How the 400 is made up
Your UTME score is out of 400. You sit four subjects, and each subject is scored over 100 — 4 × 100 = 400. The question split is fixed: Use of English has 60 questions and each of your other three subjects has 40, giving 180 questions in total. Whatever the number of questions, each subject is converted to a mark out of 100.
Is there negative marking?
No. JAMB does not deduct marks for wrong answers — a wrong answer simply scores zero. That is why you should attempt every question, even when you have to guess. Leaving a blank can only cost you.
How each subject is scored
Within a subject, your mark reflects the proportion of questions you get right, scaled to 100. So in Use of English, each of the 60 questions is worth less individually than a question in a 40-question subject — but the subject total is still out of 100. Focus on accuracy across all four subjects rather than the raw number of questions.
The national minimum vs your course cut-off
Each year JAMB sets a national minimum to be eligible for admission (recently around 140–150 for universities, and lower for polytechnics and colleges of education). But that is only the floor. Individual institutions and departments set their own, higher cut-off marks — competitive courses like Medicine, Law, Nursing and Engineering often need far more. Check the cut-off for your exact course in the Subject Combinations hub.
What is a good JAMB score?
| Score band | What it means |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Below most university minimums — consider less competitive courses, polytechnics or a retake. |
| 150–199 | Meets the general minimum; enough for less competitive courses at many schools. |
| 200–249 | A solid score — competitive for many courses, though not the most demanding ones. |
| 250–299 | Strong — competitive for popular courses at most universities. |
| 300+ | Excellent — opens the door to the most competitive courses and universities. |
As a rule of thumb, aim for 250–300+ if you want a competitive course, and never assume the national minimum is enough for your department.
How your UTME score fits into admission
Your UTME score is not the whole story. Most institutions combine it with your Post-UTME (or screening) score and your O’Level results to form an aggregate, and each school weights these differently (for example, some use 50% UTME and 50% Post-UTME). That aggregate, processed through CAPS, decides your admission — walk through the whole process in After your JAMB result and the admission & CAPS guide.
How to reach your target score
Set a target based on your course’s cut-off, then work backwards. Study the syllabus, drill the high-yield topics, practise timed CBT, and follow the strategies top scorers use. Consistent practice is what turns a target into a result.