculation.
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