Please note
Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not JAMB and not any university, polytechnic or college. Post-UTME (screening) rules vary by institution and change every year — cut-offs, whether there is a written test, subjects and dates differ from school to school. Always confirm your specific institution’s current screening requirements on its official website/portal before acting.
Three kinds of cut-off
People say “cut-off” loosely, but there are three different things: the JAMB national minimum, the school's institutional cut-off, and the course's departmental cut-off. They're not the same.
JAMB national minimum
Each year, JAMB (with institutions) sets a national minimum UTME score below which no one can be admitted — different tiers often apply for universities vs polytechnics/colleges. It's a floor, not a target.
Institutional cut-off
Each school sets its own minimum UTME score to be eligible for its Post-UTME/screening — usually higher than the national floor, especially for competitive schools.
Departmental cut-off
The one that really decides admission: each course/department has a cut-off (often an aggregate figure) based on how many applied and the available spaces. Competitive courses (medicine, law, engineering) set high departmental cut-offs.
Meeting it ≠ admission
Clearing the national or institutional cut-off only makes you eligible — admission goes to the highest aggregates until spaces fill. Aim well above the minimum, not just at it.
Tips
- Know all three cut-offs for your target.
- Aim well above the minimum.
- Competitive course? Maximise your aggregate.
The three cut-offs you must know
“Cut-off” means different things depending on who set it:
- National minimum: the floor JAMB sets each year (often around 140–160 for universities); no school can admit below it.
- Institutional cut-off: the minimum a particular school sets to be eligible to apply there — usually higher than the national minimum.
- Departmental cut-off: the real hurdle — the minimum for your specific course, which for competitive courses (Medicine, Law, Engineering) can be far higher than the institutional one.
The departmental cut-off is the number that actually decides your chances, so that's the one to plan around.
Why meeting the cut-off isn't admission
This trips up many candidates: a cut-off is a threshold to be considered, not a guarantee. Admission is competitive and ranked — if a department has 100 spaces and 400 candidates clear the cut-off, the spaces go to the highest aggregates, not to everyone above the line. So aim comfortably above the cut-off, not just at it, and treat the cut-off as your minimum target rather than your goal.
How to find your course's cut-off
Cut-offs change yearly and vary by school, so use current, official information. Our subject-combination & cut-off tool gives a quick reference for your course, and the course library shows requirements — but always confirm the final figure on your school's own Post-UTME advert for the year. Basing decisions on last year's number, or another school's, is a common and avoidable mistake.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cut-off mark?
It can mean three things: JAMB's national minimum UTME score, a school's institutional cut-off to be screened, and a course's departmental cut-off (often an aggregate) that actually decides admission.
Does meeting the cut-off guarantee admission?
No — it only makes you eligible; admission goes to the highest aggregates until spaces fill, so aim well above the minimum.
What is JAMB's national cut-off?
A yearly minimum UTME score below which no one can be admitted, often with different tiers for universities versus polytechnics/colleges — it's a floor, not a target.
What is a departmental cut-off?
Each course/department's cut-off, usually an aggregate figure, set by demand and available spaces — competitive courses like medicine and law set high ones.
Why do cut-offs differ between schools and courses?
Because each school and department sets its own based on competitiveness and capacity — always check the current figures for your specific target.
What is the JAMB cut-off mark?
There are three: the national minimum JAMB sets each year (often ~140–160 for universities), the institutional cut-off a school sets to apply there, and the departmental cut-off for your specific course — which is the one that really decides your chances.
What's the difference between the JAMB and school cut-off?
The JAMB (national) cut-off is the floor no school can admit below. The school's institutional and departmental cut-offs are usually higher, set by the university for eligibility and for each specific course.
Does meeting the cut-off guarantee admission?
No. A cut-off is a threshold to be considered, not a guarantee. Admission is competitive and ranked by aggregate, so if more candidates clear the cut-off than there are places, only the highest aggregates get in. Aim well above the cut-off.
What is a departmental cut-off?
The minimum score/aggregate for a specific course (department), which for competitive courses can be much higher than the school's general cut-off. It's the real hurdle for your course.
How do I find the cut-off for my course?
Use current, official information — our subject-combination tool and course library give a quick reference, but always confirm the final figure on your school's own Post-UTME advert, since cut-offs change yearly and vary by school.