Scored Below 200 in JAMB? Here Are 7 Smart Moves to Secure Admission in 2025!
Did your JAMB score fall below 200? Do not panic. Find seven clever and useful options that will help you stay on track with your academic or professional goals in Nigeria, ranging from JUPEB to tech skills like digital marketing and website design.
You looked at your JAMB results and saw that your score was below 200. Breathe deeply. Although receiving a JAMB score below 200 can be disheartening, particularly if you had high expectations for a prestigious university, it does not mean that your academic career is over.
You might be able to reach even greater heights by pressing this reset button. Right now, you can make wise, sensible, and calculated decisions about whether you want to return to school or switch to skill-based employment. Let’s examine the top seven.
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Apply for a university diploma program or JUPEB.
Do you still have aspirations of attending college? Your first choice may be the Joint Universities Preliminary Examinations Board (JUPEB) or a diploma program from any respectable university. Without taking another JAMB exam, the programs provide an academic pathway that allows you to advance quickly to the 200 level.
The majority of Nigerian colleges accept JUPEB, a one-year intensive curriculum. A formal academic pathway to reintegration is also offered via degrees from institutions such as the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU), or the University of Nigeria (UNN).
And the icing on the cake? You won’t be wasting a whole year doing JAMB repeatedly. You’ll be well on your way to acquiring your degree through a smarter route.
Visit this website to apply for JUPEB.
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Develop your skills in social media or digital marketing.
What if we told you that all you need to start making money online is a little understanding of digital marketing, a smartphone, and a good internet connection?
In Nigeria and around the world, online marketing is growing. Businesses are employing more digitally savvy people than ever before because of social media marketing and SEO (search engine optimization).
You can work with fashion brands, real estate companies, or fintechs, or start your own side business. These skills are in high demand and cheap to learn from websites like Coursera, YouTube, or local training facilities.
Digital marketing, which doesn’t require a JAMB score, can help you advance your career and achieve financial independence, whether you’re marketing for firms on Instagram or getting websites to rank on Google.
Coursera currently has a Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate up for grabs.
Learn to use Canva, Figma, and Photoshop for graphic design.
Graphic design might be your cup of tea if you’re creative, artistic, or have a good eye. And no, you don’t need to be Picasso or spend money on expensive gear. Free design tools like Canva and Figma have made it possible for anyone to start.
For branding, advertising, content production, and UI/UX design, graphic designers are always in demand. Everywhere you turn, you see someone hiring a designer. Social media managers, churches, and start-ups all require them.
Before you reapply to universities, you can start making things now and making money, from pitch decks to birthday fliers to logos. And the cherry on top? As remote work becomes more popular, you can also find freelance employment abroad.
This free 2-hour masterclass has everything you need to begin your Canva journey.
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Proficiency with Microsoft PowerPoint and Excel
Although this isn’t really fun, becoming proficient with Excel and PowerPoint gives you a huge advantage in the workplace. They are the most popular tools for project management, business, finance, and human resources.
Being in the top 5% of students in Nigeria who know Excel inside and out (formulas, pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) makes you very employable. Most Nigerian students simply learn the fundamentals. You will be the one that everyone turns to when they need someone to present data, reports, or business pitches if you have exceptional PowerPoint skills.
Learn these right away if you envision yourself working in finance, administration, non-profits, or even IT fields like operations or product management.
Even without a degree, you can become certified online (via Google, Microsoft, or Udemy) and start applying for internships or entry-level positions. This 12-hour Excel course, from beginner to advanced level, is what you should focus on.
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Learn how to create e-commerce websites or design WordPress websites.
The majority of Nigerian businesses nowadays need websites, but most don’t want to pay a tech guy with coding skills. This is where WordPress is useful.
With WordPress, you can create stunning, useful websites without knowing any coding. You can create blogs, e-commerce sites, commercial websites, and church websites using basic drag-and-drop capability. After three to six months of training, you might work as a freelancer or digital consultant, designing websites for paying customers and even providing website maintenance.
Whether you want to establish your internet identity or assist others in doing so, this is a useful and lucrative skill that only requires commitment and no formal education or JAMB.
In this two-hour video tutorial, Simon shows how to create an e-commerce website using WordPress.
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Begin training in data analytics using Excel, SQL, and Google Analytics.
The era of data is upon us. Every business and every software needs numbers that support their decisions, and someone has to interpret them. Data analysts do just that.
Gaining proficiency with data analytics technologies such as Excel, SQL, Google Data Studio, and Power BI can prepare you for careers in business strategy, marketing, finance, and research. These professions are spreading like wildfire throughout the world, including Nigeria.
The finest aspect? To succeed in data analytics, you don’t have to take computer science or math classes in school. You can start with introductory classes, internships, and boot camps. If you want a career that pays well and are planning for the future, this is the way to go. Coursera is currently offering a free training program. Check it out.
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Volunteer or Work as an Intern at Farms, Schools, or NGOs
Don’t minimize the value of traditional experience. If your JAMB performance was subpar, now could be an excellent opportunity to volunteer or intern in order to improve your resume, network, and soft skills.
Seek opportunities with radio stations, local churches, schools, NGOs, or farms. You’ll learn how to manage projects, collaborate with others, communicate more effectively, and find your true passion. Some internships even provide food allowances or stipends.
When you volunteer, you never know who you might meet or what opportunities could arise. Numerous students who chose this path were recommended for admission, scholarships, or jobs. The power of service should never be undervalued.
A JAMB score of less than 200 could have brought you to your knees, but it doesn’t have to. This is your chance to become smarter, improve your skills, and create a future you can be proud of. Every action you take now will provide the groundwork for the job and life you desire, whether you choose JUPEB, digital skills, tech training, or hands-on volunteering.
Recall that success involves more than just getting good grades; it also involves getting better every time. Make your next move your best one, and go out there.
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