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1. What is a Cut‑Off Mark?

A cut‑off mark is the minimum score you must get in the UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) or aggregate (UTME + Post‑UTME) to be considered for admission into a university course.

• It is a way for universities to select which students are eligible for screening or admission.
• There are often two kinds:
  1. A general cut‑off mark set by the university (or by JAMB in some cases) — that is the lowest UTME score you need just to participate in Post‑UTME.
  2. A departmental cut‑off mark or course‑specific cut‑off — this is higher and depends on how competitive the course is (engineering often is more competitive).

Understanding what a cut‑off mark is helps you to know if your UTME score is likely good enough, or if you need to aim higher.

2. General UTME Cut‑Off Mark vs Departmental Cut‑Off Mark

Before we dive into engineering, it’s good to know:

For engineering, you must first meet the general UTME cut‑off. Then, your aggregate (usually including Post‑UTME result) must meet the departmental cut off for your engineering course.

3. Why Engineering Courses Usually Have Higher Cut‑Off Marks

Engineering is a professional and technical field. That means:

• Lots of students want to study engineering. Demand is high.
• The number of admission slots is limited. University has capacity constraints (laboratories, machines, teachers etc.).
• Engineering courses often require stronger performance in mathematics and physics, so students who score well in UTME and Post‑UTME tend to do better.
• Because of competition, universities often raise cut‑offs for engineering to select students who are well prepared.

Therefore, engineering cut‑off marks are usually higher than general or less competitive courses (like some arts or social sciences).

4. OAU General Cut‑Off Mark 2025/2026: What You Must Score to Be Eligible

To be eligible to apply for OAU Post‑UTME screening in 2025/2026, you need to meet the general UTME cut‑off mark, which is:

• 200 marks in UTME. (AJLS – School News and Exams in Nigeria)

This means that if you score 200 or more, you have crossed the minimum threshold to be considered for admission screening. But remember: meeting this score does not guarantee admission into engineering, because engineering has its own departmental cut‑off.

5. OAU Engineering Courses Cut‑Off Marks 2025/2026: Specific Marks by Department

Here are the cut‑off marks for different engineering courses at OAU for the 2025/2026 session. Note: some of these are based on published or estimated sources. Always verify with OAU official release.

Important notes:

• The figures above are from various “cut‑off marks for all courses” websites. Some may be estimates.
• OAU may release exact, official departmental cut‑offs only after the Post‑UTME or during admission lists.
• The cut‑off mark is usually NOT just the UTME score — aggregate score (UTME + Post‑UTME) may also matter heavily.

6. How OAU Calculates Aggregate Scores (UTME + Post‑UTME) for Engineering Admission

Meeting cut‑off marks often involves more than just UTME. OAU, like many Nigerian universities, uses aggregate scoring combining your UTME score and Post‑UTME score. Here’s how that works:

What is an Aggregate Score?

• It is a combined score from UTME and Post‑UTME screening, sometimes also considering O’Level results or subject weights.
• For engineering courses, the UTME result (especially in core science subjects) and the Post‑UTME test score are important.

Example of Aggregate Calculation

While OAU may not publicly publish fixed formula each year, here is a logical way it may work (based on trends and what students report):

• Your UTME score might be converted to a percentage (for example: UTME score divided by maximum UTME score, then multiplied by weight, say 50%).
• Your Post‑UTME score also has weight (often 50%), so both parts contribute equally.

Example:

• Suppose you score 260 in UTME.
• Suppose Post‑UTME is scored out of 100, and you scored 70.
• If both are weighted 50% each:

  UTME component = (260 / 400) * 50 = 32.5
  Post‑UTME component = (70 / 100) * 50 = 35
  Total aggregate = 32.5 + 35 = 67.5%

You compare this aggregate with the departmental aggregate cut‑off for your engineering course. If the aggregate is ≥ that cut‑off, you have a chance.

Factors That May Affect Your Aggregate

• Performance in core subjects (Math, Physics, etc.).
• Presence of extra credit or penalty (if any).
• How many people applied for the course (competition).
• How good other candidates perform (if many do well, cut‑off may rise).

7. Comparisons: OAU Engineering Cut‑Off vs Other Universities in Nigeria

It helps to compare so you can see how challenging admission into engineering at OAU is.

These comparisons show that engineering at OAU is among the more demanding courses. If your score is around the lower limit for OAU, you may have better chances at other universities—but always aim high.

8. What Impacts Cut‑Off Marks Year to Year

Cut‑off marks are not fixed forever. They can change. Below are some of the things that make cut‑off marks go up or down:

1. Number of Applicants: More applicants for engineering → more competition → cut‑off tends to go up.
2. Quality of Applicants: If many people score high in UTME or post‑UTME, then departmental cut‑offs will increase.
3. Funding / Capacity: Universities can admit only a certain number of students. If facilities are limited, slots are fewer → cut‑off may be high.
4. Policy Changes: If JAMB or the University changes policy (e.g. changing weighting, changing screening methods), cut‑offs may adjust.
5. Course Popularity: Engineering always popular, but some branches may become more popular (Computer Engineering, Software, Electrical) which pushes their cut‑offs higher.
6. External Events: Delays, changes in curriculum, exam difficulty may all affect scores and thus cut‑off.

9. Pros and Cons of Aiming for the Engineering Cut‑Off Mark

Knowing advantages and disadvantages helps you decide.

Pros

• If you meet the cut‑off, you have a chance to study a high‑demand, valuable course (engineering).
• Engineering degrees are highly respected, often lead to good jobs or careers.
• The challenge helps you prepare better academically (you push yourself).

Cons

• Pressure: aiming for high scores is stressful.
• Risk of falling short: because the competition is stiff, many students with good scores may still miss admission.
• Preparation costs: resources (time, money for past questions, coaching, good schools) needed may be higher.

10. How to Raise Your Score to Meet the Cut‑Off: Tips & Strategies

Here are things you can do to increase your chances of meeting or exceeding the cut‑off mark for engineering at OAU.

1. Start Preparation Early
   Begin studying core UTME subjects (Maths, Physics, Chemistry) early. Understand the syllabus thoroughly.
2. Practice with Past Questions
   Using OAU and other universities’ past UTME / Post‑UTME questions helps you know how questions are framed.
3. Improve Weak Areas
   If you are weak in, say, Chemistry or Physics, give extra time to understand difficult topics. Ask teachers, join study group.
4. Time Management
   In exams, timing is crucial. Practice under timed conditions so you can finish in the allotted time without rushing.
5. Stay Updated on Any Changes
   Check OAU official website, JAMB announcements for updates on cut‑off, screening format, weighting etc.
6. Ensure Good O’Level Subject Credits
   Some engineering courses require strong grades in Maths, English, Physics, sometimes Chemistry. Make sure your O’Level results are clean (5 credit passes etc.), in one or two sittings if allowed.
7. Attend Post‑UTME / Screening Well
   Ensure you perform well in the Post‑UTME test. Even if your UTME is good, your aggregate could suffer if your Post‑UTME is weak.
8. Avoid Careless Mistakes
   Simple things: spell names right, fill forms properly, upload documents clearly. Sometimes candidates lose points (or get disqualified) for mistakes.

11. Summary Table Before Conclusion

Here is a summary of the most important points about the OAU engineering cut‑off mark 2025/2026:

12. Conclusion

To get admitted into any engineering course at OAU in 2025/2026, you need to aim for more than just the general cut‑off (200). You must plan to meet or surpass the departmental cut‑off marks for engineering courses like Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Computer, etc. These often lie in the 240‑270 range depending on the department’s competitiveness.

Work hard in your UTME, prepare well for Post‑UTME, ensure your O’Level subjects are strong, avoid careless mistakes, and keep up to date with OAU announcements. Even if your score is just below, you can still try, but having scores above the expected cut‑off gives you a much stronger chance.