Examinations are crucial for measuring learning progress, upholding academic standards, and serving as benchmarks for informed decision-making and selection in a competitive environment.
In Nigeria, JAMB UTME is a standardised exam for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. It ensures a fair selection process for higher education. In addition to UTME, candidates must pass a post-UTME screening at their chosen institutions.
Before 2013, the JAMB UTME utilised Paper-Based Testing (PBT), which faced several issues, including logistical challenges, malpractice, and slow result processing. As the number of candidates increased, JAMB adopted Computer-Based Testing (CBT) to improve efficiency, security, and streamline the examination process, thereby modernising Nigeria’s standardised testing system and improving its integrity.
Since the introduction of CBT in 2013, trends in JAMB UTME results have shown consistent patterns in student performance. According to JAMB Registrar Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the results from the 2025 exam align with performance statistics from the past 12 years. The percentage of candidates scoring above 300 has remained below 1%. In 2025, approximately 75% of candidates scored below 200, a trend consistent with that observed in previous years.
JAMB performance is often viewed as a reflection of the poor state of our educational system. While the concern about the educational system is valid, achieving consistent performance outcomes over a decade may indicate a different influencing variable. While CBT has reduced the malpractices and logistical issues faced by PBT, it may be an unintended factor responsible for lower performance over the last decade.
Therefore, important questions to ask are how many students have access to computers and testing experiences before the actual exam and how much computer use is available, especially in public schools. It’s unrealistic to expect good performance from students who may use a computer for the first time during the exam.
To improve CBT examination performance, the government needs to invest more in public school infrastructure. Students should have access to computer labs for learning and practice. Additionally, school curriculum should incorporate computer use in continuous assessments and homework from an early stage. State and Local Governments should establish digital centres in strategic locations for schools and students.
Also, focus should be on how students prepare for exams. Learning and reading are one thing, but preparing for a CBT examination is another.
We need a concerted effort to integrate technology into students’ learning experiences, provide proper teacher training and access to necessary resources and infrastructure. Only then can we expect real improvements in exam results.
Very well said @Adeolu. There re a number of variables that can be attributed to this. In a country like ours where we hardly do data driven discussions or evaluations, a lot will keep trending for the next few weeks. I have an experience with my son who started gaining confidence when he signed on to CBT on his laptop and eventually scored 287 in his Jamb last year. I also know of of someone who got 280s just after 2 to 3 weeks of using same laptop. Unfortunately in same environment and school, I know others who didn’t do well enough. Could CBT practice be a factor? Can’t be ruled out.
I will like to see the result over the 12 years horizon and compare. Can we do some analytics to see even by subject combinations, locations, etc? This should be interesting to our young ones to crunch the numbers and bring it valuable insights. Unfortunately, what we see is trends and complaints and crowdfunding.
How can govt give a crash CBT practice to students? Can Jamb even do it? Can they pay minimally for these? Some opportunities here to improve the educational testing, credibility, and a few more.. there is a lot to do!!!
Moyo.
Very well said. We need to ask the right questions so as to address the the performance issue. Governments need to invest in infrastructure for public schools and Private schools have to be intentional about exposing the candidates. Parents need to involved and our curriculum as a whole should incorporate CBT assessment from an early stage.
While your opinion is very valid, parents also have the duty to make sure their children have a close experience not just with computers but a mock CBT as part of exam preparation!
I agree that both the examination process and the system of educating them are the biggest culprits.
You cannot just dump the cbt on them like that. It’s a whole new experience
Then the schools have to start preparing them towards that too
But not sure if the schools have such infrastructure
Adeolu, this is a great article. You touched on an aspect of the subject of performance in the recent JAMB examinations that is often overlooked or hardly considered. I strongly agree with you and other commentors that the transition from a PBT to a CBT should be followed with adequate computer literacy awareness in our schools. The harsh reality is that we are yet to see that level of commitment on the part of local, state and national leadership. So parents and school authorities will need to take ownership of progress until our local to national government are fully on board. We are on a long journey.