The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of candidates classified as underage, allowing them to access their scores through the examination body’s designated SMS service.
JAMB defines an underage candidate for the 2026 admission cycle as an applicant who will be below 16 years old as of September 30, 2026. Candidates in this category can now check their results using the same telephone number they provided during UTME registration.
The process does not require candidates to visit a JAMB office to view their scores. Instead, eligible candidates can retrieve their results by sending a specific text message from their registered phone number to one of two designated short codes.
Steps to Check the 2026 UTME Result
Candidates who want to view their results should follow the SMS procedure provided by JAMB.
Step 1: Use the telephone number that was used when registering for the 2026 UTME.
Step 2: Open the SMS or text-message application on the registered phone and type “RESULT”.
Step 3: Send the message to either 55019 or 66019.
Step 4: JAMB said the candidate’s result will be returned through SMS shortly after the message is sent.
Candidates are expected to ensure that they use the same phone number attached to their UTME registration when sending the request, as the result-checking process is tied to the registered number.
Checking the Result Does Not Guarantee Admission
JAMB has also issued an important clarification for underage candidates who have accessed their scores.
According to the examination board, the release and viewing of a candidate’s UTME result should not be interpreted as confirmation that the candidate is eligible for admission into a tertiary institution.
The scores can only be applied for admission by underage candidates who satisfy the conditions established for exceptional admission.
One of the key requirements is a minimum UTME score of 320. Candidates must also obtain at least 80 per cent in the relevant subjects in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
Therefore, an underage candidate who has received a UTME score but does not satisfy the specified conditions should not assume that the result can be used to secure admission through the regular process.
JAMB Warns Against Unapproved Admission Deals
The examination board has cautioned candidates who do not meet the exceptional-admission requirements against attempting to use their UTME results to obtain admission through unofficial channels.
JAMB warned that candidates should not present their results to institutions or individuals in an attempt to secure admission outside the approved process.
The clarification is particularly important for candidates who may interpret the availability of their scores as evidence that they have automatically become eligible for tertiary admission. According to JAMB, the result itself is only one part of the admission process, while underage candidates face additional conditions before their scores can be used for admission.
Candidates and their parents or guardians are therefore expected to distinguish between access to the examination result and eligibility for admission.
The 2026 UTME results for underage candidates are now available for viewing, but only those who satisfy JAMB’s stated exceptional-admission requirements can use their scores for admission purposes.
For candidates who meet the requirements, the result provides the basis for consideration under the applicable admission conditions. For those who do not, JAMB’s warning means that attempting to bypass the approved admission procedure could expose them to problems with the admission process.
Candidates are consequently advised to rely on the approved JAMB process and to avoid individuals or institutions offering alternative routes to admission based solely on the release of the 2026 UTME result.
How Underage Candidates Can Check 2026 UTME Results as JAMB Releases Scores
