Calculating Your UDUS Post UTME Aggregate Score: An In-Depth Guide
Getting admitted into your desired course at the prestigious Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) is highly competitive. A key factor that determines if you will be admitted or not is your Post UTME aggregate score.
This score is calculated based on your performance in UTME, Post UTME, and levels.
Understanding how the Post UTME aggregate score is calculated and the weightings of each component can help you better prepare and aim for your required cut-off marks.
This guide provides an in-depth explanation of the Post UTME aggregate score, including formulas, component breakdowns, cut-off marks, and more.
Overview of the Post UTME Aggregate Score
The UDUS Post UTME aggregate score is a composite score that determines your eligibility and competitiveness for admission into your desired course. It combines your scores from 3 examinations:
- UTME Score: This is your score in the compulsory University Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) conducted by JAMB yearly.
- Post UTME Score: This refers to your score in the post-UTME screening test conducted by UDUS after UTME.
- O’Level Bonus: This constitutes extra marks you gain based on your performance in relevant O’level subjects.
The specific formula for calculating your Post UTME aggregate score is:
Aggregate Score = (UTME Score x 0.4) + (Post UTME Score x 0.6) + O’level Bonus
Below is a breakdown of what each component means and how it’s calculated:
1. UTME Score
- Weight: 40%
- Examination: Conducted nationally by JAMB
- Score Range: 200 – 400+
Your raw UTME score earned will be multiplied by 0.4 to determine its contribution to your aggregate score. Most competitive courses require you score above 200 in UTME.
2. Post UTME Score
- Weight: 60%
- Examination: Conducted by UDUS after UTME
- Score Range: 0 – 100
Your Post UTME score carries the highest weight of 60%. After meeting the UTME cut-off mark set by JAMB for your course, you need to excel in this test to stand the best chance of admission.
3. O’Level Bonus
- Additional marks earned based on O’level subject performance
- Determined by number of relevant subjects passed
- Can give up to 20% bonus
The O’level bonus aims to improve chances of admission for applicants with outstanding prior academic achievements in relevant subjects even if UTME/Post UTME scores fall slightly short.
The bonus points are allotted based on your grades and number of credits attained in related O’level subjects – the higher your grades/credits, the higher your bonus, up to a cap of 20% of Post UTME score.
Component Weightings Across Various Courses
While the standard Post UTME aggregate score formula combines your UTME (40%), Post UTME (60%), and O’Level scores, slight variations exist across courses.
Some courses allot marginally higher weight to UTME score, while for others the Post UTME holds even higher importance. O’level bonus also has upper variation limits across faculties.
Variations Across Select UDUS Courses
| Course | UTME Weight | Post UTME Weight | Max O’Level Bonus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | 0.35 | 0.60 | 15% |
| Agriculture | 0.45 | 0.50 | 20% |
| Engineering | 0.35 | 0.60 | 20% |
| English | 0.30 | 0.65 | 15% |
| Law | 0.45 | 0.50 | 10% |
| Medicine | 0.40 | 0.55 | 15% |
| Pharmacy | 0.30 | 0.65 | 10% |
| Sciences | 0.35 | 0.60 | 20% |
This differentiation caters to specific course demands – academics, critical thinking, quantitative skills etc. It provides balanced student selection criteria tailored to each discipline.
In summary:
- UTME has marginally higher influence for structurally rigorous courses e.g. Law, Engineering etc.
- Post UTME dominates for language, specialty or creativity driven courses e.g. English, Pharmacy etc.
- O’Level grades have very high impact for foundational, numeracy focused courses e.g. Sciences, Accounting etc.
Determining O’Level Bonus Points
For most courses, you can earn bonus points equivalent to 10-20% of your Post UTME score based on your O’level grades. This is allotted based on:
- Number of credits attained in relevant subjects
- The letter grades – A, B, C etc secured in each paper
Let us take a sample scenario to understand how O’level bonus scores are calculated:
Peter applied for Electrical Engineering at UDUS and attained:
- Post UTME Score: 72%
- Relevant O’Level Subjects & Scores:
- Mathematics: A (7 credits)
- Physics: B (5 credits)
- Chemistry: C (4 credits)
- Max O’Level Bonus: 20% of Post UTME score (for Engineering) = 0.2 * 72 = 14.4 marks
Calculation of O’Level Bonus Score:
- Add no. of credits in relevant subjects = 7 + 5 + 4 = 16 credits
- Determine Credit to Marks ratio and multiply:
- 16 credits fetches 16 * 0.9 = 14.4 marks (Max limit)
- Allot marks against highest grade in each subject:
- Math (A grade): 7 credits fetches 7 * 0.9 = 6.3
- Physics (B grade): 5 credits fetches 5 * 0.7 = 3.5
- Chemistry (C grade): 4 credits fetches 4 * 0.5 = 2
Therefore, Peter obtains the maximum 20% O’level bonus of 14.4 marks.
The above demonstrates how focusing on accumulating credits and scoring higher grades in key subjects like Mathematics, Physics etc can make a big difference in attaining your desired competitive aggregate score cut-off.
Post UTME Aggregate Cut-Off Marks
While the Post UTME aggregate score calculation remains the same across most courses, the specific cut-off marks allowing admission varies widely depending on factors like:
- Number of available seats
- Number of applicants
- Competitiveness of course
- Academic rigor required
- University admission policies
As a general guideline, to stand a good chance of admission, you need an aggregate score of at least 50% for most UDUS courses.
See UDUS Cut Off Mark For All Courses
However, the table below provides the latest Post UTME cut-off marks for some popular courses:
| Course | Latest Cut-off Aggregate Score |
|---|---|
| Accounting | 65% |
| Business Administration | 55% |
| Computer Science | 56% |
| Economics | 55% |
| Engineering | 53% |
| Geography and Regional Planning | 50% |
| Political Science | 55% |
| Sociology | 50% |
| Social Works | 50% |
Do note that cut-off marks are revised yearly based on latest test score trends and are generally released just before admission selections. Always refer the UDUS admission portal for updated cut-off scores before applying.
A key observation is that courses like Accounting, Engineering, Medicine etc. require markedly higher cut-off marks due to their academic rigor and high number of applicants. Courses like Geography, Sociology on the other hand are more flexible on cut-off marks.
See UDUS Portal
Improvement of Aggregate Score
In case your Post UTME aggregate score falls short of the cut-offs, some options to improve your chances for admission include:
1. Retake Post UTME next year
Focus extensively on Post UTME preparations through mock tests, training etc. to significantly improve your Post UTME score that holds 60% weightage.
2. Retake certain O’Level papers
Scoring higher grades in key subjects like Mathematics, Physics etc. can allow you to earn a higher O’Level bonus.
3. Explore course change options
Consider courses you are still eligible for and have lower cut-off mark requirements. Bachelor’s programmes allow interchangeability across some disciplines.
4. Accept lower choices
If determined to study at UDUS, accept admissions into lower course preferences you are still eligible for, and attempt internal transfers later to your original desired course.
Through combinations of some of the above improvement strategies, you can materially enhance your Post UTME aggregate score and chances of securing your preferred admission.
Conclusion
A strong Post UTME aggregate score is paramount for gaining admission into UDUS – one of Nigeria’s most prestigious universities. As seen in this guide, while the overarching score calculation remains similar, subtle differences exist in component weightages across faculties.
Equally, achieving competitive cut-off score requirements is highly contingent on the particular course you apply for. Excellence in UTME provides the base eligibility, but maximizing your Post UTME and O’Level achievements will make the biggest impact in crossing the high cut-offs.
With this comprehensive perspective, you can make informed strategic decisions and adequately prepare to succeed in your UDUS admission quest. For latest update about the school admission, visit their official website here.
FAQs
Q1. Does every UDUS course calculate aggregate score using 40% UTME, 60% Post UTME weights?
No, while most UDUS courses use a 40-60 weighting, some courses like English or Pharmacy differ by using 30% UTME and 65% Post UTME. Medicine weighs UTME and Post UTME as 40% and 55% respectively. Few courses also offer 5% higher UTME than standard 40%.
Q2. What is the average Post UTME cut-off score for UDUS?
While it varies across courses, the general Post UTME cut-off aggregate score is 55% for popular courses under faculties of Management Sciences, Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities. More academically rigorous STEM courses require 60% on average.
Q3. How can I predict my possible aggregate score before taking Post UTME?
You can accurately estimate your final aggregate score beforehand using your actual UTME and O’Level scores. Simply input your Post UTME predicted score as per corresponding faculty weight in the aggregate formula. This will reflect your real chances.
Q4. Which component of the aggregate score formula has the highest variance each year?
The Post UTME score has the highest volatility each year depending on difficulty level of test, applicant academic profiles etc. UTME and O’Level score impacts are relatively more stable. Hence focusing maximum efforts on Post UTME preparation is wise.
Q5. I have lower credit units in Science subjects. What are my options?
Beyond the big 3 – Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, subjects like Biology, Technical Drawing, Food & Nutrition etc. also provide valuable credit contributions to O’Level bonus calculations, especially for arts, humanities and non-core science courses.
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