Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam

What is JAMB?

The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) is Nigeria's official entrance examination board for tertiary-level institutions. The examinations being administered are available for most students who choose to apply to Nigerian public and private monotechnics, polytechnics, colleges of education and universities. Most of these candidates must already have concluded prior examinations, administered either by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) or the Nigerian National Examinations Council (NECO).

What is JAMB UTME?

JAMB used to conduct two matriculation examinations in Nigeria: the University Matriculation Examination (UME), and the matriculation examination targeted at Monotechnics, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education (MPCE), also called Poly Jamb.

From 2010 onwards, however, JAMB started conducting only one examination. The JAMB UME and MPCE were replaced by the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (JAMB UTME), a matriculation examination for admission into all tertiary institutions. Unlike UME and MPCE results which are valid for only one year, the JAMB UTME result is valid for two years.

In addition, candidates for the UTME will select two Universities, two Polytechnics, and two Colleges of Education during their registration. Based on the UTME results, candidates will be allotted to any of the six institutions selected. The beauty of the UTME is that candidates who fail to secure admission into Universities still have the opportunity of securing admission into Polytechnics and Colleges of Education instead of waiting at home for one whole year to write another JAMB.

What is JAMB Direct Entry?

JAMB Direct Entry (DE) is an opportunity provided by JAMB to candidates with advanced level (A level) qualification(s) to gain entry into a University. DE candidates register for direct entry into a University of their choice. Based on their performance at both advanced and ordinary level exams, they may then be offered admission. JAMB does not conduct any direct entry examination. Candidates simply access admission based on their A Level and O Level performance. However, the University applied to may conduct a JAMB direct entry screening test.

I am confused about the IJMB. Is it the same as JAMB? What is the IJMB?

The Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB) is an international body which organizes the IJMB ordinary and advanced level exams. Students may use its advanced level results for the JAMB DE program. Good grades at its A'level exam may guarantee the student is offered admission at the 200 level, instead of 100 level of study.

How many types of JAMB exam can I sit for?

Currently, JAMB organizes a single exam every year, the JAMB UTME. Previously it used to be the UME and the Poly JAMB.

Where can I purchase JAMB exam application forms?

You may purchase application forms online. First, you will have to purchase a JAMB scratch card at any Nigerian bank nationwide. Then, you may access the JAMB site using the scratch card PIN. However, you may also purchase forms at any JAMB office nationwide.

I got the error message 'record does not exist' while trying to check my JAMB result. What do I do?

One common error reported by JAMB UTME candidates, while checking their UTME results is the 'record does not exist' error. This may mean a number of things:

You may not be entering the right JAMB UTME registration number - confirm that the UTME number you are entering is correct
Your UTME results may not have been uploaded by JAMB - JAMB may upload UTME results in batches, so exercise some patience.
Your JAMB UTME results may still be undergoing screening.
Your UTME results may have been seized for malpractice.

This error message was a common complaint when JAMB was at http://www.jambonline.org. With JAMB recently moving to a new site at http://www.jamb.org.ng, it is hoped that these error messages would stop.

General Information
By 1974, there were seven federal universities in Nigeria. Every one of these existing universities conducted its own concessional examination and admitted its students. However, this system of admission revealed serious limitations and quite often waste of resources in the process of administering the concessional examination, especially on the part of the candidates. The general untidiness in the uncoordinated system of admissions into universities and the attendant problems were sufficient cause for concern to the committee of vice chancellors.

These problems assumed new dimensions when by 1976, the then federal military government, under the leadership of General Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, established six additional universities. Consequently, the government set up a national committee on university entrance under the chairmanship of Mr. M. S. Angulu. The ultimate result was the emergence of JAMB.

JAMB Contact Information
For more: official JAMB home
JAMB UTME registration: UTME 2011 e-registration portal
UTME exam instructions: UMTE Registration Instruction page
UTME exam brochure: JAMB UTME 2011 Online Brochure

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