The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that the printing of original result slips for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) has not yet commenced. The board attributed the delay to ongoing examination processes and required post-assessment adjustments.
In a statement shared on X on Tuesday, May 19, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin explained that the board recently concluded its foreign examinations and is also preparing for the mop-up UTME for candidates who missed the main exam through no fault of theirs. Benjamin noted that the delay is connected to the nature of the UTME, which he described as a ranking examination.
Ranking Details Must Be Finalized
According to Benjamin, the original result slip contains candidates' ranking details, and all necessary processes and adjustments must be completed before the slips can be released. He said, "Candidates are reminded that the UTME is a ranking examination, and the Original Result Slip contains the ranking of candidates. Consequently, all necessary processes must be completed before the slips can be released."
He added, "As soon as the necessary adjustments are concluded, the printing portal will be activated. This will be done shortly, and candidates will be duly informed when to proceed with the printing of their result slips."
Official Notification Pending
The board promised to officially inform candidates once the portal becomes active. JAMB apologized for the delay and thanked candidates for their understanding. Previously, JAMB set 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for university admission in the 2026/2027 academic session following its policy meeting with tertiary institution heads in Abuja.
The examination body said the decision was reached through a vote by vice-chancellors and stakeholders, while also approving 150 for Colleges of Nursing and 100 as the minimum score for polytechnics nationwide. JAMB also disclosed that over 1.8 million UTME results have been released out of 2.2 million candidates, with applicants advised to check scores via SMS as result slip printing remains pending.
Admission Deadlines Announced
JAMB announced deadlines for the 2025/2026 admission exercise. The board directed public universities to conclude admissions by October 31, 2026, after a policy meeting in Abuja. Private universities were given until November 30, 2026, while polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education must wrap up admissions by December 31, 2026, in line with the approved national timetable.
The board also warned candidates to accept admission offers within four weeks or risk cancellation, adding that institutions failing to comply with deadlines may lose access to the CAPS platform.
Top Scorers List Released
Meanwhile, JAMB released the list of the 10 highest scorers in the 2026 UTME during its Policy Meeting on Admissions in Abuja. It detailed candidates' scores, states, and chosen institutions. The board revealed that the top scorers achieved between 367 and 372, with candidates selecting courses such as Medicine, Computer Science, Software Engineering, and various engineering disciplines across top Nigerian universities.
