National Telescope national telescope newspaper
Chibuzor Alli
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB)has announced the introduction of a mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) specifically for candidates below the age of 16.
This initiative aims to provide underage students with an opportunity to assess their abilities in a testing environment.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made this announcement during a meeting with media executives in Lagos on Sunday.
He clarified that the mock UTME is not intended for admission into tertiary institutions but is designed for younger candidates looking to test their skills.
Oloyede confirmed that this year’s UTME will take place on March 8, 2025.
“We are starting the sale of forms on the 31st of January till 5th of March. There will be a mock exam on the 23rd of February and on the 8th of March there will be UTME,” he stated.
The registrar emphasized that this year marks the introduction of a mock trial-testing examination aimed solely at those who do not qualify for admission due to being underage.
He mentioned that to be eligible for UTME and gain admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education, candidates must be 16 years old on or before September 30.
Candidates who do not wish to seek admission for 2025 but want to experience Computer-Based Testing (CBT) can register for the mock exam exclusively for trial purposes.
Oloyede outlined the registration timeline, stating that the sale of Direct Entry application documents and e-PIN vending would commence on March 10 and April 7, respectively.
He explained the fees associated with the examinations:
N8,200for UTME with mock, N7,200 for UTME only (without mock), N5,700 for trial-testing mock only (for underage or testing), Direct entry candidates will also pay N5,700.
The JAMB registrar reiterated that this year’s UTME registration will strictly enforce the 16-year age limit, allowing only exceptionally gifted candidates below 15 years of age to register, provided they score no less than 280 marks in the UTME and excel in their senior secondary certificate and post-UTME examinations.
Oloyede explained the background of this policy, stating, “The policy meeting on admission adopted 16 years as the minimum for 2024 admission.
JAMB tried to assist by extending the date to accommodate more candidates, but we were taken to court to reverse the extension to 16 years.”
However, Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, had previously announced that only candidates aged 18 and above would be admitted into tertiary institutions, a decision that faced significant backlash and was later reversed by the Federal Government. His successor, Dr. Tunji Alausa, suspended the 18-year admission benchmark for tertiary institutions in November 2024.
In a positive development, Oloyede revealed that 870 computer-based test centres have been screened and provisionally listed for the upcoming 2025 UTME, an increase from the 747 centres approved last year.
This expansion aims to enhance the examination experience for candidates across the country.
