The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced the screening process for underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), as part of its exceptional candidate policy.
According to JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, the affected candidates are being contacted and will proceed to the next stage of assessment at their chosen institutions.
“The Board has sent messages to underage candidates who scored 320 and above. They will be invited to the next level of assessment by their institution of choice,” Benjamin said in a statement on Sunday.
A sample message sent to one of the candidates, also confirmed by the board, indicated that those who met the required threshold have had their details forwarded to their selected institutions for further processing.
The message noted that the candidates had crossed the 80% performance benchmark in the UTME, one of the key requirements under the special admission consideration.
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It further directed candidates to liaise with their chosen institutions for screening, while also urging them to upload their O’level results on the JAMB portal.
This development forms part of JAMB’s policy for exceptionally gifted underage candidates below the minimum admission age of 16 years.
Under the policy, candidates are required to score at least 320 in the UTME and achieve a minimum of 80% in subsequent screening exercises to qualify for admission consideration.
JAMB had earlier withheld results of underage candidates pending the outcome of the screening process, with many initially receiving “No Result Yet” notifications.
The board reiterated that only candidates who meet the strict criteria will be considered, in line with agreements reached with parents and stakeholders.
Officials say the policy, approved by the Federal Ministry of Education, is designed to ensure that admitted students have the academic ability and maturity required for tertiary education.