How JAMB Score is Calculated - JAMB Marking Scheme 2024

One of the things JAMB and UTME candidates will be curious to know is how JAMB score is calculated. You are on the right page if you would like to know more about JAMB marking scheme?

Candidates looking for the following: The correct JAMB grading scheme, JAMB grading secret, JAMB marking scheme, JAMB average score, how JAMB score is calculated, or the number of questions in JAMB UTME will also find this piece helpful.

We will be breaking down JAMB grading system for English which is the only compulsory subject in JAMB.

Furthermore, we will see how JAMB marking scheme for the other three subjects and answer some FAQs

Table of Contents

JAMB Marking Scheme for the use of English in UTME

The use of English has a total of 60 questions. This means that JAMB will create 60 questions in English for all candidates, regardless of the proposed university courses.

However, this does not mean that the overall score for using the English language is 60 points overall. It is 100 points for this compulsory subject.

Below is the breakdown of the English language grading scheme at JAMB.

UTME English Qualification: Evaluation/ Assessment

SECTION A: Understanding/ Summary

Comprehension questions: 3 points each
Closed passages* questions: 2 points each
Reading questions: 1 point each

*A closed passage is a reading comprehension exercise in which words have been systematically omitted. Students fill in the blanks and their answers are counted correctly if they match the missing words exactly.

SECTION B: Lexis and Structure

Questions on sentence interpretation: 2 points each
Antonym questions: 2 points each
Synonym questions: 1 point each
Questions about complete sentences: 1 point each

SECTION C: Oral forms (oral examination)

Oral exam questions: 1 point each

If the total number of English questions assigned to you is 60, but you received 45, JAMB will finish with this calculation:

45/60 x 100 (in percent). So your grade will be 75%

This calculation conforms to the official JAMB syllabus in its 60-question standard.

Breakdown of the Use of English questions

SECTION A: Understanding/ Summary

(a) 1 comprehension passage – 5 questions
(b) I Cloze – 10 questions
(c) 1 Reading – 10 Questions

SECTION B: Lexicon and Structure

(a) Interpretation of sentences: 5 questions
(b) Antonyms – 5 questions
(c) Synonyms – 5 questions
(d) Complete sentences: 10 questions

SECTION C: Oral forms

10 questions

Total: 60 questions

JAMB Marking Scheme for the three other UTME subjects

Since you have three other subjects in addition to English, you will find the official grading scheme for them below.

JAMB asks 40 questions on each of the other topics.

Each of these questions is scored or rated at 2.5 points. Therefore, the three subjects = 300 points (i.e. 40 x 2.5 x 3 subject).

In other words, each of the other three subjects is 100 if you score 2.5 (40 x 2.5).

The way other subjects are being calculated goes thus:

For example, if you get 25 out of 40 in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology, JAMB arrives at this calculation: 25 x 2.5 = 63% (in percent). This is 25/40 in %.

Assume the same in the other two subject. The remaining two give you 63%.

Finally, your UTME score is: 75 + 63 + 63 + 63 = That’s 264 out of 400

Students are expected to write 4 subjects in JAMB. This includes the English language and three other subjects in their field.

These four (4) subjects add up to a total of 400.

For example

Use of English 100
Economy 100
Government 100
English Literature 100

TOTAL: 400

JAMB UTME Grading System for Higher Institutions 2024

The new post-grading system was introduced to consider those candidates who have performed well in their O-Level results. This means that the institution now takes the O’level mark into account for admission.

Extra marks out of 10 are awarded to candidates who have their O level results in one sitting, while those with two sittings only get 2 points.

In the rating system, A1 gives you 6 points while B2 gives you 4 points, so those who have their O level results with plenty of Cs only have 3 points.

JAMB Marking Scheme FAQ

Does JAMB use negative markup?

NO, Jamb does not use negative marking to grade students.
For those of you who don’t know what a negative grade is, it’s a grading system in which each time a student answers a question incorrectly, a certain mark is subtracted from a student’s grade.
And the Joint Admission and Enrollment Board (JAMB) does not use this scoring method.

How many hours is UTME?

The timeframe that JAMB allows candidates to answer all 300 questions is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

What is the score allocated to each UTME Subject

You should note that each subject you will write in your JAMB UTME CBT exam is worth 100 points per subject so the exam totals 400 points for all four (4) subjects (i.e. if you answer all questions correctly).

The truth is that candidates can score up to 400 out of 400 points. It’s very possible to get that score, but have you ever seen or heard of anyone getting scores as high as 400/400? You might not have heard anyone score that but anything is possible and you can be the first, just make sure you have a solid preparation and your mind on the positive side. If WAEC candidates can have straight As, then it is possible to score 400/400 in JAMB.

Conclusion

Now that you know how your JAMB score is being graded, how their grading systems work, how they calculate marks each of the subjects you will write, always remember that whatever score you get is as a result of your efforts.

Don’t be mislead to believe that JAMB can give anyone the score or result they want, if you don’t prepare well, that will reflect in your JAMB score. If you prepare well by following some of our tips, you will be sure to get a high score.

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