Do you know the best method how to calculate your JAMB and Departmental cut-off marks for the 2022/2023 academic session? If not, then this guide is certainly for you.
Most candidates are disturbed and would certainly want to know How to calculate their chances at getting admitted into their institution and/or course. Some of the questions we have been answering over the years include:
♦. how do I calculate the JAMB departmental cutoff mark?
♦. What are my chances of getting Admission for 2022?
♦. How to Calculate my JAMB Average Score.
I’ll recommend you read this: How To Calculate Your Average Score and Know Your Chances for Admission 2022/23, However, this page offers a more detailed method on How Nigerian institutions calculates aggregates.
Recommended: How To Defer Admission In Nigeria University for Newly Admitted Students.
Contents
What is The Meaning of Cut-Off Mark?
Almost all candidates seeking admission into various academic institutions in Nigeria have heard the term “Cut off Marks”, and yes, it’s surprising to know that a few truly understand exactly, what Cut off Mark means. Here’s a definition of the term/phrase “Cut off Marks”.
Cut off mark is a minimum score that a candidate must NOT score below in order to qualify for admission into any academic institutions in Nigeria. It’s noteworthy to mention here that all Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges, and other academic institutions have their JAMB cut-off marks, while the most sought-after institutions in Nigeria do have Post UTME cut-off marks for schools and departments.
Popular Federal Universities in Nigeria peg their JAMB cut off mark set between 180 – 200. Here’s the secret. The majority of these federal institutions know that they are the first choice of most JAMBites, so to ensure that they get ONLY qualified students, they are allowed to set their JAMB cut off mark at the highest.
However, you should note that in certain courses like Law, Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy, Computer Science, etc, if you score up to 200 or above, you may likely NOT be admitted into that particular course. Interesting, right?
This is the reason why I am writing this guide today, showing you the best method on how to calculate JAMB departmental cut off marks and others to ascertain if you stand the chance of being admitted into the University, or trying another institution before it’s too late.
How To Calculate Departmental Cut-Off Marks.
Basically, there are three (3) approved methods used by tertiary institutions in Nigeria to Calculate Departmental Cut Off Marks, and they are listed below.
Important Note: It is very necessary to note here that NOT every tertiary institution uses the same cut off mark. Because each University is allowed to select, but NOT GO BELOW the JAMB approved cut off marks. Each tertiary institution is allowed to have a different departmental cut-off for each course, which can be changed, either increased or decreased, depending on how many candidates are seeking admission into that particular course.
FIRST (1ST) METHOD.
The first (1st) formula for calculating your departmental cut-off mark is to divide your JAMB score by 8 and post UTME score by 2. Then you’ll get your overall agregate.
For example: If you are aspiring to study Law at OAU, or study Law at Uniport, they have their departmental cut-off mark pegged at 77 for studying law. This means after calculating your Aggregate and it’s 76 or below, you may likely be given another course, but certainly not Law.
So, let’s assume you scored 68 points in Post UTM, and 260 in JAMB, since post UTME score is over 100, while JAMB is over 400.
Using the first method, let’s cross-check and see if you are eligible to study law at the University of Port Harcourt.
1). First of all, you will have to divide your post UTME score by 2, which is 68/2=34,
and your JAMB score by 8, which is 260/8=32.5
Add the two answers together which will be something like this 32.5+34=66.5.
This shows that the candidate who scored 68 in Post UTME and 260 in JAMB isn’t qualified or eligible to study law at the University of Port Harcourt, despite having a good score.
SECOND (2nd) METHOD.
This 2nd method is largely used by institutions that conduct the Post UTME screening regularly and are the most-sought after in JAMB. The second method requires both your Post UTME score, overall JAMB score, and O’level grades, to calculate your departmental cut off mark.
Most schools like the University of Lagos uses this method, and yes, it’s tertiary institutions with thousands of candidates seeking admission that uses this particular method in calculating aggregates.
Here’s how this method works.
*. You will Divide your JAMB score by 8 as usual.
*. The total marks obtainable in Post-UTME screening is 20.19
*. Your O’level grades are over 30.
How To Calculate Your O Level Grade.
The first thing you should know is that when it comes to calculating your O’level results, tertiary institution’s admission board requires ONLY five (5) subjects from you, which include Mathmatics and English Language. Please note that most institutions that consider only five o-level subjects have the A1 equal to 6 points.
This means that if you are able to score 5A”s in the compulsory o level subjects, then you have already had 30 marks already. While B2 = 5 points.
O Level Grade.
- A1 = 6 points
- B2 = 5 points
- B3 = 4 points
- C4= 3 points
- C5 = 2 points
- C6 = 1 points
Let me do a simple calculation and show you how this 2nd option works. For example, you choose Banking/Finance in the University of Abuja (UniAbuja) and their cut of mark is 70. Here is the right/correct way to calculate with the second method.
Lets say the candidate’s JAMB score was 260 while you score 12 for Post UTME and have 3A”s, 1 B3 AND C5. See how to calculate it below:
- Your Jamb -> 260/8=32.5.
- Your WAEC result (3A”S equals to 3×6=18 +B3=4 + C5=2)
Note: Unlike the first method, you don’t need to divide the post UTME score by two for this section.
Now, let us add up everything and get your correct Aggregate score.
32.5+18+4+2+12=68.5.
Any student who gains admission into a University using this kind of method, such student certainly has a good ‘O’ level result. Tertiary institutions perceived to be using this method are University of Lagos, Lagos state University, University of Benin, etc.
THIRD (3) METHOD.
The third method happens to be the easiest method and the most preferred by most Nigerian candidates, but since they are not the ones grading or choosing the method, lets hope and pray that majority of Nigerian academic institutions uses it. This method doesn’t require students to write post UTME, its simply screening, and some Institutions like Federal Polytechnics Oko, Imo State Polytechnic, University of Abuja, FUOYE, etc. MOUAU once used it.
The only requirement are your JAMB result and your ‘O’ level result. Once you scored up to the institution’s cut off mark, and your O’level result is good, you can be 80% sure of getting admitted.
There’s nothing like deoartmental cut off marks, since your JAMB score and O’level result are the ONLY requirements. However, the higher your JAMB score, and better your Olevel result, the greater chance you have of getting admitted.
Hope this helps you to understand how all academic institutions in Nigeria gets their aggregate scores.
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