JAMB Announces Underage UTME Results, Explains Admission Rules

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has made the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results for underage candidates available for viewing.

This information was shared in a statement on Saturday in Abuja by JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr. Fabian Benjamin.

Benjamin clarified that just because these results are released, it does not mean all underage candidates qualify for admission. Only those who meet the strict criteria for exceptional consideration will be eligible.

He explained that an underage candidate for the 2026 admission process is someone who will be younger than 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.

The main purpose of releasing these results is to help candidates and their parents or guardians understand how they performed in the exam.

According to him, these results cannot be used for admission or any official purposes unless they belong to candidates who fulfill the requirements for exceptionally performing underage students.

He also mentioned that candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card they used to register for the UTME.

Benjamin stated that the Board had previously determined that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who met specific criteria would be eligible for admission.

He advised candidates who did not fulfill the requirements for exceptional consideration not to submit their results to any school or individual in hopes of getting admitted.

The spokesperson mentioned that the process for exceptional admissions was intentionally strict and included several assessment stages to ensure that only those candidates with the necessary academic maturity and outstanding abilities were selected.

One requirement for consideration is a minimum UTME score of 320, along with at least an 80 percent score in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, if applicable.

“Candidates must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen schools and undergo the final evaluation by experts,” he added.

Benjamin clarified that this process aims to differentiate genuinely exceptional underage candidates from those who might have simply done well on the UTME.

He noted that the admission process for these exceptional underage candidates is still underway, as all necessary assessments and verifications are not yet complete.

According to him, it would be unreasonable to finish the process without allowing candidates waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to submit them for verification.

“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.

Benjamin stated that once the NECO results are out, the Board will set and announce a date for the final assessment of outstanding underage candidates.

The spokesperson encouraged parents, guardians, candidates, and the public to be careful and avoid dealing with anyone who claims they can guarantee admission for underage candidates outside the proper channels.

He pointed out that taking the UTME and receiving a result does not automatically mean admission, especially for those who have not reached the required age.

Benjamin reassured everyone that the process for exceptional underage candidates will be clear, strict, and based on merit.

He confirmed that the Board is dedicated to maintaining the integrity of the admissions process and ensuring that only those meeting all established criteria are admitted.