Post-UTME is one of the most important exams when applying to most higher schools of learning in Nigeria. Thus, failing this exam breaks your university admission dreams. While this article well elaborates on everything you need to know about the Post UTME exam and the best way to go about it. This also includes how to register.
However, we have also answered many of the numerous queries we’ve received on scholarafrika relating on how Post UTME is been conducted and how it started.
More so, know that the post-UTME exam Is usually administered a few weeks to months after the release of the JAMB results.

It is crucial to note that the post-UTME is not a substitute for the JAMB (UTME). Candidates have to still sit for and pass the UTME before they can apply to desired institutions via the Post UTME.
Meanwhile, for the main time, carefully read through this page to understand more about the modus operandi of Post UTME.
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What Is Post Utme?
POST UTME is an exam written by prospective students who made it up to the required grades in JAMB to gain admission into tertiary institutions. It is an abbreviation for Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination. It is being organized by universities as a screening exercise to admit students into the schools. For candidates to take part in this exam, they must have written JAMB, and have made it above the JAMB cut-off mark and the university cut-off mark. Students who fail to partake in this exam won’t be able to gain admission into the university no matter how high they score in JAMB.
History
Before 1978, all Nigerian universities, colleges of education, polytechnics, mono-technics, and other tertiary institutions conducted the entrance examination for their intending students, and these schools had the right to grant admission to students who passed their exams. This method of admission had many problematic occurrences that affected both the examiner and the examinee. So there came a necessity for the establishment of a unified model of admission as a way to mitigate these challenges. The committee of vice-chancellors anchored this idea and enacted it and this led to the establishment of JAMB (joint admission and matriculation board) as a centralized tertiary institution entrance examination body. They and they alone had the ability and capacity to grant, intending students, admission into any tertiary or degree-awarding institution.
In the early 2000s, most tertiary institutions, and academic scholars claimed that the institution has deteriorated both in integrity and standard
This made the credibility and competence of JAMB as a sole statutory body charged with the responsibility of conducting admission examinations into tertiary institutions become a national discourse. Due to these accusations lacked against the body, the federal government of Nigeria through the ministry of education empowered and mandated all tertiary institutions to organize an internal screening exercise for the current intending students in 2005. This decision was supported and justified by the incumbent executive president of Nigeria, which is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.
The internal screening exercise which is also known as post UTME suffered a lot of critics one of them being that excessive charges are being paid for it. Most tertiary institutions turned it into gold mines where they can forcefully extort money from prospective students. As a way to curb this, the ministry of education made a decision that states that all post UTME fees for all tertiary institutions must be nothing more than #2000.
Why Write Post Utme?
As we have said earlier, post-UTME is an examination organized by universities as a way of examining the abilities of their intending students. Though you have been examined by JAMB which is the central examination body, you will be tested by the university so you can prove your JAMB score and show the university how good you are in your field of endeavor. So if you fail to write your post UTME EXAM then you will have no result to present as your post UTME result which is one of the requirements to gain admission into the university. Succinctly speaking, you will be denied admission no matter your JAMB score if you fail to write the post-UTME exam conducted by your dream school.
Who Hosts Post Utme?
The post UTME is not a central exam contrary to JAMB. It isn’t organized by a central body unlike JAMB therefore post UTMEs are secluded exams and are organized privately by universities. The university sponsors the exam, funds it, and provides all that is needed for the exam.
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Who Is Eligible To Apply For Post Utme?
To apply for post UTME there are some requirements that when met will qualify you for the exam. As you know, post-UTME is an examination that is conducted by the university herself as a way of examining her intending students to know how prepared and ready they are to take up their desired course of study in the school. So to be a candidate for the post-UTME exam conducted by your dream school you must have:
How To Register For Post Utme?
There are so many ways by which one can register for post UTME because there are so many schools one can wish to attend. Each institution has its way of registering aspiring students for the post-UTME exam because the exam is not a unified examination, it is not a general exam like JAMB, so the way things are done by universities’ authority concerning the exam is independent of one another.
But in general, post UTME exams are done online, all you need to do is log on to the university website, and follow the steps given and you feed them with the required data.
Schools That Don’t Write Post Utme
Some schools have other ways by which they can screen students to scale their abilities, such schools don’t write post UTME but rather intending students are asked to come with their O’Level results like their WAEC, NECO, GCE, etc. The following is the list of schools that don’t participate or which do not conduct post-UTM Exams do their intending students:
How Long Is The Duration Of Post UTME?
There is no predefined time to write a Post UTME examination in Nigeria. The duration of the exam is set by the respective school hosting the Post UTME exam. However, the exams relatively last one hour to answer fifty (50) to hundred (100) questions in most cases. While some school duration may be 30 to 45 minutes. So, this differs by institution.
Anyone can take the Post UTME exams as long they meet the required criteria mentioned above.
How Can I Check My Post Utme Score?
Ways to check your post-UTME examination score differ. Although it is generally done online. However, for some schools, your score will be available the following day. While for other schools it may be in a week or they prefer to notify the students of the days to release the results. Meanwhile, it is a wise choice to choose not to be afraid to review your screening findings.
Hence, carefully follow the steps to ensure you correctly check your Post UTME score:
What Are The Subjects Tested In Post UTME?
The same subjects you enrolled for in your JAMB examination will be the ones you will be tested within your Post UTME examination. However, some schools include extra questions on general knowledge or even an extra subject. Like in the case of FUTO where everyone is expected to attempt a compulsory five subjects in Post UTME.
Meanwhile, a major Instance includes applying for Medicine and surgery in an institution, while you enrolled for the use of English, Chemistry, Physics, and Biology in your JAMB examination. Thus, you will take the same four (4) subjects in your Post UTME examination.
Additionally, you can study for the Post UTME with the JAMB syllabus and the school’s past questions over the years.
How Is The Post UTME exam Graded?
There is no generic method used to grade the Post UTME exam scores. Different schools have their respective grading system and methods which they don’t reveal.
However, the schools consider lots of variables in grading your Post UTME exam. Therefore, might be why the formula for grading the exam is not straightforward.
Meanwhile, we have noted how some institutions do their grading. Like in the case of FUTA. They grade their post-UTME exam, by multiplying your score by 4.
For example:
Out of 25 questions, if you scored thirteen (13) questions correctly, then, your post UTME exam score will be thirteen multiplied by four (13* 4), which is 52.
How Do I Know If My O-level Result Is Posted On The Jamb Portal?
If you have successfully registered for your Jamb only then you can print your JAMB slip. Thus, if your O-level result was used during registration, you’d see it on the portal.
While students who used awaiting results can use can upload their O-level results when it is out.
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FAQs On Everything About POST UTME | How To Register
If you scored low in Jamb but score high in post utme, will you be given admission?
If you had a low score in JAMB but made it above the school’s cut-off mark and you scored considerably higher in your post UTME, you stand a greater chance of getting admission into the school but it would be advised able to score high in both… at least more than 50-60% of the total scores. Remember that you must score above your school’s cut-off mark before you can even be qualified to write the post UTME.
What are the subjects offered by social science candidates in Post utme?
In general, social science students offer the use of English, Mathematics, Economics, Government, and any other social science subject. But remember, you are not to choose by yourself which subjects to be examined but the choice will be made by your school, unlike the Jamb where you choose your subject combination yourself. So you don’t have to worry about what subject you should choose but you must be curious and work hard to make sure you know what subjects to write about that day and know it before time so you can have time to prepare for the exams.
Can admission be given in foundation polytechnics without post utme or screening?
Admission can be granted to candidates who successfully and adequately made it to the requirements. If you met the needs of the foundation polytechnics surely you will get admission. But they may have another method of screening students but not necessarily through post UTME but JAMB and SSCE are core requirements.
Do you get admission before writing post utme?
NO, you don’t. JAMB before post UTME then comes admission.
I scored 236 in the Jamb, what should be my score in post utme to study law?
236 is a very nice JAMB score, but to stand a higher chance of getting admission into a Nigeria higher school of learning to study law, you have to aim higher due to competition. On a grade of 1 to 10, you have to score up to 7 to stand a high chance.
Is it possible to study medicine with a low score in Jamb but a high score in post utme?
Yes, it’s possible but, the chances are minute. You are advised to score high in both so you can stand a better chance.
How old must i be to write post utme?
Once you are old enough to write a jamb then you should be ready to write post UTME. At least you should be 16 and above.
Who needs to write post utme?
Those that need admission into a school that it’s a method of screening candidates are by post UTME and jab already made it above the school’s JAMB cut-off mark.
Conclusion
You can score high in your Post UTME examination, you just need determination, perseverance, and consistency in your study. Meanwhile, know that students don’t give up and always aim for the best. We hope this article was helpful? Do share!
Do well to ask any questions or drop your comment(s) in the comments section below on everything You Need to Know About Post UTME exam as I would love to hear from you. Feel free to contact us.
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