The ABSU English Language and Literature cut off mark is 150 in the UTME. That is the minimum Abia State University (ABSU) set for every regular degree course in its 2026/2027 screening notice, for candidates who chose ABSU as first or second choice. ABSU did not publish a separate figure for English, so 150 gets you into screening and your rank among the other English applicants decides who gets in.
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.
Two things trip up English candidates at ABSU. The school’s JAMB course list carries two similar names, “English Language and Literature” and “Language and Literature”, and the UTME line requires Literature in English, which many science-leaning candidates forget. Below are the official figures, a safe target score, the exact subjects, which course name to choose, Direct Entry, the screening steps and what the degree leads to.
ABSU English Language and Literature cut off mark at a glance
| Item | 2026/2027 position | Source or status |
|---|---|---|
| ABSU minimum UTME score (all courses) | 150, ABSU first or second choice | ABSU notice reprinted by Osilight and Myschool, June 2026 |
| JAMB national minimum for universities | 150 | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| Departmental cut-off | Not published | ABSU released no per-course figures |
| My safe target score | 170 or more | My advice, not an ABSU rule |
| UTME subjects | Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and another Arts or Social Science subject | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| O’level | Five credits including English Language and Literature in English, plus three other Arts or Social Science subjects | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint); no ABSU remark |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes including Literature in English and one other Arts subject; no ABSU remark | JAMB brochure (Myschool reprint) |
| NUC accreditation (latest) | Full, maturity 2026 | NUC accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 |
| Screening fee | ₦2,000 | Notice reprint |
ABSU English Language and Literature cut-off mark history
| Session | Figure | What it means | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/2027 | 150 | Lowest UTME score ABSU accepted for online screening in any regular degree course (ABSU as first or second choice) | ABSU notice, reprinted by Osilight and Myschool, 8 to 9 June 2026 |
| 2026 (national) | 150 | JAMB minimum for every Nigerian university | JAMB 2026 policy meeting, 11 May 2026 |
| 2025/2026 | Not confirmed | I could not open an ABSU notice for that session | Unverified |
| English figure | None published | Blog “departmental cut-off” tables cite no ABSU document | Unofficial |
ABSU’s 2026/2027 notice gave one figure for all courses. A page that prints an official ABSU English cut-off is quoting a figure ABSU never released. The real cut-off each year is the score of the last candidate admitted into the department, and ABSU does not publish it.
Safe target score for English at ABSU (my advice)
English is one of the larger arts departments at most state universities, and it attracts candidates who missed Law or Mass Communication. Those candidates often come in with higher scores. This table is my advice, not an ABSU rule.
| Your UTME score | My read for ABSU English Language and Literature |
|---|---|
| Below 150 | Not eligible for screening |
| 150 to 164 | Eligible; strong O’level grades help a lot |
| 165 to 179 | A fair chance with clean credits |
| 180 and above | Strong |
I would aim for at least 170. If you are coming down from Law with a score above that, English is a realistic change of course, provided your UTME included Literature in English.
JAMB subject combination and O’level for English at ABSU
| Requirement | English Language and Literature (JAMB brochure) | Language and Literature (JAMB brochure) |
|---|---|---|
| UTME | Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and another Arts or Social Science subject | Same line |
| O’level | Five credits including Literature in English, English Language and three other Arts or Social Science subjects | Five credits including English Language and Literature in English |
| Direct Entry | Two A-level passes including Literature in English and one other Arts subject | Two A-level passes in Literature in English and any other Arts subject |
| ABSU remarks | None | None |
For the UTME, write Use of English, Literature in English, Government and CRS, or any similar set: Literature in English, one Arts subject (CRS or IRS, History, French, Igbo, Music or Fine Art are the usual ones) and one more from the Arts or Social Sciences (Government, Economics, Geography). Physics, Chemistry and Biology do not fit, and Literature in English is not optional.
For O’level, the brochure names English Language and Literature in English as credits, and wants the other three from Arts or Social Science subjects. It does not name Mathematics, and the page has no ABSU remark. ABSU’s notice only speaks of “basic five O’level credit passes”. Many Nigerian universities still check for a Mathematics credit or pass at clearance, and I could not confirm ABSU’s position, so a credit in Mathematics is the safe position if you have it.
Which JAMB course name to pick
ABSU’s list on Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure carries both “English Language and Literature” and “Language and Literature”. NUC’s accreditation table lists ABSU’s programme as “English Language and Literature”, so I would choose English Language and Literature under Abia State University. The UTME line is the same for both, so the choice does not change your subjects. If you already registered “Language and Literature”, keep your slip and ask the ABSU admissions office whether it maps to the same department before you pay for anything extra.
Direct Entry
Direct Entry needs two A-level passes including Literature in English and one other Arts subject. The brochure has no ABSU Direct Entry remark for English, so it does not confirm whether ABSU takes NCE or diploma holders. The 2026/2027 notice adds that Direct Entry candidates need the basic five O’level credits. NCE holders in English should ask the admissions office in writing before buying a Direct Entry form.
How ABSU screens English applicants
The 2026/2027 notice was signed by the Registrar, Dr. Acho Elendu. I could not open the original on the ABSU website, so the details below come from two reprints that agree: Osilight (posted 9 June 2026) and Myschool (8 June 2026).
| Detail | What the 2026/2027 notice said |
|---|---|
| Who could apply | Candidates who chose ABSU as first or second choice, or who changed to ABSU, and scored 150 or more in the UTME |
| Direct Entry | Basic five O’level credit passes under ABSU’s entry requirements |
| Where to register | Online at www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng |
| What to upload | UTME result, O’level result and degree certificate where applicable, on the ABSU portal (www.portal.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng) and the JAMB portal |
| Fee | ₦2,000 by e-payment through the banks named in the notice, or by debit card |
| Missing the screening | Candidates who do not register “will not be considered for admission” |
| Written test | Not mentioned; the notice describes online document screening |
| Closing date | Not stated in the reprints |
The bank names came out garbled in the reprint, so follow the payment options shown on the ABSU portal itself rather than a list copied from a blog.
Worked example for English candidates
ABSU has not published an aggregate formula, and the 2026/2027 notice describes document screening without a test. To show how your O’level can change your position, I use an illustrative method common at Nigerian universities: UTME score divided by 8 (up to 50 points) plus O’level points for five relevant subjects, where A1 = 10, B2 = 9, B3 = 8, C4 = 7, C5 = 6 and C6 = 5 (up to 50 points). This is my example, not ABSU’s formula.
- Ifeoma scored 166 with B2 in English, B2 in Literature in English, B3 in Government, B3 in CRS, C4 in Economics from one sitting. UTME points: 166 ÷ 8 = 20.75. O’level points: 9 + 9 + 8 + 8 + 7 = 41. Illustrative total: 61.75.
- Chukwudi scored 182 with C5 in English, C6 in Literature in English, C6 in Government, C5 in History, C6 in Civic Education across two sittings. UTME points: 182 ÷ 8 = 22.75. O’level points: 6 + 5 + 5 + 6 + 5 = 27. Illustrative total: 49.75.
- The result: Ifeoma leads by 12 points even though Chukwudi scored 16 marks more in the UTME.
Chukwudi’s C6 in Literature in English costs him the most here, in a degree built on that subject.
How to apply for English Language and Literature at ABSU, step by step
- Get a JAMB profile code: text NIN, a space and your 11-digit NIN to 55019 or 66019 from the SIM linked to that NIN. The code arrives by SMS.
- Register the UTME with the right subjects: choose English Language and Literature at Abia State University with Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and another Arts or Social Science subject. ABSU accepted first and second choice candidates in 2026/2027, but first choice is still the cleaner position. To move ABSU up later, use a JAMB change of institution.
- Upload your O’level to CAPS: at an accredited JAMB CBT centre, once your result is out. Make sure the upload shows credits in English Language and Literature in English.
- Register for ABSU screening: when the notice is out, go to www.abiastateuniversity.edu.ng, pay the screening fee (₦2,000 in 2026/2027) and upload your UTME result and O’level on the ABSU portal.
- Keep your receipts: save the payment receipt and the printout of your completed screening form. You may need both at clearance.
- Check your status: watch the ABSU portal and your JAMB CAPS page. ABSU offers show on CAPS before anything else.
- Accept on CAPS: log in at efacility.jamb.gov.ng, choose Check Admission Status, then Access my CAPS, and accept. JAMB gives four weeks. Our JAMB CAPS guide explains each status.
- Pay acceptance and clear: ABSU’s acceptance and school fees were not in any source I reached. Pay only the amount on your ABSU portal invoice.
Warning
Every genuine ABSU offer appears on JAMB CAPS, and JAMB said in May 2026 that admission outside CAPS is illegal. Anyone who asks for money to “process” an English place is not acting for ABSU. Pay only through the ABSU portal.
JAMB set 31 October 2026 as the 2026/2027 admission deadline for public universities such as ABSU (private universities have until 30 November and other institutions until 31 December 2026). If you applied this year, check CAPS every few days rather than waiting for a printed list.
English Language and Literature at ABSU: the programme
ABSU’s main campus is at Uturu, in Isuikwuato LGA. The university began in 1981 as Imo State University and took its present name after Abia State was created in 1991. Wikipedia lists a College of Humanities and Social Sciences at ABSU, which is where arts departments sit; I could not open an ABSU page confirming the department’s exact name or degree title.
What you study
ABSU has not published a course outline that I could reach. English Language and Literature degrees in Nigeria usually cover:
- English language: phonetics and phonology, grammar and syntax, semantics, and the varieties of English used in Nigeria.
- Literature: poetry, drama and prose, from British and American writing to African and Nigerian literature.
- Literary theory and criticism: how to read and argue about texts.
- Applied areas: stylistics, discourse analysis, creative writing and the teaching of English.
- Use of English and communication courses shared with the rest of the university.
- Project: a final-year research essay on language or literature.
Expect a lot of reading. Candidates who already read novels and plays outside the Literature syllabus usually find the first year easier.
Accreditation, degree and duration
NUC’s published accreditation results (1990 to 2025) list ABSU “English Language and Literature” with full accreditation as its latest result, with a maturity date of 2026, so the programme is due for its next NUC visit around now. The same row shows earlier interim results. The degree title and duration were not on any ABSU page I could open; B.A. English degrees in Nigeria usually run four years for UTME entrants.
Careers
- Teaching English and Literature in secondary schools (with a teaching qualification).
- Editing, publishing, proofreading and content writing.
- Journalism, broadcasting and public relations.
- Communications and administrative roles in companies, NGOs and government.
- Advertising and copywriting.
- Postgraduate study in English, linguistics, literature or law.
English or a related ABSU course?
| Course | What it focuses on | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| English Language and Literature | Language and literature in English | Candidates who love reading and writing |
| Linguistics and Communication Studies | How languages work and how people communicate | Candidates drawn to language structure and media |
| French | French language and francophone literature | Candidates with French in the UTME or a strong interest in it |
| History and International Studies | Nigerian, African and world history and diplomacy | Candidates who prefer history and politics to literature |
More on each: ABSU Linguistics and Communication Studies cut-off mark, ABSU French cut-off mark, ABSU History and International Studies cut-off mark and ABSU Igbo cut-off mark.
If you are writing in 2027, read when JAMB 2027 registration starts, and when results are out, see how to check your JAMB result. If your score or subjects do not fit, our JAMB change of course guide shows how to switch before admission closes.
Mistakes that cost English applicants an ABSU place
- No Literature in English in the UTME: the brochure line starts with it.
- No Literature credit in O’level: it is one of the two named credits.
- A science subject as the third or fourth UTME subject: the line asks for Arts or Social Science subjects.
- Not registering for screening: the notice says such candidates will not be considered.
- Missing the CAPS window: JAMB’s 2026 rule gives four weeks to accept.
ABSU English Language and Literature: frequently asked questions
What subjects do I need in JAMB to study English in ABSU? Use of English, Literature in English, one other Arts subject and another Arts or Social Science subject, such as Literature, CRS and Government. There is no ABSU remark that changes this.
Do I need Mathematics to study English at ABSU? The JAMB brochure line for this course does not name Mathematics, and ABSU has no remark on it. I could not confirm ABSU’s clearance rule, so have a Mathematics credit if you can.
Should I choose English Language and Literature or Language and Literature on JAMB? Choose English Language and Literature. It matches the name NUC uses for ABSU’s accredited programme, and both entries have the same UTME subjects.
Is 160 enough for English in ABSU? 160 clears the 150 minimum, so you will be screened. With strong English and Literature grades it is possible, but I would aim for 170 or more.
Sources and updates
The 150 minimum, the first and second choice rule, the Direct Entry line, the ₦2,000 fee, the registration and upload steps and the warning about candidates who fail to register 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 on the ABSU website. The national minimum of 150, the four-week CAPS window and the warning on admissions outside CAPS come from the News Agency of Nigeria (11 May 2026). The 31 October 2026 deadline for public universities comes from Legit (28 September 2026). The UTME, O’level and Direct Entry rules come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure entry for English Language and Literature, which ABSU’s JAMB course list links to. The accreditation history comes from NUC’s accreditation results, 1990 to 2025 publication. The Language and Literature lines come from Myschool’s reprint of the JAMB brochure entry for Language and Literature, which also appears on ABSU’s list. Campus and history details come from Wikipedia. The safe target table and the worked example are my own advice and illustration. ABSU’s fees and the programme’s duration were not published in any source I reached. Checked on 29 October 2026; this page will be updated if ABSU publishes a departmental cut-off or new requirements.
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.
