The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a Nigerian entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions.[1] The board conducts Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination for prospective undergraduates into Nigerian universities.[2] The board is also charged with the responsibility to administer similar examinations for applicants to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, and colleges of educations. All of these candidates must have obtained the West Africa Senior School Certificate (WASSCE) conducted yearly by the West African Examinations Council, WAEC, or its equivalent, National Examination Council (Nigeria), Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO SSCE.[3]
![]() Official logo | |
Founded | 1978 |
---|---|
Type | Examination board |
Purpose | Admission into tertiary institutions. |
Headquarters | Bwari, Abuja |
Location | |
Official language | English |
Registrar | Prof Ishaq Olarenwaju Oloyede |
Website | www |
The pioneer registrar was Michael Saidu Angulu, who served from inception in 1978 until 1986.[4] The current registrar of JAMB is Prof Ishaq Oloyede, who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2016.[5] Registration for 2024 UTME commenced on 15 January 2024 and ended on 26 February 2024. The main examination is scheduled to commence on 19 April and end on 29 April 2024, while the optional Mock examination was held on 7 March 2024.[6]
CBT centres
editJamb CBT (Computer Based Test) Centres are the various locations and centres in Nigeria approved by JAMB for the registration of the UTME examination. There are various JAMB CBT centers/locations in the 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory (Nigeria), FCT.[7]
As of March 2024, there are a total of 793 Computer-Based Test centres across the country. [8]
Examinations
editEvery year, the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board conducts one of the most credible examinations in Nigeria that determines whether a student will be admitted to a tertiary institution of learning. A record number of nearly 1.8 million candidates registered for the 2022 examination.[9]
The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is only valid for a year, and has a score range 0–400. The examination is a test of knowledge, speed and accuracy. It consists of 180 questions with a time frame of 2 hours (120 minutes). The subject combination[10] vary based on a candidate's desired course of study, although English language is compulsory for all candidates.
The examination is conducted for international candidates who wish to be admitted into any Nigerian tertiary institution by the West African Examination Council (WAEC).
After the conduct of the year's examination, the board sits and deliberates on the cut-off mark for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and 'monotechniques'. Often universities have the higher cut-off mark, while other institutions require lower marks.[11]
Practice Platforms
editThe Joint Admission and Matriculation Board is yet to officially approve a certified CBT practice platform for candidates. However, with growing concern over the performance of candidates in these computer-based tests,[12] considering the fact that Nigeria is a developing country with a sizeable number of school children having little to no access to computers & the internet,[13] a number of independent contributors [14] have provided practice platforms with thousands of past questions to help candidates prepare and boost their performance in the actual test.[15]
Leadership
edit- Ishaq Oloyede, current registrar (highest-ranking official)
References
edit- ^ "Ojerinde re-appointed JAMB registrar". Vanguard News. 9 April 2012.
- ^ "JAMB". Blueprint Academy. Retrieved 2023-09-12.
- ^ "Varsities set irrelevant post-UTME questions and blame candidates for failing – Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB boss". The Punch.
- ^ "12 things to note about 2017 JAMB examination". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
- ^ "Buhari appoints new heads for 17 education agencies…names Oloyede JAMB registrar". Punch Newspapers. 2016-08-02. Retrieved 2021-06-03.
- ^ "2024 UTME: JAMB Announces Dates for Sales, Registration, Exams - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2024-04-09.
- ^ "JAMB CBT centers/locations". Alluniversity Editor Team.
- ^ Tolu-Kolawole, Deborah (2024-03-07). "260,000 candidates sitting for 2024 Mock-UTME, says JAMB". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-03-08.
- ^ "JAMB registers 1.8 million candidates, rakes in N8.6 billion". Premium Times Nigeria. Retrieved 2024-07-07.
- ^ "SYLLABUS SYSTEM (IBASS)". www.jamb.gov.ng. Retrieved 2023-02-12.
- ^ "JAMB fixes cut off marks for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education". Premium Times Nigeria. 2017-08-22. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "Challenges of Computer Based Test among Senior Secondary School Students in Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State" (PDF). African Scholars Journal of Pure and Applied Science. 18 (9): 93–104. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
- ^ Olanrewaju, G. S.; Adebayo, S. B.; Omotosho, A. Y.; Olajide, C. F. (2021). "Left behind? The effects of digital gaps on e-learning in rural secondary schools and remote communities across Nigeria during the COVID19 pandemic". International Journal of Educational Research Open. 2: 100092. doi:10.1016/j.ijedro.2021.100092. PMC 8600108. PMID 35059671.
- ^ "JAMB CBT Practize Platform". Green Bridge CBT. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
- ^ "Examscholars JAMB/UTME CBT Practice Software". Exam Scholars. Retrieved 2024-07-07.