I’ll break it down step-by-step, from understanding the admission process, to the exact requirements, JAMB UTME strategies, and how to handle departmental cut-offs.
1. Understanding WAEC’s Role in UNIMAID Admission
Your WAEC result is your O’Level qualification — it’s one of the two main pillars of university admission in Nigeria.
To get into UNIMAID, you must satisfy two core requirements:
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O’Level Requirement → This is where WAEC comes in. You need at least five (5) credit passes in subjects relevant to your chosen course. These credits must include English Language and Mathematics (unless your course specifies otherwise) and must be obtained in not more than two sittings (one sitting is better for competitiveness).
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JAMB UTME Requirement → After WAEC, you must register for JAMB UTME, choose UNIMAID, write the exam, and meet both the JAMB cut-off and the departmental cut-off.
In short: WAEC gets you eligible, UTME and screening get you admitted.
2. WAEC Subject Requirements for UNIMAID Courses
Every course in UNIMAID has specific WAEC subjects you must have. Here’s a quick guide for common faculties:
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Medicine, Nursing, Medical Lab Science, Pharmacy
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Credits in: English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
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Very competitive — aim for distinctions or high credits.
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Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Agric, Chemical)
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Credits in: English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and any other science subject (e.g., Further Maths, Technical Drawing, Biology).
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Law
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Credits in: English, Literature in English, Government/History, and any two other subjects (Mathematics is still recommended).
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Social Sciences (Economics, Political Science, Sociology, etc.)
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Credits in: English, Mathematics, Economics, Government, and any other subject.
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Arts & Humanities
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Credits in: English, Literature, Government/History, CRS/IRS, and any other subject.
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Agriculture/Environmental Sciences
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Credits in: English, Mathematics, Biology/Agricultural Science, Chemistry, and Physics/Geography.
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Tip: Always check the latest UNIMAID JAMB brochure for the exact subject requirements for your course. Even one missing WAEC subject can block your admission.
3. Step-by-Step: Using WAEC to Get into UNIMAID
Step 1 – Make Sure Your WAEC Meets the Requirement
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Aim for at least 5 credits in one sitting (two sittings allowed, but one is stronger).
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The credits must include English Language and Mathematics, except where Math may not be compulsory (e.g., some Arts courses), but it’s still recommended.
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The remaining subjects must align with your course requirements (see section 2 above).
Example: If you want Nursing and you have D7 in Biology, you’re automatically not eligible — even with a high JAMB score.
Step 2 – Register for JAMB UTME
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Choose University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) as your First Choice institution.
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Select the right UTME subject combination for your course.
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Example: Medicine → Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics.
Law → Use of English, Literature, Government, CRS/IRS.
Step 3 – Prepare for JAMB
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UNIMAID’s general JAMB cut-off is often around 140–160, but competitive courses have higher departmental cut-offs (Medicine can be 200+, Nursing often 190–210+).
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Your WAEC result doesn’t directly raise your JAMB score, but strong O’Level results can give you extra points during UNIMAID’s post-UTME/screening.
Step 4 – Post-UTME or Screening
UNIMAID mostly uses online screening rather than another exam in many sessions.
You’ll need to:
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Upload your WAEC result on both the JAMB CAPS and UNIMAID portal.
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Fill in your grades exactly as they appear.
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Pay the screening fee and submit.
Important:
If you’re combining two WAEC sittings, upload both sets of results — but make sure all required subjects are covered between them.
Step 5 – Departmental Cut-Off and Admission
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After screening, UNIMAID calculates your aggregate score using your JAMB score + WAEC grades.
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Candidates meeting or exceeding the departmental cut-off get admitted first.
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If you meet the general cut-off but miss the departmental one, you may be offered a related course (change of course option).
4. How WAEC Grades Affect Your Screening Points
UNIMAID’s O’Level grading system often awards points like this (varies slightly by year):
| Grade | Points |
|---|---|
| A1 | 6 |
| B2 | 5 |
| B3 | 4 |
| C4 | 3 |
| C5 | 2 |
| C6 | 1 |
Example:
If your 5 core subjects for Medicine are:
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English (B2) = 5 pts
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Maths (C4) = 3 pts
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Biology (A1) = 6 pts
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Chemistry (B3) = 4 pts
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Physics (B2) = 5 pts
Total WAEC points = 23.
These WAEC points get added to your JAMB score (scaled down) for the aggregate.
5. Tips to Increase Your Chances with WAEC
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Aim for high credits or distinctions in your 5 key subjects — they boost your aggregate score.
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Avoid missing subject requirements — even one missing credit in a compulsory subject can disqualify you.
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Upload early — don’t wait until the last day to upload WAEC results to JAMB CAPS and UNIMAID’s portal.
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Keep results consistent — your name, date of birth, and exam details must match across WAEC, JAMB, and screening forms.
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Consider one sitting if possible — it’s usually viewed more favourably for competitive courses.
6. Common Mistakes That Cost Admission
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Using a WAEC result with a compulsory subject in D7/E8/F9.
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Wrong UTME subject combination (even with perfect WAEC).
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Not uploading WAEC result on JAMB CAPS.
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Applying for a competitive course with both low JAMB and average WAEC grades.
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Mixing up grades or exam numbers during screening application.
7. Sample Roadmap for WAEC → UNIMAID Admission
Year 1 (May/June): Write WAEC and target high credits/distinctions.
Year 1 (Oct–Feb): Register JAMB UTME; choose UNIMAID first choice.
Year 1 (Mar–May): Write JAMB; aim to meet/exceed departmental cut-off.
Year 1 (July–Aug): UNIMAID Post-UTME/Screening — upload WAEC and JAMB details.
Year 1 (Sept–Oct): Admission list released — accept on JAMB CAPS.
Year 1 (Oct–Nov): Complete clearance and resume.
8. Key Takeaway
Your WAEC result is the foundation of your admission into the University of Maiduguri.
If your WAEC meets the exact subject and grade requirements for your chosen course, and you follow through with:
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Correct UTME subject combination,
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Strong JAMB score,
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Proper and timely result uploads,
…then your chances of securing admission into UNIMAID are very high.
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