The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has officially released the minimum cut-off marks for the 2026 admission session, giving millions of candidates across Nigeria a clearer picture of their chances of gaining admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
For students preparing for admission into Imo State University and other tertiary institutions, understanding how cut-off marks work is important for making the right admission decisions.
What Is a JAMB Cut-Off Mark?
A cut-off mark is the minimum score a candidate must obtain in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) before being considered for admission into a tertiary institution.
However, many candidates often misunderstand this process. Scoring above the national minimum does not automatically guarantee admission, especially for competitive schools and courses.
Official JAMB 2026 Minimum Cut-Off Marks
According to the approved national benchmark:
•Universities — 150
•Polytechnics — 100
•Colleges of Education — 100
This means candidates who score below 150 may not be eligible to apply for university admission through JAMB in 2026.
What Candidates Applying to IMSU Should Expect
Although the national minimum for universities is 150, individual institutions still have the right to set higher departmental cut-off marks depending on competition and available admission slots.
For Imo State University, competitive courses are expected to maintain higher requirements, especially:
•Medicine and Surgery
•Law
•Nursing
•Pharmacy
•Engineering
•Medical Laboratory Science
Candidates applying for these courses are strongly advised to aim for scores above 220 to improve their admission chances.
Meanwhile, some education, arts, and social science courses may accept lower scores depending on departmental admission policies.
Why Some Courses Require Higher Scores
Admission into Nigerian universities is highly competitive. Courses with large numbers of applicants usually increase their cut-off marks to select the best-performing candidates.
For example:
Course Expected Competitive Score
Medicine and Surgery 250+
Law 220+
Engineering 220+
Nursing 230+
Mass Communication 200+
Political Science 180+
Education Courses 150–180
These figures may vary depending on the institution and overall candidate performance for the year.
Important Advice for 2026 Candidates
Candidates are advised not to rely only on the national minimum benchmark. Instead, they should:
•Aim for the highest possible score
•Prepare adequately for Post-UTME screening
•Upload O’Level results correctly on the JAMB portal
•Monitor official school announcements regularly
•Choose courses wisely based on performance
Students who score lower than expected can also consider changing courses or institutions to improve their chances of securing admission.
Final Thoughts
The release of the 2026 JAMB cut-off marks marks the beginning of another competitive admission season in Nigeria. For candidates seeking admission into Imo State University, proper planning, accurate information, and strong academic performance will remain key factors in securing admission.
As institutions gradually begin to release departmental cut-off marks and screening procedures, candidates are encouraged to stay updated and remain focused throughout the admission process.