Gowon Varsity Explains Post-UTME Grading System Amid Parents’ Concerns

The University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) has clarified concerns raised by parents and candidates over perceived discrepancies between students’ Unified Tertiary Examination Board (UTME) results and their post-UTME scores.

Some parents in an interview with LEADERSHIP Friday have raised concerns over the gradings allocated to their wards.

Mr. Francis Moji, whose son applied to study Public Administration at the university, said he was unsettled by what he described as a “low post-UTME score” despite his son’s relatively fair performance in JAMB.

“My son scored 200 in JAMB, yet he was allocated only 20 out of 50 marks in the post-UTME. I don’t understand why he got such a score. I am concerned whether he would still be given admission.”

However, in a statement issued by the university’s Admissions Office, which was shared on the University’s official Facebook Page on Thursday, the institution maintained that while such concerns are understandable, the system was designed to ensure that candidates are placed in courses where their academic strengths align, thereby improving their chances of success when admitted.

The institution explained that its post-UTME grading process is not a direct or uniform assessment of results but rather a technical system designed to evaluate candidates based on the relevance of subjects to their chosen course of study.

“We have received enquiries from parents and candidates regarding perceived differences between their results and post-UTME scores.

“The post-UTME grading system is technical and does not simply assess results blindly. Each candidate’s performance is evaluated in relation to the course applied for.”

It also cited examples to illustrate the system, noting that a candidate applying for Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), for instance, would have Biology and other core science subjects given greater weight, while a subject such as Economics would carry no relevance. Conversely, a candidate applying to study Economics would have their performance in Economics prioritized over Biology.

“This means that even when two candidates present identical grades, the variation in subject relevance naturally leads to different post-UTME scores,” the statement added.

The Admissions Office assured parents that the grading process remains transparent, credible, and aligned with established academic standards.

It urged stakeholders to trust the system, emphasizing the university’s commitment to fairness and accuracy in its admission process.