by Prof Idowu Olayinka
When JAMB started conducting Matriculation Examination in 1978, the minimum mark required for admission into Universities was 200 out of 400. At what point did the cut off dropped to much less than 200 so much so that for 2025 and 2026 the nationally accepted minimum mark is 150 out of 400?
ACCORDING TO META AI:
When JAMB started the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in 1978, the national minimum for universities was 200/400. It didn’t drop straight to 150. It was a gradual, policy-driven slide over 40+ years.
Here’s how it happened:
1. 1978 – 1990s: 200/400 was the standard
JAMB’s first UTME in 1978 set 200/400 as the national minimum for universities. Most federal universities stuck to it or went higher. Polytechnics and COEs had lower floors around 150-180.
2. 2000s – 2015: Flexible cut-offs & “catchment” pressure
JAMB began allowing universities to set their own institutional cut-offs above the national minimum. The national floor stayed at 180-200 for universities.
Pressure points:
- Low enrolment in some federal/state unis in the North and new universities
- Catchment and educationally less developed states (ELDS) policy: JAMB lowered the floor for candidates from these states to improve equity
- Multiple sittings & low performance: Average UTME scores were falling, so 200 was blocking too many candidates
By 2015 the national minimum for universities was 180.
3. 2016 – 2019: Sharp drop to 120-180
Under Prof. Ishaq Oloyede’s leadership, JAMB made the Policy Meeting truly binding.
- 2016: 180 for universities, 110 for polys/COEs
- 2017: 120 for universities, 100 for polys/COEs
- 2018-2019: 160 for universities, 120 for polys
The 2017 drop to 120 was the biggest single cut. JAMB argued that many universities had empty spaces while candidates scored 150-180 and couldn’t get in because the system was too rigid. Universities were still free to set higher internal cut-offs.
4. 2020 – 2024: 140-160 range
- 2020-2022: 160 for universities
- 2023-2024: 140 for universities
The trend was: JAMB sets a low national floor, universities set higher internal cut-offs for competitive courses. Medicine, Law, Engineering at UI, UNILAG, OAU stayed 200-280.
5. 2025 – 2026: 150/400
At the 2025 Policy Meeting, JAMB set 150 for universities.
At the May 11, 2026 Policy Meeting, it was retained at 150 for universities. Polytechnics/COEs stayed at 100. 4c73
Why 150 now?
- Empty spaces: Many universities, especially new ones, couldn’t fill quotas with 160-180 cut-offs
- Performance reality: Average UTME scores have been low. 2024 had 1.4M scoring below 200
- Policy philosophy: JAMB’s role is to set a minimum tolerable score, not a competitive score. Universities decide the real cut-off via Post-UTME
- Access vs standards debate: JAMB argues 150 doesn’t mean admission to Medicine at UI. It means you can enter the screening process
Key point to understand
The national cut-off dropping to 150 doesn’t mean UI or UNILAG now admit with 150. It means:
JAMB floor 150 → University internal cut-off 180-200 → Departmental cut-off 220-280 after Post-UTME
The drop happened in stages: 200 → 180 → 160 → 120 → 140 → 150. The 2017 drop to 120 was the biggest shift.
Prof Idowu Olayinka is a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan
