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Can UTME Candidates Combine WAEC and NECO Results?

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UTME 2025: JAMB Bans Combination of WAEC and NECO Results for Admissions

Published: August 7, 2025
By: Adekunle Dada

Abuja, FCT – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will no longer be allowed to combine results from the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) when applying for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, disclosed this decision during a virtual meeting held on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, with Vice-Chancellors and Heads of Admissions of various higher institutions across the country. According to Prof. Oloyede, the new directive is part of the updated screening criteria ahead of the 2025/2026 admission exercise. He emphasized that candidates must present results from a single examination body—either WAEC or NECO—and that mixing results from both bodies is now prohibited.

“Henceforth, institutions must reject combinations of WAEC and NECO results for admission screening,” Oloyede stated.

Other Key Admission Guidelines

Oloyede further outlined subject requirements for students in different academic fields:

Science students must have Mathematics among their top five subjects.

Arts students must include English Language in their core subjects.

In addition, JAMB mandated that underage candidates, particularly those below 16 years old, must undergo a dedicated post-UTME screening—even in schools where general post-UTME has been suspended.

The board explained that JAMB will collect the academic data of all applicants and forward only the profiles of those who meet the set benchmarks to tertiary institutions for final screening and possible admission.


Understanding WAEC and NECO

WAEC and NECO are Nigeria’s leading examination bodies responsible for assessing students at the end of secondary school.

WAEC: An international exam board serving Anglophone West African countries. It awards certificates comparable to international standards.

NECO: A national exam body conducting internal and external Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) and the General Certificate in Education (GCE).

The two bodies have long served as acceptable qualification channels for admission, and it was common for students to combine both to meet admission requirements—until now.


JAMB’s Policy on Underage Candidates

Earlier this week, JAMB also addressed concerns about 599 underage candidates who scored 320 and above in the 2025 UTME. Despite their impressive scores, they remain ineligible for immediate admission under current regulations requiring applicants to be at least 16 years old.

Prof. Oloyede explained that these underage students would not be disqualified outright but will undergo an additional vetting process in collaboration with institutions.


Background: 2025 WASSCE Results and Public Reactions

The announcement comes just days after the release of the 2025 WASSCE results on August 4, which recorded a notable drop in overall performance. This has sparked nationwide concern among parents, educators, and student unions, many of whom blame unstable academic calendars, strikes, and lack of adequate preparation for the poor outcomes.

As debates continue over the future of education standards in Nigeria, JAMB’s latest policy shifts are expected to further shape the admission landscape in the months ahead.


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