The spokesman for the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Fabian Benjamin, recently shed light on the factors influencing admission decisions for candidates with high scores in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In an interview with Arise Television, Benjamin emphasized that while high scores are important, admission is ultimately determined by the cut-off marks set by individual institutions and departments.
According to Benjamin, the misconception that high scores guarantee admission is unfounded. He clarified that admission is contingent upon the specific cut-off marks established by schools and departments, making it a competitive process where high scores do not always translate to admission.
Benjamin highlighted the primary purpose of the UTME as a selection exercise rather than a simple pass-fail assessment. He explained that the examination aims to identify candidates who meet the criteria set by universities and departments, emphasizing that scoring above a certain threshold does not guarantee admission if the demand for a particular program is high.
Using the example of competitive courses like medicine, Benjamin illustrated how even scores exceeding 300 may not secure admission into prestigious universities like the University of Lagos due to intense competition and limited slots. Conversely, candidates applying for less competitive courses or institutions may be admitted with scores well below 200, showcasing the varying admission criteria across different programs and universities.
