JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, explained that the mock UTME is not for the purpose of tertiary institution admission but for underage seeking to test their ability.

Oloyede spoke during a meeting with media executives in Lagos, where he also announced that this year’s UTME will be held on March 8, 2025.

The JAMB Registrar said the sale of forms is starting on the 31st of January till the 5th of March, adding that there will be a mock exam on the 23rd of February and there will be UTME on the 8th of March.

Oloyede mentioned that JAMB would introduce a mock trial-testing examination only this year.

 He explained that the mock-trial-testing examination is for individuals who would not qualify for admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education because they are below the age of 16 years.

He added that to qualify to write UTME and secure admission into universities, polytechnics, or colleges of education, candidates must be 16 years old on or before September 30.

According to Oloyede, candidates who do not desire admission for 2025 but wish to have CBT experience could register for mock only for trial testing.

He noted that the sale of Direct Entry application documents and e-PIN vending would commence on March 10 and April 7.

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Oloyede explained that those wishing to write UTME with mock would pay N8,200, for UTME only, which is without mock, and N7,200, for trial-testing mock for underage or testing only as well as direct entry candidates N5,700.

The JAMB registrar explained that the board would be enforcing the 16-year age limit for this year’s UTME registration, noting that only gifted candidates below 15 years old be allowed to register.

He added that to qualify to secure admission as an underage, the candidate must score not less than 280 marks in UTME and perform exceptionally in its senior secondary certificate and post-UTME examinations.

Former Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman,  announced last year that only candidates aged 18 and above would be admitted into tertiary institutions in the country.

The declaration attracted a lot of criticism from Nigerians, which forced the Federal Government to reverse the decision.

Mamman’s successor, Tunji Alausa, suspended the 18-year admission benchmark for tertiary institutions in the country in November 2024.

Meanwhile, Oloyede disclosed that 870 computer-based test centres had been screened and provisionally listed for the 2025 UTME compared to 747 approved last year.