All You Need to Know About JAMB Rescheduled Exams

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that it will reconduct the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for no fewer than 379,997 candidates following widespread technical glitches that marred the examination in 157 centers, primarily in Lagos and parts of the South-East.

The decision comes after several days of mounting complaints from candidates and parents over alleged errors in results, failure to access exam portals, and concerns about fairness in the conduct and grading of this year’s UTME.

Scope of the Problem

According to the JAMB Registrar, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the board discovered that a critical software update was not properly implemented in some computer-based test (CBT) centers, resulting in malfunctions that affected candidates’ ability to complete or even begin their examinations. These technical failures, the board noted, undermined the credibility of the results from the affected centers.

A total of 379,997 candidates were impacted:

• Lagos Zone: 65 centers with 206,610 candidates.
• South-East (Owerri Zone): 92 centers with 173,387 candidates.

These candidates will be required to retake the UTME between May 16 and May 19, 2025, at designated centers.

“We regret the inconvenience caused by this situation. As a responsible institution, we must admit where we’ve erred and take immediate corrective measures. That is what we have done,” Professor Oloyede said during a press briefing in Abuja.

The Technical Glitch and Its Aftermath

Reports of discrepancies in the released UTME results began circulating days after the initial release on May 4. Several candidates claimed that their results did not reflect their performance, with some stating they could not even log into their computers during the test but were still given scores.

Independent findings by JAMB’s technical team confirmed that data loss and poor transmission were prevalent in the 157 affected centers, particularly due to outdated or faulty server configurations.

As a result, JAMB declared results from these centers null and void and commenced preparations for a fresh sitting.

Communication to Affected Candidates

Candidates eligible for the rescheduled exam have begun receiving notifications through SMS, email, and phone calls. JAMB has also urged all affected individuals to visit the official JAMB portal to confirm their new examination dates and reprint their exam slips.

“No candidate affected by these errors will be punished or disadvantaged,” the registrar assured. “We will ensure a seamless and credible re-examination process for all.”

Public Reaction

The development has sparked heated reactions among students, parents, and education stakeholders. Many commended JAMB for taking responsibility and initiating corrective action. However, others criticized the board for the recurrent nature of such errors despite years of conducting computer-based exams.

Education experts have called for an overhaul of JAMB’s quality assurance framework and demanded a full audit of accredited CBT centers across the country.

“This incident shows we still have a long way to go in ensuring technology-driven assessments are reliable, especially when dealing with millions of candidates,” said Dr. Chinelo Eze, an education policy analyst.

What Affected Candidates Should Do

JAMB has issued the following steps for affected candidates:

1. Stay Informed: Check your phone, email, and the JAMB website regularly for official updates.
2. Reprint Exam Slips: Use the JAMB portal to reprint updated slips containing new dates and venues.
3. Revise and Prepare: Take advantage of the extra time to study and attend mock exams if available.
4. Follow Instructions: Arrive early at the new centers with all required documents and ID.

While the controversy surrounding the 2025 UTME results has cast a shadow on Nigeria’s tertiary admissions process, JAMB’s decision to reconduct exams offers a second chance to thousands of candidates. As the board works to restore public confidence, all eyes will be on how efficiently and transparently the rescheduled exams are conducted.