After the 2025 UTME Chaos: 5 Major Fixes JAMB Is Rolling Out to Restore Order
Requiring thousands of students to retake a national exam is not something that happens frequently. It took place following the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), which left many people baffled by more than simply difficult questions.
The uncertainty, delays, and technical issues that plagued this year’s UTME made it a nationwide conversation topic.
In damage control mode is the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Approximately 379,997 candidates will retake the test between May 16 and 18, following a news conference and some tears. These are the top five problems they’re rushing to resolve, along with what this means for the test’s future.
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Unanswered inquiries and ambiguous responses
Imagine seeing answer options—without any questions—after logging into your UTME. Some candidates this year experienced that. In a recent interview, one contestant recalled, “There were about 15 of them.” “The manager instructed us to select responses at random.”
Not precisely what one would anticipate from a national examination board in terms of academic rigor. According to JAMB, it is looking into what led to the emergence and disappearance of these ghost questions.
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An exam at 7:30 that begins at 8:30 p.m.
If you thought airport delays were awful, imagine having to wait more than 12 hours for an exam. Applicants who were supposed to begin writing their papers early in the morning said that they didn’t begin until after dark. One 18-year-old told Vanguard, “We ended up writing it past 8 p.m., or a few minutes to 9 p.m.”
At certain places, JAMB has reported poor logistical and technical problems. For applicants, however, it was like receiving two punishments: fatigue and uncertainty.
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The breakdown of biometrics
Unless it is malfunctioning, technology is supposed to make life easier. Due to fingerprint problems with a verification tool JAMB implemented to prevent fraud and impersonation, more than 2,000 candidates were unable to take the test. However, the tech turned traitor this year.
Although biometric verification is a crucial component of the UTME procedure, the board reports that efforts are being made to prevent such a significant failure in the future.
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Growing popularity of “WhatsApp runs”
Exam misconduct gained a digital dimension in 2025. According to JAMB, it found 244 instances of applicants purchasing and selling access to purported “expo” materials using WhatsApp groups.
Additionally, the board has reported multiple cases of identity fraud, in which individuals allegedly attempted to take the test on behalf of others. Legal action is apparently on the table, and all highlighted results have been withheld.
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Where were the managers?
Some candidates claimed they were left to fend for themselves even when things went wrong. One candidate said, “The student sitting next to me didn’t help me.”
That’s a warning sign for a system that greatly depends on integrity and order. Exam center supervisors would henceforth be subject to more stringent oversight and training, as promised by JAMB.
Although it is extraordinary, JAMB’s decision to provide a retake to around 380,000 candidates is also essential. There may be even more figures.
The board now has the opportunity to address the issues and restore trust in the UTME as a result of growing pressure from the public, parents, and students.
One thing is certain for applicants getting ready to retake their exams: the questions must appear on time this time.
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