JAMB EXPLAINS WHY UNDER-16 CANDIDATES CAN WRITE UTME BUT MAY NOT GET ADMISSION
Read Time:2 Minute, 12 Second
By; Aina Daniel
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has clarified its policy on candidates below the age of 16 seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions, noting that they can sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination but may not be admitted under normal circumstances.
JAMB provided the clarification in a video posted on its X account on Thursday as part of its “JAMB Explained” series, titled, “5 Frequently Asked Questions About Underage Admission.”
According to the board, an underage candidate is any applicant who has not attained the age of 16 by September 30 of the admission year.
JAMB explained that the September 30 age cut-off was established by the Federal Ministry of Education. For the 2026 admission exercise, candidates must therefore be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, to qualify as candidates who have met the age requirement.
Under-16 candidates can sit for UTME
The board clarified that being below 16 does not prevent a candidate from registering for or sitting the UTME.
It said, “Can someone who is less than 16 participate in the UTME? Yes, but they’ll be regarded as underage.”
However, JAMB stressed that sitting for the examination does not automatically make an underage candidate eligible for admission.
Higher benchmark for exceptional candidates
JAMB said underage candidates seeking admission must meet stricter requirements and qualify as exceptional candidates.
According to the board, an underage candidate must score at least 80 per cent in the UTME, post-UTME and O-level screening to be considered for admission.
The requirement means that candidates below the stipulated age must demonstrate outstanding academic performance across the relevant examinations and screening processes.
Underage status does not automatically bar admission
While candidates below 16 are generally not considered for admission, JAMB said exceptions could be made for those who meet the criteria for exceptional candidates.
The board stated, “Underage candidates are not considered for admission unless they qualify as exceptional candidates.”
This means that passing the UTME or meeting the general requirements for taking the examination does not, by itself, guarantee admission for an underage candidate.
Meeting 80% does not guarantee admission
JAMB also clarified that meeting the 80 per cent benchmark does not automatically translate into an admission offer.
The board noted that admission ultimately depends on the institution selected by the candidate.
“Please note that your admission is solely dependent on the choice of your institution,” JAMB said.
The clarification is particularly important for candidates who will not be 16 by September 30, 2026, as they may sit for the UTME but face additional requirements before they can be considered for admission.
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