The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has given important updates for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The examination body has also torchlighted the Direct Entry(DE) registration process in their latest announcement. For year 2025/2026 academic seesion, about 1.5 million candidates are expected to sit for the computer-based test which serves as entry examination into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Registration Commencement Dates for UTME/DE
Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, JAMB Registrar said the sale of forms will begin on February 3rd, 2025, and closes on March 5th, 2025. The Board Registrar added that the registration for Direct Entry (DE) begins on Monday, 10th March and ends on Monday, 7th April. On their official X handle (formerly called twitter), it was stated that candidates should “Note that DE registration is restricted to the Board’s State & Zonal Offices only.”
Cost implication for the 2025 UTME/DE Registration
According to the examination board, the cost implication for the 2025 UTME/DE registration is as stated below:
- UTME with Mock-₦8,700,
- UTME without Mock-₦7, 200,
- Mock Trial Testing for Future Candidates-₦3, 500,
- DE-₦5, 700.
Detailed breakdown of the cost implication is as follows:
- UTME/DE application fee- ₦3,500,
- Reading Text,- ₦1,000,
- CBT centre registration service charge- ₦700,
- CBT Centre UTME service charge-₦1,500,
- CBT Mock service charge- ₦1,500,
- Bank charges- ₦500,
- CBT Mock-UTME centre service charge- ₦1,500.
Note that the Registrar while in a presentation at a stakeholder meeting disclosed that “Candidates will not pay any money as service charge to any CBT centre.”
Mock Trial Introduced
Prof. Oloyede also announced the introduction of a UTME Mock Trial for underage students who are not eligible to register for UTME. The Mock Trial which is not for admission purpose is designed to help underage test their abilities ahead of the actual UTME.
Minimum Age Limit for Admission
The Ministry of Education last year, pegged the age for UTME and admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions at 16. Thus, Oloyede said candidates must be at least 16 years old on or before September 30, 2025, to qualify for admission. He also stated that, there is special consideration for brilliant candidates under age 15. He further explain that such candidates must score at least 280 in UTME and with great performance in SSCE and Post-UTME.