Comparative Analysis of Applicants’ UTME Subjects ( JAMB 2011 – 2013 )

Between 2011 and 2013; over 4.7million Candidates have applied to Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics & Monotechnics, Colleges of Education and Innovation Enterprise Institutions. The Study therefore hope to establish a pattern of Career choices and possibly able to predict the core strength of the Nation so as to take precautions in building a well suitable workforce. Each applied for 4 UTME Subjects; it is possible to from this data to predict and determine the future Economic strength and Knowledge capacity of the Nation since majority of these Candidates eventually becomes the Nation’s workforce.

The Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination is the entrance examination conducted yearly by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board for applicants seeking admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions. Candidates have options of selecting 2 Universities, 2 Polytechnics / Monotechnics / Innovation Enterprise Institutions and 2 Colleges of Education as well as 2 Courses as first and second choice per institution. They are tested in 23 different UTME Subjects; however, each is to sit for 4 Subjects with Use of English as compulsory subject for All candidates.

The UTME Subjects are: The Subjects chosen are determined by the requirements stipulated in the JAMB Brochure for each respective course AgricultureArabic Art (Fine Art) BiologyChemistry Christian Rel. Know CommerceEconomics FrenchGeographyGovernmentHausaHistory Home Econs. Igbo Islamic Studies Lit. in English MathematicsMusicPhysics Prin. of Account Use of English Yoruba

YearApplicants% Increase 20111,493, ,503, ,728,121* ,725,665 Only 10,322 candidates more of 2011 applied in 2012 while there exist a considerable increase of over 220,000 between 2012 and *Value as at that of analysis JAMB Application (2011 – 2013):

A total of 1,493,611 candidates applied for the UTME 2011 across the federation and South Africa, UK, Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Republic of Benin Candidates’ Subjects Analysis – 2011 Subject% Mathematics50.44 Economics42.67 Chemistry40.94 Government40.41 Physics39.75 Biology26.65 Lit In Eng Subject% Commerce13.62 Christian Rel Geography4.71 Prin. Of Acct3.04 Islamic Rel. K2.75 Agriculture2.65 Hausa1.77 Subject% History0.84 Arabic0.33 Yoruba0.28 Fine Art0.19 Igbo0.15 Home Econ.0.10 French0.09 Music0.04 Candidates Choice (%) per Subject:

A total of 1,503,933 candidates applied for the UTME 2012 across the federation and South Africa, UK, Saudi Arabia, Ghana and Republic of Benin. Candidates’ Subjects Analysis – 2012 Subject% Mathematics Chemistry Economics Physics Government Biology Lit in Eng Subject% Christian Rel Commerce13.15 Geography4.67 Prin. Of Acct3.21 Islamic Rel. K2.78 Agriculture2.65 Hausa1.63 Subject% History0.71 Arabic0.31 Yoruba0.26 Fine Art0.18 Igbo0.15 Home Econ.0.09 French0.08 Music0.04 Candidates Choice (%) per Subject:

Of the 1.7million candidates who will be sitting for the UTME 2013, UTME Subjects of 908,000+ candidates with presence in all 37 Test States (FCT inclusive) were extracted for analysis. Candidates’ Subjects Analysis – 2013 Subject% Mathematics46.10 Chemistry41.29 Government39.13 Economics38.65 Physics38.56 Biology26.93 Lit. in English15.77 Subject% CRK14.47 Commerce12.02 Geography4.31 Prin. of Acct3.08 Agriculture3.02 Islamic Studies2.51 Hausa1.29 Subject% History0.57 Arabic0.34 Yoruba0.19 Fine Art0.19 Igbo0.17 Home Econ.0.07 French0.06 Music0.03 Candidates Choice (%) per Subject:

Candidates’ Subjects Analysis (2011 – 2013) UTME Subjects UTME Subjects Mathematics50.44%48.77%46.10%-- Economics42.67%40.88%38.65%-- Chemistry40.94%41.77%41.29%+- Government40.41%40.25%39.13%-- Physics39.75%40.61%38.56%+- Biology26.65%27.54%26.93%+- Lit. In English14.99%15.85%15.77%+- Commerce13.62%13.15%12.02%-- Christian Rel.13.60%14.42%14.47%++ Geography4.71%4.67%4.31%-- Principle Of Acct3.04%3.21%3.08%+- Islamic Rel. K2.75%2.78%2.51%+- Agriculture2.65% 3.02%++ Hausa1.77%1.63%1.29%-- History0.84%0.71%0.57%-- Arabic0.33%0.31%0.34%-+ Yoruba0.28%0.26%0.19%-- Fine Art0.19%0.18%0.19%-+ Igbo0.15% 0.17%-+ Home Economics0.10%0.09%0.07%-- French0.09%0.08%0.06%-- Music0.04% 0.03%--

The Sciences (2011 – 2013) UTME Subjects UTME Subjects Mathematics 50.44%48.77%46.10%-- Chemistry 40.94%41.77%41.29%+- Physics 39.75%40.61%38.56%+- Biology 26.65%27.54%26.93%+- Geography 4.71%4.67%4.31%-- Agriculture 2.65% 3.02%++

UTME Subjects UTME Subjects Government40.41%40.25%39.13%-- Lit. In English14.99%15.85%15.77%+- Christian Rel.13.60%14.42%14.47%++ Islamic Rel. K2.75%2.78%2.51%+- Hausa1.77%1.63%1.29%-- History0.84%0.71%0.57%-- Arabic0.33%0.31%0.34%-+ Yoruba0.28%0.26%0.19%-- Fine Art0.19%0.18%0.19%-+ Igbo0.15% 0.17%-+ Home Economics0.10%0.09%0.07%-- French0.09%0.08%0.06%-- Music0.04% 0.03%-- The Arts/Humanities (2011 – 2013)

UTME Subjects UTME Subjects Mathematics50.44%48.77%46.10%-- Economics42.67%40.88%38.65%-- Commerce13.62%13.15%12.02%-- Principle Of Acct3.04%3.21%3.08%+- The Commercials (2011 – 2013)

Clearly, with the sustained interests in the core sciences (Physics, Chemistry & Biology); it shows Applicants’ desires are in line with the World career trend where Sciences dominates The sustained interests in Economics, Commerce and little of Accounting provides the needed acumen to convert into financial gains the inventions, discoveries and solution-driven Sciences The political clime for a sustainable development of the mind as well as business is important to every Nation; hence the evidence shown in interests in Government is commendable There is need to encourage interest in Agriculture because of its importance to the sustenance of life and health The Creative sector like Entertainment and the Arts require encouragement There is also need to find relevance for our Languages

Freely share, freely use and freely acknowledge the source – © Wale Micaiah Data source: -JAMB Analysis by: Wale Micaiah e: m: b: walemicaiah.blog.com w.