General News
Underage UTME Candidates Can Check Results as JAMB Continues Admission Assessment
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the results of all underage candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for viewing.
The Board said the release is in line with its established policy on the participation of candidates below the prescribed admission age. For the 2026 admission exercise, an underage candidate is anyone who will be below 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.
JAMB, however, clarified that the release of the results does not automatically make all underage candidates eligible for admission, as admission into tertiary institutions remains subject to the Board’s conditions and other relevant regulatory requirements.
Candidates can check their results by sending RESULT to 55019 or 66019, using the same SIM card or phone number used to register for the UTME.
According to the Board, the results have been released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance. The results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
JAMB had earlier stated that only underage candidates who perform exceptionally and meet the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.
It therefore warned candidates who do not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration against presenting their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission.
The Board explained that the exceptional admission process is rigorous and involves multiple stages of assessment to ensure that only candidates who demonstrate the required academic maturity and exceptional ability are considered.
Among the requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320, as well as a minimum of 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable. Candidates must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts.
JAMB said the process is designed to distinguish genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who may have simply performed well in the UTME.
The Board noted that the admission process for exceptionally performing underage candidates is still ongoing, as all stages of assessment and verification have not been concluded.
It explained that it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present them for verification. Since the NECO results are yet to be released, JAMB said it would await their release before proceeding to the final stage of the assessment.
The Board said it would announce a date for the final assessment of exceptionally performing underage candidates as soon as the NECO results are released.
JAMB stressed that the process goes beyond UTME performance, describing it as a comprehensive assessment aimed at ensuring that only candidates who genuinely satisfy all prescribed requirements are considered for admission.
The Board urged parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid individuals claiming to be able to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process.
It reiterated that participation in the UTME and the release of a candidate’s result do not, in themselves, guarantee admission, particularly for candidates who have not attained the prescribed admission age.
JAMB assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, in line with its commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process and ensuring that only qualified candidates are admitted.
Fabian Benjamin, Ph.D.
Ag. Director, PAP