UNICAL Post-UTME: Requirements, Format and Practice
UNICAL post-UTME explained: the 150 UTME baseline, switching rules, online portal, 2026 registration window, what is unpublished and a practice plan for 2027.
ExamPadi Editorial · Updated · 6 min read
The University of Calabar runs its screening through a dedicated portal, and the portal pages are short on rules and strict on honesty. This page reports what the portal and press coverage of UNICAL's 2026/2027 announcement say, and which details to confirm.
What the screening is
UNICAL's post-UTME portal describes steps for UTME candidates: verify your JAMB score, pay the fee, and print your slip. For Direct Entry candidates it asks for a CAPS certificate and payment receipt. No test structure is described on the pages we read, and we did not find a published subject list. For 2025/2026 the date was reported to appear on a "Screening Schedule Printout" after registration; we found no such statement for 2026/2027. In short, the format is unpublished in the sources we found, so confirm after you register.
Who was eligible in 2026
From the portal and press reports:
- Candidates who chose UNICAL as first choice and scored 150 or above in the UTME.
- Candidates who did not choose UNICAL but wished to switch to it and also scored 150 or above; Legit.ng reported that they had to change institution through JAMB first.
- Direct Entry candidates, through their own section of the portal.
- A press report adds that Medicine and Surgery applicants must present O'level results obtained in one sitting. Confirm on the portal for your course.
Note that 150 is the portal's baseline. Individual courses may set higher expectations through the admission list, so also check your course's cut-off.
How to apply
Use postutme.unical.edu.ng. Prepare an active email, a personal phone number and a recent passport photograph in the format the portal states. Payment is online by ATM card, and the portal marks the 2,000 naira screening fee as non-refundable (Direct Entry shows a 3,500 naira receipt). Legit.ng reported that candidates no longer need scratch cards, so anyone selling PINs for this process is a red flag. The portal also has options to resolve or reprint a registration if a payment timed out.
Last cycle's timeline (2026/2027)
| Item | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens (press report) | 1 June 2026 |
| Registration closes (press report) | 31 July 2026 |
| Later stage | "Supplementary registration" shown on the portal |
| Screening date | Not published to us (for 2025/2026 it was reported to appear on the schedule printout) |
No 2027 dates are announced; see post-UTME 2027 dates.
What is not published
We found no official aggregate formula, test subjects or question count for UNICAL. For general understanding of aggregates, our aggregate calculator guide is a starting point, but it cannot replace a UNICAL source.
A practice plan for UNICAL
- Treat honesty as a skill. Check your UTME score, O'level grades and state of origin against your documents before you submit. Errors are disqualifying.
- Daily fundamentals. English Language and Mathematics, then your course subjects, via English practice and Mathematics practice.
- Be ready for a test anyway. If a test is announced after registration, you will have little time. A routine of two timed sets a week lets you adapt quickly; see CBT exam tips.
- Use the schedule printout. Print and keep it with your documents as soon as it is available.
Original example: Choose the correct option: Neither the manager nor the clerks ___ present. The verb agrees with the nearer subject, "clerks", so the answer is "were". This is ours, not from a UNICAL paper.
Compare UNIUYO and UNIPORT if you are applying to south-south schools, and read how to prepare for post-UTME for a four-week plan. No source can predict questions or promise a place.
Checklist before you pay anything
- Pay only through postutme.unical.edu.ng; Legit.ng reported that scratch cards are no longer required.
- Check your UTME score, O'level grades and state of origin against your documents, since false declarations lead to disqualification.
- If a payment times out, use the portal's resolve or reprint option, not an agent.
- Keep the registration slip and any screening schedule printout.
A six-week schedule
| Week | Focus | Target |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Find the official notice and note the rules | A one-page summary in your own words |
| 2 | Core skills | Three 25-question sets in English Language and Mathematics |
| 3 | Course subjects | Two sets per subject |
| 4 | Timed mixed blocks | 40 questions in about 40 minutes |
| 5 | Adapt to the announced format | Switch to test, document or interview preparation |
| 6 | Review and logistics | Slip, ID, route, sleep |
UNICAL's pages are light on format, so be ready to switch to test mode quickly if a schedule appears. Adjust the weeks if your window is shorter, and cut the number of subjects rather than the number of timed sets.
Two more practice questions
Both are original, written for this guide, and not taken from any UNICAL paper.
- How many different arrangements can be made from the letters of the word DOG? Working: There are 3 × 2 × 1 = 6 arrangements.
- Choose the correct option: "The news ___ good." (is / are) Working: "Is", because news is treated as singular.
After each set, write down why you missed a question: a content gap, a careless slip or a time problem. Each needs a different fix.
Practise now
ExamPadi has 46,182 practice questions across JAMB, WAEC, NECO and NABTEB, with timed CBT mode, free practice and a Pro tier, on Android, iOS, web and Windows. Practise for your Post-UTME and be ready for whatever format UNICAL announces. Confirm every date, fee and score on the university's official portal or website before you act; no guide can promise admission.
Practise with real past questions and worked answers
Practise for your Post-UTMEFrequently asked questions
What UTME score does UNICAL require for post-UTME?
UNICAL's post-UTME portal lists candidates who scored 150 or above, either with UNICAL as first choice or wishing to switch to UNICAL.
Where do I register for UNICAL post-UTME?
At the official Post-UTME portal, postutme.unical.edu.ng. Legit.ng reported that UNICAL no longer requires scratch cards for 2026/2027, so ignore anyone selling PINs.
Does UNICAL post-UTME involve a test?
The portal pages describe verification, payment and slip printing, not a test. We found no 2026/2027 screening date; for 2025/2026 a screening schedule printout was reported to carry the date, so confirm after registering.
What happens if I give false information?
The portal says false declarations of UTME scores, O'level grades or state of origin lead to automatic disqualification.