The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially released the JAMB underage UTME results 2026 for viewing. However, the Board warned that checking these scores does not guarantee tertiary admission. Candidate eligibility remains strictly tied to official criteria, including the steep underage candidates 320 threshold.
According to a formal statement on Saturday by Fabian Benjamin, AG Director, Public Affairs and Protocol, an underage candidate for the 2026 academic cycle is anyone who will be under 16 years old by 30 September 2026.
Candidates can check their performance directly from their registered phone lines. To check UTME result 55019 or 66019, candidates should send the word “RESULT” via SMS using the exact mobile number used during registration.
The examination body emphasized that making these scores accessible is purely informative for families. These scores cannot serve any official admission process unless a student satisfies the strict criteria set for exceptionally gifted candidates.
“The Board had earlier established that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who satisfy the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission. Consequently, candidates who do not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration should not present their viewed results to any institution or individual for the purpose of securing admission”, the statement said in part.
Understanding the JAMB Exceptional Admission Requirements
To qualify under the JAMB exceptional admission requirements, applicants must show overall academic readiness rather than just strong examination performance.
Among the requirements for consideration is a minimum UTME score of 320, alongside a minimum of 80 per cent performance in the relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable. Such candidates are also required to meet the relevant Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions and undergo the prescribed final assessment by experts.
This deliberate screening separates truly gifted students from those who only achieved high test scores by chance.
Assessment Ongoing Pending NECO Results
The Board confirmed that the selection procedure for high-performing underage applicants remains open while official verification continues across multiple stages.
Officials noted that concluding the screening now would unfairly exclude students waiting for their National Examinations Council (NECO) results. Because NECO has not yet published these scores, JAMB is waiting for the official release before starting the final evaluation phase.
Once NECO publishes the necessary records, the Board will schedule and announce the final assessment date for eligible candidates.
Warning Against Fraudulent Admission Offers
JAMB reminded the public that taking the exam and viewing scores does not confer admission rights on candidates who fall below the minimum age limit.
The Board urged parents, guardians, candidates and members of the public to exercise caution and avoid patronising individuals who may claim to have the capacity to secure admission for underage candidates outside the prescribed process.
JAMB assured the public that the process for exceptionally performing underage candidates would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based, in keeping with its commitment to protecting the integrity of the admission process and ensuring that only candidates who satisfy the established requirements are admitted.
