JAMB UTME Format Outdated as Registrar Announces Major Review
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced a review of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), with the proposed reforms expected to place greater emphasis on critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and life skills.
JAMB Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of a committee of education experts and stakeholders tasked with developing a framework for integrating these competencies into UTME.
The development could eventually change how candidates prepare for and take UTME, although no new UTME format has been formally announced yet. The committee has initially been given four weeks to examine the proposal and make recommendations.
Important: The proposed changes are currently under review. Candidates should not assume that the next UTME will automatically have a completely new format until JAMB officially announces the final framework.
What JAMB Registrar Said About the Current UTME Format
Prof. Segun Aina said the current UTME structure has remained largely unchanged for more than three decades and should be reviewed to determine whether it still meets the needs of modern tertiary education.
According to the Registrar, JAMB’s role is primarily to rank candidates seeking admission, rather than duplicate the subject-content assessment already carried out through O-Level examinations.
Candidates generally obtain O-Level qualifications through examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) before seeking admission through the tertiary education system.
Aina therefore questioned whether UTME should continue to focus predominantly on subject knowledge when some of that knowledge has already been assessed through other examinations.
He explained that JAMB wants to examine skills candidates can apply to real-life situations, particularly their ability to think critically, reason and solve problems.
Why Is JAMB Reviewing UTME?
The proposed review is based on questions about whether the existing UTME format remains the most appropriate way of identifying candidates who are likely to succeed in tertiary education.
Aina questioned whether the methods currently used to predict candidates’ future performance in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain sufficiently effective.
This means the proposed reform is not simply about changing the appearance or delivery of UTME. It is also about examining the purpose and predictive value of the examination.
The key issue is whether UTME can better identify candidates who possess the skills needed to cope with tertiary education.
JAMB Wants to Introduce Critical Thinking and Life Skills
One of the major areas being considered in the UTME review is the assessment of critical thinking and life skills.
Critical thinking generally involves the ability to examine information, evaluate evidence, identify relationships, reason logically and reach conclusions based on available information.
Problem-solving involves applying knowledge and reasoning to unfamiliar situations rather than simply recalling information.
The proposed framework is therefore expected to examine competencies that candidates can use beyond the classroom.
However, the exact questions, scoring system, subjects or number of questions that may eventually be involved have not yet been announced.
Will Critical Thinking Replace UTME Subjects?
Not at this stage.
The committee has been asked to examine how the proposed competencies could be incorporated into UTME. According to the information released following the committee’s inauguration, one of the issues it will consider is whether the new components should be:
- administered as a separate standardised examination; or
- embedded within existing UTME subjects.
Therefore, candidates should not conclude that subjects such as English Language, Mathematics or other UTME subjects are being removed.
JAMB has not announced a final replacement of the existing UTME subject structure.
The committee must first examine the proposal and make recommendations before any final framework can be adopted.
JAMB UTME Reform: What Is Being Considered?
The proposed reform can be summarised as follows:
| Area | What JAMB Is Considering |
|---|---|
| Current UTME | Predominantly subject-based assessment used for candidate selection and ranking. |
| Critical thinking | Assessing candidates’ ability to analyse information and reason through problems. |
| Problem-solving | Testing how candidates apply reasoning to practical or unfamiliar situations. |
| Life skills | Considering competencies that candidates can apply beyond simple recall of subject content. |
| Assessment structure | Determining whether new components should be separate or incorporated into existing UTME subjects. |
| Predictive validity | Examining how effectively UTME predicts candidates’ potential success in tertiary education. |
JAMB Says UTME Should Not Duplicate O-Level Examinations
A major argument behind the proposed review is the relationship between UTME and existing secondary-school examinations.
According to Aina, candidates who sit for UTME have generally already obtained or are pursuing O-Level qualifications assessed by examination bodies such as WAEC and NECO.
He therefore questioned the value of having JAMB’s examination repeat assessments that primarily measure subject knowledge.
Aina said JAMB’s responsibility is essentially a ranking task, meaning that the examination should help tertiary institutions distinguish among candidates seeking admission.
The proposed approach could therefore place more emphasis on skills that distinguish candidates in terms of reasoning and their ability to deal with unfamiliar problems.
JAMB Questions Whether UTME Still Predicts Tertiary Success
Another major issue raised by the Registrar is the ability of UTME to predict which candidates are likely to perform well after admission.
Aina asked whether the methods currently used to identify candidates who are likely to succeed in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education remain valid.
This is an important part of the proposed reform because an admission-selection examination is expected to provide useful information about candidates beyond simply showing what they can remember.
The committee will therefore examine whether changes to UTME could improve its ability to identify candidates prepared for tertiary-level learning.
JAMB Sets Up Committee to Review UTME
JAMB has constituted a committee comprising education experts and stakeholders from different parts of the education sector.
The committee was inaugurated in Abuja to examine how life skills, critical thinking and related competencies could be integrated into the UTME framework.
Aina explained that JAMB deliberately involved external experts because the Board should not make such a major decision without input from stakeholders who would be affected by the changes.
He emphasised that the committee is expected to guide JAMB and help ensure that any eventual decision is broadly acceptable.
Committee Has Four Weeks to Make Initial Recommendations
The committee has been given an initial period of four weeks to examine the proposed UTME reforms from a conceptual perspective.
The timeline may be adjusted if additional time is considered necessary.
After the committee submits its recommendations, JAMB may engage assessment specialists to work on the technical details of whatever framework is eventually approved.
This means the current announcement represents the beginning of a review process rather than the immediate introduction of a new UTME examination.
Federal Ministry of Education Supports the Proposed Review
The Federal Ministry of Education also welcomed the initiative.
Representing the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Technical Assistant to the Acting Permanent Secretary, Oni Adedeji, said the proposed changes are consistent with wider efforts to reform assessment within Nigeria’s education system.
The committee was asked to develop assessment methods that are standardised, fair and transparent while measuring candidates’ analytical, logical and verbal reasoning abilities beyond simple recall of subject content.
The ministry also expects the committee to determine how any new components should be deployed within the UTME.
Committee Will Decide How the New Skills Could Be Tested
One of the questions before the committee is how critical thinking and life skills should actually be assessed.
There are currently two broad possibilities under consideration:
- The competencies could form part of a separate standardised examination.
- The competencies could be incorporated into existing UTME subjects.
The committee’s work will help determine which approach is appropriate.
Candidates should therefore wait for JAMB’s final announcement instead of relying on social media posts claiming that a particular new UTME structure has already been approved.
What the Committee Chairman Said About UTME
The committee is chaired by Prof. Boniface Nworgu of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Nworgu said the effectiveness of UTME should ultimately be considered in relation to its ability to identify candidates with strong prospects of succeeding in tertiary education.
He described UTME as a selection examination rather than a certification examination.
This distinction is important because certification examinations primarily establish whether candidates have achieved particular learning outcomes, while a selection examination is used to distinguish candidates competing for available places.
Nworgu therefore said the predictive value of UTME is an important consideration in the review.
Changes in University Curriculum Also Influenced the Review
Nworgu also pointed to changes in tertiary education curricula as another reason for giving greater attention to skills and critical thinking.
He referenced the transition from the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) to the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS).
According to him, the current direction of tertiary education places greater emphasis on skills and critical thinking.
The implication is that admission assessments may also need to reflect the competencies increasingly expected from students entering higher education.
JAMB Says the Reform Must Be Evidence-Based
The proposed UTME reform is not expected to be implemented simply because a new approach sounds attractive.
Nworgu stressed the importance of evidence in determining whether a modified UTME is actually achieving its intended purpose.
This means any eventual changes would need to be assessed to determine whether they improve the examination’s ability to identify candidates who are likely to succeed in tertiary education.
The committee may therefore consider evidence and assessment research when making its recommendations.
What Does the UTME Review Mean for JAMB Candidates?
For candidates preparing for UTME, the immediate implication is that the existing UTME should not be abandoned based on the announcement alone.
JAMB has not yet published a final new examination format.
Candidates preparing for an upcoming UTME should continue to follow the official syllabus, examination instructions and preparation guidance released by JAMB.
If the Board eventually approves changes to the examination structure, candidates should receive official information about the new format and how it will affect their preparation.
Will the Next JAMB UTME Be Different?
It is too early to give a definitive answer on the final structure of the next UTME.
JAMB has commenced the review process, but the committee must first examine the proposed framework and submit its recommendations.
The Board may subsequently engage assessment experts to develop the technical details of any framework adopted.
Therefore, candidates should distinguish between:
| Current Position | What It Means |
|---|---|
| UTME review announced | JAMB has started examining possible changes. |
| Committee inaugurated | Experts and stakeholders will develop recommendations. |
| Four-week initial timeline | The committee is expected to make initial recommendations within four weeks. |
| Final UTME format | Not yet announced. |
| New questions or subjects | Not yet officially specified. |
Should Candidates Stop Studying the Current UTME Subjects?
No.
Until JAMB officially announces a new examination structure, candidates should continue preparing according to the existing official UTME requirements.
The current announcement is about a review and proposed framework, not an instruction for candidates to abandon their existing preparation.
Candidates should be especially careful about social media claims announcing supposed new UTME subjects, question formats, examination dates or scoring systems unless such information is confirmed by JAMB.
What Could Change If the Reform Is Approved?
If the proposed framework is eventually adopted, UTME could place greater emphasis on competencies such as:
- Critical thinking
- Logical reasoning
- Analytical reasoning
- Problem-solving
- Verbal reasoning
- Application of knowledge
- Practical life skills
However, these are areas being considered by the committee. They should not yet be presented as the confirmed structure of the next UTME.
The final approach will depend on the committee’s recommendations and subsequent decisions by JAMB.
Why Critical Thinking Could Become More Important in UTME
Critical thinking is increasingly relevant to tertiary education because students are expected to do more than memorise information.
At university, polytechnic and college of education levels, students regularly encounter unfamiliar problems that require them to interpret information, compare alternatives, analyse evidence and develop solutions.
The proposed UTME review is therefore examining whether the admission examination should capture more of these abilities.
The committee’s work will determine how such skills can be measured fairly and reliably among large numbers of candidates.
What Candidates Should Watch for Next
Candidates should watch for official information from JAMB concerning the outcome of the committee’s work.
Important updates may include:
- The committee’s recommendations.
- The final decision on whether to modify UTME.
- The competencies to be assessed.
- Whether the new components will be separate or embedded in existing subjects.
- Any changes to the examination structure.
- Any changes to preparation materials or syllabus requirements.
- When any approved changes will take effect.
Until these details are officially announced, candidates should avoid relying on unofficial UTME reform claims.
Latest Update on JAMB UTME Reform 2026
JAMB has begun a review of the UTME format after its Registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, described the existing largely subject-based structure as outdated after more than three decades.
The review is focused on whether UTME can better assess the abilities needed for success in tertiary education, including critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and life skills.
A committee of education experts and stakeholders has been inaugurated to develop an initial framework. The committee has four weeks to examine the proposal, although its timeline may be adjusted if necessary.
The committee will also consider whether the proposed competencies should be tested separately or incorporated into existing UTME subjects.
No final new UTME format has been announced yet.
RELATED POST
JAMB Admission Acceptance Deadline 2026: Accept or Reject by 30 September
JAMB CAPS 2026: Complete Guide to Checking, Accepting & Rejecting Admission
How to Upload O’Level Results on JAMB CAPS 2026
Conclusion
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has started a major review of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with the proposed reform focused on making the assessment more relevant to the skills candidates need for tertiary education.
JAMB Registrar Prof. Segun Aina said the existing format has remained largely unchanged for more than three decades and questioned whether a predominantly subject-based examination remains the most effective way to rank candidates who have already undergone O-Level assessments.
The proposed review will examine the possibility of incorporating critical thinking, reasoning, problem-solving and life skills into UTME.
However, candidates should understand that the new UTME format has not yet been finalised. A committee of experts and stakeholders has been given an initial four weeks to examine the proposal and make recommendations.
Until JAMB officially announces the outcome of the review and any approved changes, candidates should continue to prepare using the existing official UTME requirements and avoid relying on unverified social media claims.
MasterJAMB will update this page when JAMB officially announces further details about the proposed UTME reform, new examination framework or implementation date.