The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a slight adjustment to the schedule for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The update was shared in a statement on the Board’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, following complaints about very early arrival times and logistical challenges experienced during previous exams and mock sessions.
What JAMB said
According to JAMB, the adjustment is aimed at improving coordination and ensuring a smoother examination process.
Candidates for the first session are now expected to arrive by 7:00 AM, instead of 6:30 AM. The exam will begin at 8:30 AM and end at 10:30 AM.
Updated UTME Schedule
Monday to Thursday:
- Session 1: Arrive 7:00 AM | Start 8:30 AM | End 10:30 AM
- Session 2: Arrive 9:00 AM | Start 11:00 AM | End 1:00 PM
- Session 3: Arrive 11:00 AM | Start 1:30 PM | End 3:30 PM
- Session 4: Arrive 2:00 PM | Start 4:00 PM | End 6:00 PM
Friday:
- Session 1: Arrive 7:00 AM | Start 8:30 AM | End 10:30 AM
- Session 2: Arrive 9:00 AM | Start 11:00 AM | End 1:00 PM
- Session 3 (Reserved): Arrive 11:00 AM | Start 1:30 PM | End 3:30 PM
- Session 4: Arrive 2:00 PM | Start 4:00 PM | End 6:00 PM
What you should know
Early arrival times have been a major concern for candidates and parents, especially during the recent UTME mock exam.
Previously, candidates were asked to arrive as early as 6:30 AM, forcing many families to leave home before dawn sometimes as early as 5:30 AM particularly when exam centres were far away. Parents also raised concerns about safety and transportation challenges.
In many cases, despite arriving early, candidates had to wait for hours due to delays and technical issues. Some centres scheduled to start at 8:00 AM did not begin until much later.
The 2026 UTME mock exam was also affected by technical problems and poor coordination in several centres across the country. Some candidates were unable to take the exam due to network failures, while others experienced long delays or cancellations.
In response, JAMB has removed over 20 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in 11 states that did not meet the required technical standards, as part of efforts to ensure a better experience during the main examination.
