The ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology cut-off mark is 150 in the UTME. Abia State University, Uturu set 150 as the minimum for its 2026/2027 online screening, for every course, and published no separate score for this department. You needed ABSU as first or second choice, or a change of institution to ABSU.
2027/2028 update: ABSU cut-off marks usually stay the same from one year to the next, so the figures on this page are what 2027/2028 candidates should plan with. They come from the latest official notice (2026/2027). If the 2027/2028 notice changes anything, we will update this page.
This course has a naming quirk. JAMB’s list for ABSU carries two entries for it: Botany (filed under Sciences) and Plant Science and Biotechnology (filed under Agriculture). The two brochure entries have slightly different subject rules, and the Botany entry has two ABSU remarks that contradict each other on Physics. Below I set out both, then give a subject plan that satisfies either one, along with the screening process, a safe target score, a worked example and the CAPS steps.
ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology cut-off mark: official figures
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ABSU minimum UTME score (all courses) | 150, with ABSU as first or second choice | ABSU screening notice, via Osilight and Myschool reprints (June 2026) |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting (11 May 2026) |
| Departmental cut-off | Not published | No ABSU figure exists |
| Names on JAMB’s ABSU list | Botany; Plant Science and Biotechnology | Myschool reprint of JAMB’s ABSU course list |
| Safest UTME subjects | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics | My reading of both brochure entries |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment | ABSU notice |
| Written Post-UTME test | None mentioned | ABSU notice |
| Safe target score | 170 and above | My advice |
Cut-off history
| Session | Figure | What it is | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | ABSU minimum for screening, all courses | ABSU notice signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, read through reprints |
| 2026 (national) | 150 | JAMB minimum for universities | Official |
| 2025/2026 | Not verified | ABSU’s 2025/2026 notice could not be opened | Unconfirmed |
| This department only | Not published | No merit cut-off released | No official figure |
Safe target score for Plant Science and Biotechnology (my advice)
Plant science courses rarely fill up as fast as Biochemistry or Microbiology, so the competition is gentler. These bands are my judgement, not ABSU’s.
| Your UTME score | My read for ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for ABSU screening |
| 150 to 159 | Eligible; depends heavily on your O’level grades |
| 160 to 169 | Fair chance |
| 170 to 194 | Competitive |
| 195 and above | Strong |
I would aim for 170 or more in the 2027 UTME. If your heart is set on Biochemistry or Microbiology but your score lands in the 160s, this course is a sensible second option at ABSU, and the first-year science courses overlap a lot.
Subject combination and O’level for ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology
The two brochure entries side by side
| Rule | Botany entry | Plant Science and Biotechnology entry |
|---|---|---|
| UTME subjects | Biology, Chemistry and any other science subject | Biology or Agricultural Science, Chemistry, and Physics or Mathematics |
| General O’level | Five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics | Five credits in English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology or Agricultural Science, and any other subject |
| ABSU O’level remark | Two remarks: one says ABSU accepts a pass in Physics; another says ABSU requires credits in English, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology and Physics | None |
| General Direct Entry | Two A level passes in Biology, Botany or Zoology, and Chemistry or Physics | Two A levels in Chemistry and one of Biology, Agricultural Science, Zoology or Botany |
| ABSU DE remark | None | None |
Both entries come from Botany and Plant Science and Biotechnology on Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s brochure.
The subject plan I recommend
| Stage | What to take | Why |
|---|---|---|
| UTME | Use of English, Biology, Chemistry, Physics | Fits both entries: Physics counts as “any other science” for Botany and as the Physics option for Plant Science |
| O’level | Credits in English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics | Meets the stricter Botany remark, which covers the other entry too |
| Sittings | One if you can | ABSU has not stated a sitting rule |
The Physics question is where you could lose out. One ABSU remark on the Botany entry says a pass in Physics is fine; another says ABSU requires a credit. The brochure does not say which one wins. If you already have a Physics credit, you are covered either way. If you only have a pass, ask ABSU’s admissions office in writing before relying on the lenient remark.
Agricultural Science is accepted in place of Biology only on the Plant Science and Biotechnology entry. I would still take Biology in the UTME, because the Botany entry needs it and the degree is built on it.
Direct Entry
Neither entry carries an ABSU remark that blocks Direct Entry, unlike ABSU’s Biochemistry, Microbiology and Zoology entries. The safest A level pair is Chemistry with Biology or Botany, which satisfies both general DE lines. ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice invited Direct Entry candidates with the basic five O’level credits to screen. ABSU did not publish whether ND or HND holders are admitted into this course or at which level, so ask before you buy a DE form.
How ABSU screening works
ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice was signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, and reprinted by Myschool (8 June 2026) and Osilight (9 June 2026). I could not open the original on ABSU’s website.
| Detail | ABSU 2026/2027 screening |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | 150 or more, ABSU first or second choice, or a change to ABSU; DE candidates with five O’level credits |
| Registration | Online at www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng |
| Uploads | UTME result, O’level certificates and degree certificates where they apply, on portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng and the JAMB portal |
| Fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment through listed banks or a debit card |
| Test | None mentioned |
| Closing date | Not stated |
| If you skip it | “Will not be considered for admission” |
Worked example
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula, so this compares scores with the official minimum and my target only. It is illustrative.
Kelechi scored 176 in Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics, with credits in English, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics from one NECO sitting.
- Eligibility: 176 minus 150 = 26 above ABSU’s minimum.
- Against my target: 176 minus 170 = 6 above the score I call competitive.
- Subjects: fit both brochure entries, so the naming question does not hurt him.
- Advice: register for screening early and accept on CAPS promptly.
Amaka scored 168 with Agricultural Science instead of Biology in the UTME and a D7 in Physics. Her UTME subjects fit the Plant Science entry but not Botany, and her Physics grade depends on which ABSU remark is applied. She is eligible on score, but I would tell her to confirm with ABSU which course name her JAMB record carries and whether her Physics pass is accepted.
How to apply, step by step
- Get your JAMB profile code: send NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the line linked to your NIN.
- Register the UTME: choose ABSU first or second and select the plant course under ABSU, with Use of English, Biology, Chemistry and Physics. If ABSU is not among your choices, use JAMB change of institution before screening.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre.
- Register for screening: on www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng once ABSU announces it, and upload documents on portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng.
- Pay the screening fee: ₦2,000 in 2026/2027. Keep the receipt.
- Accept on CAPS: at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, open Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS. JAMB allowed four weeks in 2026.
- Pay acceptance and clear: ABSU has not published acceptance or school fees in any source I reached. Pay only what the ABSU portal invoice shows.
Warning
ABSU gave one minimum of 150 for every course, and genuine offers appear on JAMB CAPS. Do not pay anyone for a “slot”, and pay ABSU only through its own portal.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 for public universities to finish 2026/2027 admissions. If you applied this year, check CAPS now; our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
Studying Plant Science and Biotechnology at ABSU
Schoolings’ copy of ABSU’s postgraduate programme list names the “Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology (Botany)” under Biological and Physical Sciences, with Biochemistry, Microbiology and Animal and Environmental Biology. So although JAMB files one entry under Agriculture, the department sits with the sciences at ABSU. The main campus is at Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area, Abia State.
What you study
I did not find ABSU’s course outline online. Nigerian degrees in this field usually include:
- First year: general biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and general studies.
- Plant structure and diversity: anatomy, taxonomy and the major plant groups.
- Plant physiology: photosynthesis, growth, water and nutrient uptake.
- Genetics and biotechnology: plant breeding, tissue culture and molecular methods.
- Plant pathology and ecology: plant diseases, vegetation and conservation.
- SIWES and project: an industrial placement and a final year research project.
Duration and accreditation
Nigerian B.Sc science degrees usually take four years; ABSU’s own duration is not confirmed in the sources I reached. NUC’s published accreditation results (1990 to 2025) have no line called Plant Science and Biotechnology for ABSU. They list Botany, the department’s other name, with full accreditation as its latest result, valid to 2026, so the programme is due for its next NUC visit around now. Ask the department about the outcome of that visit before you pay acceptance.
Careers
- Agricultural research institutes and seed companies
- Plant tissue culture and biotechnology laboratories
- Forestry, horticulture and environmental conservation
- Quality control in food and herbal product companies
- Postgraduate study and teaching, with a teaching qualification for schools
Related ABSU courses
- ABSU Animal and Environmental Biology cut-off mark
- ABSU cut-off mark for Biochemistry
- ABSU Crop Production and Protection cut-off mark
- ABSU Soil Science cut-off mark
For UTME revision, use our JAMB Biology syllabus and JAMB Chemistry syllabus for 2027.
Mistakes to avoid
- Agric Science instead of Biology in the UTME: it fits one brochure entry but not the other.
- Relying on a Physics pass: ABSU’s remarks conflict, so a credit is safer.
- Treating 150 as admission: it only lets you screen.
- Skipping screening registration: ABSU will not consider you.
- Paying middlemen: offers show on CAPS and fees go through ABSU’s portal.
To switch course after the UTME, see JAMB change of course. For another attempt, read when JAMB 2027 registration starts.
ABSU Plant Science and Biotechnology cut-off mark: FAQs
Is Botany the same as Plant Science and Biotechnology in ABSU? ABSU’s programme list names the department Plant Science and Biotechnology (Botany), and JAMB’s ABSU list carries both names. Pick the one shown under ABSU on your JAMB profile and keep your subjects valid for both.
Is 160 enough for Plant Science in ABSU? 160 clears the 150 minimum, so you can screen. With solid O’level credits it gives you a fair chance in a course that is usually less crowded than Biochemistry.
Do I need Physics for Plant Science and Biotechnology in ABSU? Physics is the safest third UTME subject, and a Physics credit at O’level covers ABSU’s stricter Botany remark. One ABSU remark accepts a pass, but another asks for a credit.
Can I do Direct Entry into Plant Science at ABSU? Neither brochure entry has an ABSU remark blocking it. Chemistry with Biology or Botany at A level is the safest pair; confirm the entry level with ABSU first.
Sources and updates
The 150 minimum, the choice rule, the Direct Entry line, the ₦2,000 fee, the portals, the uploads and the warning about unregistered candidates come from ABSU’s 2026/2027 screening notice signed by the Registrar, Dr Acho Elendu, as reprinted by Osilight (9 June 2026) and Myschool (8 June 2026); I could not open the original. The national minimum, the 31 October 2026 deadline and the four-week acceptance window come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). Subject, O’level and Direct Entry rules, including ABSU’s two Physics remarks, come from JAMB’s brochure entries for Botany and Plant Science and Biotechnology as reprinted by Myschool, and both names appear on Myschool’s reprint of JAMB’s ABSU course list. The department name is from Schoolings’ copy of ABSU’s postgraduate programme list. The accreditation status comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. ABSU has not published a departmental cut-off, an aggregate formula, a closing date or fees in any source I reached. Course content and careers are general to Nigerian degrees in this field, and the target scores are my advice. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated when ABSU releases its 2027/2028 screening notice.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
