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2026 JAMB Admission Scores

The internet is currently buzzing owing to the decisions reached at this year's JAMB policy meeting, especially on the minimum (not cut-off mark) approved scores for institutions. The general concern is about the standard of our education sector and its ability to produce quality future representatives.

I understand the concern and the role JAMB should play in all of these. However, as someone who has witnessed the process for two consecutive years, let me explain to clearly how these scores are discussed, agreed and stamped.

Take for example that you are the leader of a market with different men and women seeking for customers to patronize them but to ensure efficacy and transparency, you asked all the marketers selling beans to set a minimum admissible price (you can go below but can go higher) and their collective decisions are agreed and sealed.

JAMB is the market leader that asked the institutions (universities, polytechnic/monotechnic, CoE, etc) to set their respective minimum scores. They suggested, deliberated and voted for/against and finally agreed. So, JAMB is not the one setting the scores but institutions.

However, there's a twist!!!

The minimum scores announced are not the ultimate or binding on any institution because they are empowered to set scores above (not below) depending on the available courses. This is the reason your 200 might not get you into your desired course of study.

So, don't celebrate, rather brace up and check for entry scores into the course you apply for/to in that your prestigious institution or start thinking of change of course and Institution.