Post-UTME Screening: What It Is and How to Register

Passing JAMB UTME isn't the finish line — most universities require a second step, Post-UTME screening, before admission is confirmed. Here's what that actually involves.

Post-UTME vs. Screening — What's the Difference?

These terms are often used interchangeably, but there's a useful distinction: Post-UTME technically refers to a written or CBT examination some universities conduct after JAMB, while screening is the broader process every university does — verifying your identity, age, and academic records — whether or not they also add a written test.

In recent years, many Nigerian universities have moved away from a second written exam entirely, relying instead on an aggregate score combining your JAMB score and O'Level results. Others still conduct their own CBT test. There is no single national approach — each institution sets its own method, so always confirm directly with your chosen school(s) rather than assuming.

How Aggregate Scoring Typically Works

Where a university doesn't conduct a written Post-UTME, it usually combines your JAMB score and O'Level grades using its own formula — common patterns include splits like 50-50 or 60-40 between JAMB and O'Level, though some institutions use a three-way split that also factors in a screening score. There is no universal formula — each university publishes (or should publish) its own on its admissions portal.

Where Universities Do Conduct a Written Test

At schools that still run their own Post-UTME exam, it's typically a CBT test of around 100 multiple-choice questions, commonly combined with your JAMB score using a formula like (JAMB Score ÷ 8) + Post-UTME Score to produce an aggregate. Use of English commonly features heavily regardless of your course, alongside your other UTME subjects.

General Registration Steps

1. Wait for your chosen university to open its Post-UTME/screening portal — this typically happens after JAMB releases UTME results, commonly between August and October, though exact timing varies by institution.
2. Visit the official university admissions portal directly — never a third-party site claiming to handle registration for a specific university.
3. Create an account, usually using your JAMB registration number and a valid email address.
4. Pay the screening fee through the portal's accepted payment channels (commonly card, USSD, or Remita) — fees vary by institution, commonly in the low thousands of naira.
5. Complete your bio-data, O'Level details and course information, and upload a recent passport photograph meeting the portal's size/format requirements.
6. Double-check everything before submitting — many portals do not allow corrections after submission.

Common Mistakes That Cost Admission

• Missing the screening deadline — if your results/documents aren't uploaded in time, you can be disqualified regardless of your JAMB score.
• Assuming "no written exam" means "no action needed" — aggregate-scoring universities still require you to register and submit documents by their deadline.
• Not confirming the specific formula for your target university — this affects how much your JAMB score versus O'Level grades actually matter for your admission chances.