Candidates who achieved exceptional scores in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination are now receiving notifications from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board to proceed with admission assessments. These messages are specifically directed at underage candidates who scored 320 and above, inviting them to the next stage of evaluation at their chosen institutions. The institutions are expected to contact the candidates to conduct screening and return the results to the Board.
A message sent to a qualified candidate confirmed that the individual had crossed the 80% threshold required for consideration. “JAMB hereby notifies you that you have crossed the 80% threshold in the UTME, which is one of the four categories for consideration. As a result, your details have been forwarded to your institution of choice, which will contact you for screening and return the result to the Board. You can contact your chosen institution regarding this. Kindly ensure that you upload your O’level results to the JAMB portal,” the notification read.
Fabian Benjamin, the JAMB spokesperson, confirmed this initiative in a statement on Sunday. He noted that the Board has forwarded the details of these high performing candidates to their preferred institutions for necessary admission processing. “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 stated.
The exercise implements the exceptional candidate policy endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Education for highly gifted applicants below the minimum age of 16. While only candidates who will be 16 years old by September 30, 2026, are typically eligible, this provision allows for exceptions based on academic brilliance. Under this arrangement, underage candidates must score a minimum of 320 in the UTME and obtain at least 80 per cent in subsequent screenings.
Previously, the Board withheld the results of these candidates, with their portals displaying “No Result Yet.” Benjamin explained that based on prior agreements with parents, only those meeting the 320 mark benchmark are shortlisted for further assessments. He maintained that results will remain unreleased until the screening process is concluded, urging stakeholders to remain patient. This policy aims to ensure that students possess the necessary maturity to cope with the rigours of tertiary education while preserving the integrity of the admission system.
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