Millions of admission seekers brace for fresh admission benchmarks as JAMB fixes Monday for crucial policy meeting.
Tension and anticipation have taken over among millions of Nigerian students as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) prepares to officially determine the 2026 UTME cut-off marks on Monday.
The development comes amid growing concerns from candidates and parents eager to know the minimum scores required for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country. The policy meeting, scheduled to hold in Abuja, is expected to shape the entire 2026/2027 admission process.
According to JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin, the annual policy meeting will bring together heads of tertiary institutions and major stakeholders in Nigeria’s education sector. The gathering will decide the National Minimum Tolerable UTME Score (NTMUS), popularly known as the cut-off mark.
The announcement has already sparked intense conversations online, especially among candidates who scored below 200 and fear stricter admission requirements this year. While some education analysts predict that universities may maintain a benchmark around 150 and above, others believe performance statistics from the 2026 UTME will heavily influence the final decision.
Beyond the cut-off marks, the meeting is also expected to unveil fresh admission guidelines and policy directions from the Federal Ministry of Education. Many Nigerians are now watching closely to see whether the new benchmarks will ease or further tighten competition for admission spaces nationwide.