23/08/2021
BETWEEN IJMB AND PRE-DEGREE WHICH ONE IS BETTER?.
One of the options you’re left with if you fail JAMB is a pre-degree/remedial programme. Another is to go for IJMB/JUPEB or similar A’level programmes.
Some who had not attempted JAMB UTME may also consider the predegree or any of the A’level courses in order to avoid spending another year at home. After all, an idle hand is the devil’s workshop.
It’s in the light of this, that another confusion does arise. Prospective students are contemplating on whether they should go for the predegree or A’level programme. Which one is better between IJMB and predegree? Should I go for JUPEB or Remedial?
Truly, there is a need to know which is which – the benefits one has over the other before making your final decision. Making the wrong decision here can cost you another year, if not more. You may be delayed beyond your expectations. And if the step is well taken, you can be the happiest person by the next admission year.
What is a Predegree/Remedial Programme?
My post, “Predegree/Remedial and Pre-ND: List of Universities/Polytechnics Selling Forms” is dedicated to opening your eyes to what a predegree or remedial programme is all about.
For quick reference,
Pre-Degree is an advanced institution in which secondary school leavers can apply and get prepared for the challenges of obtaining a degree. Subjects taught therein are usually like what you did in secondary school but they go beyond these.
What is an A’level Programme?
I’ve also dedicated my post “IJMB/JUPEB and Cambridge A’level: Opportunity to Gain Admission directly to 200 Level” to explain what the A’level programmes are all about.
Here, the term A’level is broadly used to mean programmes including IJMB, JUPEB, NABTEB Advanced, Cambridge Advanced.
RECOMMENDED: Difference Between O'level, SSCE and A'level
Comparing Predegree/Remedial with IJMB/JUPEB and Other A’level Programmes
A careful look into each of the programmes has shown that one will have a few advantages over the other. Below are the facts to know if you must consider predegree over A'level and vice versa.
1. Institutions
Both predegree and A’level programmes are run by several universities.
However, you can also obtain A’level programmes at approved study centres nationwide. To know which one is better, read the post, “IJMB and JUPEB in University Vs Study Centres: Which is Better?”.
2. Duration
Predegree and A’level are usually conducted by institutions within one year. While some universities use 6 months for predegree, some produce A’level candidates within 9 months.
3. Admission Advantage
Candidates can ONLY use a predegree to gain admission into the 100 level of their proposed courses. IJMB and other A’level gives you admission into 200 level of your desired course.
4. Success Implication
If passed, predegree can only give you admission into the same institution that runs the programme but not to any other institution. A’level programmes are widely accepted by any university partaking in the programmes.
5. JAMB Requirement
Predegree/remedial candidates are still expected to obtain the JAMB UTME form, write the exams and pass within the national cut-off mark of mark declared by the institutions before they can be offered admissions eventually.
IJMB/JUPEB and other A’level candidates will not be required to obtain UTME or pass it. They’re only to obtain the JAMB DE form (which doesn’t require writing JAMB exams).
6. Expiration of the Result
Predegree/remedial result expires after a year. In other words, candidates should be able to secure admission with their final result in that admission year or else, they can’t use it the next or later year.
IJMB/JUPEB results are accepted for up to 15 years. In other words, you can continually be using your A-level result to seek admission into an institution for more than a decade.
7. Acceptance for Courses
For most schools, pre-degree/remedial courses are limited. In other words, this preliminary course is not accepted into certain competitive courses such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, etc. Candidates are advised to find out about the courses allowed for predegree candidates before obtaining forms.
IJMB/JUPEB and other A’level allows candidates to study any course of interest. In other words, they’re accepted for any of the courses available in the accepting institutions provided your subject combination is suitable. Candidates are only required to meet up with a certain point, the higher such a point the easier it is to go for competitive courses.
Recommended: Can I Defer Admission, How and on What Conditions?
8. Cost Implication
Tuition is different among the schools.
However, predgree can be cheaper than IJMB and JUPEB at institutions and vice versa.
There is no way to justify that the fee of one is higher or cheaper than the other. It all depends on the institution and centres. While certain federal universities/centres can be lenient in terms of tuition, others such as state and privates may go exorbitant.
