Why students dey underperform for JAMB exams?

Di recent result data for 2025 wey Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) release don begin worry Nigerians as di results show say e dey worse dis year.

JAMB say, out of 1.5 million candidates wey write di exams, over 50 percent score below 200 for dis year JAMB.

According to JAMB analysis, na only 4,756 candidates score 320 and above, and anoda 12,414 candidates score 300 and above.

Na dis kain setback na im make JAMB dey reduce di cut-off marks for years now, just to give more opportunity make students enter university for Nigeria.

Brief background on JAMB result for recent years

For 2022 UTME, JAMB announce say, 378,639 candidates score above 200, 520,596 score 190 and above, while 704,991 score 180 and above.

Also, 934,103 score 170 and above and 1,192,057 score 160 and above.

For 2024, a total of 1,904,189 candidates sit down for UTME. 1,989,668 register for di exam, wey be 24.7% higher dan di figure for 2023.

According to JAMB, out of di 1,842,464 results wey dem release, only 0.4 percent score above 300, while 24 percent score 50 percent (200/400) and above.

As dem see dis kain low scores since for 2019 UTME, JAMB and institutions come conclude say make dem reduce and approve national minimum cut-off mark of 160 for university admission for Nigeria.

Again for 2022/2023 admission session, JAMB come set di general cut-off mark for universities at 140 and above, as dem see say candidates underperform dat year again.

And for dis year data, JAMB show say out of 1.5 million candidates wey write di exam, over 50 percent score below 200 for this year's JAMB.

Why students dey underperform for JAMB exams?

According to some educationist experts, dem believe say di major reason why candidates dey underperform for JAMB na sake of say dem no dey serious before di UTME.

Educationist Dr. Babangida Sa'idu from Faculty of Education and Extension Services for Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, blame candidates and dia parents say dem dey allow children neglect dia studies before UTME.

"Di main wahala wey dey cause underperformance na say candidates and dia parents no dey serious. Nowadays, UTME candidates no dey focus on dia studies before dem write di exams," na wetin Dr. Sa'idu tok.

Dr. Sa'idu come add say, "As for parents, dem no dey monitor how dia children dey use dia time before UTME exams."

E also tok say many times, wen dem reach CBT centres, dem go see candidates dey press phone or dey take selfie.

"Sometimes I don see candidates for CBT centres dey take selfie, dey post for social media say dem come write JAMB, instead make dem dey read for di exam. And I believe na one of di main reason why dem dey just dey randomly guess answers for exam," na wetin e add.

E come add say anoda wahala be say many candidates, especially those wey come from village areas, no sabi use computer.

"Another issue be say you go see many candidates wey no sabi operate computer. Dis one dey always make dem dey click anyhow for computer wen dem dey answer JAMB questions," Dr. Sa'idu talk.

Dr. Babangida Sa'idu believe say parents get big role to play to help solve dis underperformance from candidates wey dey write JAMB.

"I believe say parents be di major stakeholders and dem get big role wey fit help bring out di best from their children to make dem get better results," e tok.

E add say candidates suppose understand say dem no fit just dey guess answers if dem want get good result, and say guessing no go work for university level.

"Candidates suppose know say to dey guess answers no go give dem good result, and e no go work for university. I dey advise dem make dem read and study well before dem reach CBT centres," Dr. Sa'idu add.

E still call on goment say dem need make better arrangement to educate and train candidates, especially those wey no sabi use computer.

"Government suppose provide centres wey go train candidates wey no sabi operate computer," im tok.