By Ethiopian Monitor
Copyright ethiopianmonitor
ADDIS ABABA – The ministry of education has announced a slight adjustment to the official cutoff point in this year’s university entrance exam, allowing 3,350 more students to qualify for admission.
The adjustment comes weeks after the result report for the 2024/25 academic year’s grade 12 exams showed a passing rate of only 8.4%.
The Ethiopian Higher Education Entrance Certificate Examination last July saw more than half a million students assessed in six subjects. However, only 48, 929 students were able to score 50% – an official cutoff point to quality for university admission – or more..
The ministry of education has revised the cutoff point slightly down to 49.5% to make students whose exam results are five points or less short of the passing mark set at 300 eligible for admission.
The Ministry informed the decision to universities across the country in a letter dated 30th of Sept 2025, stating students in the range of 295 and 299 scores are now qualified for admission.
The move allows 3,350 additional students to join higher learning institutions, taking the passing rate up to 8.9%.
In total, 52,279 students will start pursuing their undergraduate studies in the new 2025/26 Ethiopian academic year.
More students with points close to the passing mark could still get the chance through the remedial program.
The remedial program will continue to be given this year as well, Education Minister Birhanu Nega(prof) said while announcing the exam results last month.
