Speaking on a live Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) programme, "Weekend File", the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, provided exact data comparing 2021 UTME performance with previous years and explained why the UTME is a ranking test rather than an achievement test.
2020 vs. 2021 UTME Score Comparison
- Candidates Scoring 120 and Above: In 2018, 99.99% scored 120+; in 2019, 99.92%; in 2020, 99.80%; and in 2021, 99.65% scored 120 and above.
- Candidates Scoring 160 and Above: In 2020, 69.82% of candidates who sat the UTME scored 160 and above, whereas in 2021, 65.62% scored 160 and above—a 4.2% dip attributed to prolonged COVID-19 school closures and disrupted study calendars.
Why UTME Is a 'Ranking Examination', Not a Pass/Fail Exam
Prof. Oloyede emphasized that unlike SSCE (WAEC/NECO), which is an achievement certification test with fixed grade thresholds, the UTME is a ranking placement test—like a 100-metre race—designed to rank candidates in order of merit for the available admission spaces in Nigerian tertiary institutions, while the primary legal qualification for university entry remains five (5) O'Level credit passes.
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