JAMB publishes UTME results for underage candidates

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

The board, however, warned that access to the results does not amount to eligibility for admission into tertiary institutions.

In a statement on Saturday, JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocols, Fabian Benjamin, explained that candidates classified as underage are those who will not have attained 16 years by September 30, 2026.

According to the board, the release is primarily to enable the affected candidates, their parents and guardians to know their performance in the examination.

JAMB stressed that the results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidates qualify under its exceptional admission provision.

Under the provision, only candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic performance and sufficient maturity will be considered.

The board said prospective exceptional candidates must score at least 320 in the UTME and obtain a minimum of 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination subjects, where applicable.

They must also meet the Post-UTME requirements of their preferred institutions and pass a final assessment conducted by experts before they can be considered for admission.

JAMB said the rigorous process was necessary to distinguish candidates with exceptional ability from those who merely achieved high UTME scores.

The board said the assessment and verification exercise was still underway, with some stages yet to be completed.

It added that candidates who are awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results would be allowed to submit them for verification before the final assessment.

“The Board noted that it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates who are awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present and have their results verified,” Benjamin said.

JAMB explained that because the NECO results were yet to be released, they would be incorporated into the verification process once available.

“As soon as the NECO results are released, the Board will fix and announce a date for the final stage of the assessment of the exceptionally performing underage candidates,” it said.

The examination body also warned candidates, parents and guardians to be wary of individuals claiming they can secure admission for underage candidates outside the official procedure.

It cautioned candidates who fail to meet the stipulated requirements against presenting their UTME results to institutions or intermediaries in an attempt to obtain admission.

JAMB reiterated that taking the UTME and obtaining a result does not automatically confer admission rights, particularly on candidates who have not reached the statutory admission age.

The board said the exceptional admission process would be conducted transparently and strictly on merit.

How to check the 2026 UTME results

Eligible underage candidates can access their results through JAMB’s official result-checking platform using the details required by the board.