Gaining admission to any tertiary institution in Nigeria is a big challenge, especially considering the large number of students struggling with the few admission slots. It is almost impossible if you’re applying to competitive courses like Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Mass Communication, etc.
Every year, over 65% of students who sit for the JAMB exam fail to gain admission. It can be disheartening being among this percentage of students. I understand the feeling because I sat for the JAMB examination five (5) times.
I am writing this article to let you know that it is possible to gain admission even if your JAMB score is below 180. Everything I will share here is based on my experience providing student admission guidance over the years.
But, to achieve this, you must make calculative decisions to ensure your success, which I will share in this article. Let me know if you have any questions or need further clarification. I would love to hear from you.
Admission Stages in Nigeria
There are three (3) admission stages in Nigerian tertiary institutions. These are the exams and requirements you need to pass to study in these schools.
- JAMB Exam
- Post UTME Screening
- Cut-Off Mark
As a rule of thumb, you need to perform excellently in both screening exercises, as they would determine your chances for admission.
1. JAMB Exam
The JAMB exam is the test conducted by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board. They are the regulatory board for all admission processes in Nigeria.
As you already know, the JAMB exam comprises of four (4) subjects with a maximum score of over four hundred (400).
Performing excellently in your JAMB is necessary to stand a better chance of studying your dream course in your preferred institution.
But, since you’re reading this post, I guess your JAMB score is low and yes, there is a solution which I will be sharing with you very soon.
First, let me explain some basic concepts to you so that you can fully understand how the admission process works.
2. Post UTME Screening
Post UTME screening exercise is the assessment conducted by individual schools. Some schools adopted an examination method while others would just conduct online screening using your JAMB result and O’level to determine your admission.
Whichever method, it is necessary to know the format for the school you’re applying to study. If you have any confusion about this, you can let me know in the comment box at the end of this post.
3. Cut-Off Mark
There are two types of admission cut-off marks:
- The General JAMB
- Institution Departmental Cut-off Mark.
The General JAMB
The general cut-off mark is not really of importance because the score is usually low and accommodating. For example, this score can be 150 and above for State Universities.
But, you must not get carried by this because it does not in any way guarantee your admission. It only means you can apply for a State Score if you have that score.
Institution Departmental Cut-off Mark
The institution’s departmental cut-off mark is what determines your admission chances. This score is decided based on the performance of students in the screening exam.
What this means is that if you score up to or above this departmental cut-off mark, you have a very good chance for admission.
Gaining Admission with a Low JAMB Score
The following are the steps to take to gain admission with a low JAMB score;
- Determine the Cut-Off Mark
- Apply for a Less Competitive Course
- Choose a State or Private University
- Consider Polytechnics
- Apply to a School of Nursing or College of Health Technology
1. Determine the Cut-Off Mark
The first thing you must do at this stage is to evaluate your JAMB score and determine if it is suitable for the course or institution you’re applying to.
The question is, how do you do this? It is simple as it is; you just need to ask yourself a few questions.
- What is my JAMB score?
- Is my institution a Federal or State University?
- What has been the departmental cut-off mark for my preferred course over the last three years?
- How well can I perform at the Post UTME exam?
If you can answer these questions, then you’re on the right track. If you don’t, you can always let me know in the comments for assistance.
The problem is that many students do not think about cut-off marks before applying to a course. It is why a student with a JAMB score of 260 would apply to Medicine and Surgery at a Federal University.
Admission success to study any course is based on having the right JAMB score and meeting the departmental cut-off mark.
2. Apply for a Less Competitive Course
Applying to a less competitive course is the best decision you can make to stand a better chance for admission if your JAMB score is low.
For example, you applied for Law, but after the JAMB exam, you got a score of 240. Definitely, you cannot get Law in most universities. So, the best decision would be to apply to an alternative course like Political Science, Public Administration, Mass Communication, etc.
When you have a low JAMB score, you must develop an open mindset to choosing an alternate course.
I know this can be difficult owing to the fact you have always wanted to become a Doctor, Pharmacist, Lawyer, etc.
But, because your JAMB score is low, you must know to consider alternate programmes that are less competitive.
3. Choose a State or Private University
State and Private universities have the lowest cut-off marks. It is not because they are substandard; no, it is because few students apply to these schools.
You must not apply to a Federal university, especially when your JAMB score is low. If you must know, some State Universities are better, only that they are more expensive.
Since your JAMB score is low, apply to a state university. Then, if your parents or sponsors can afford a private university, go for it.
4. Consider Polytechnics
I know you don’t want to study at a Polytechnic due to one reason or the other. But life happens. At this stage, you need to consider this option.
The good thing is that you can still pursue your admission at the university and use the polytechnic as your backup plan.
There is a very high chance of gaining admission to polytechnics because of their low cut-off marks. Now, the best part is that you can always apply to a university for direct entry after getting your National Diploma certificate.
College of Education is also a good alternative if you have a passion for educational courses.
5. Apply to a School of Nursing or College of Health Technology
School of Nursing or College of Health Technology are the best alternative for science students with low JAMB scores.
School of Nursing trains nurses, while at the College of Health Technology, you have the option of studying various courses like;
- Pharmacy Technology
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Opticianry
- Environmental Health
- Health Information Management
- Nutrition and Dietetics, etc.
Both schools offer wonderful programs that are the best alternative to degree programs. Also, you can always further your studies at the university through direct entry.
Conclusion
Having a low JAMB score is not the end of the world. There is always a solution to every problem.
What you need is the right guidance and for you to make the right decision so you can get admission.
Like I said, I understand what you’re going through because I also experienced failure in my JAMB exam. It is the reason why I am passionate about sharing my experience and knowledge.
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions or need further clarificationn. I would love to hear from you.
