The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a minor adjustment to the arrival time for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly those scheduled for the first session.
In a notice shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, the examination body stated that candidates for the first session are now required to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the earlier scheduled 6:30 a.m.
According to JAMB, the examination will commence at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m., maintaining the same duration despite the revised arrival time.
“This is to notify you of a slight adjustment to the arrival scheduled time, particularly for the first session, which is now 7:00 a.m. as against the earlier published 6:30 a.m., while the scheduled start time for the session is now 8:30 a.m. and end time 10:30 a.m.,” the board stated.
The examination body also clarified that candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips as a result of the change, indicating that all previously issued documents remain valid.
JAMB further disclosed that the UTME timetable will continue to run in four sessions daily from Monday to Friday, with minor adjustments across batches aimed at improving coordination and efficiency at CBT centres nationwide.
The adjustment follows feedback from candidates, parents, and other stakeholders who had raised concerns over the challenges associated with very early morning travel. These concerns include safety risks associated with commuting before daylight and logistical difficulties faced by candidates travelling long distances to their examination centres.
By shifting the arrival time slightly later, the board aims to ease these concerns while maintaining the integrity and smooth conduct of the examination process.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to take place between April 16 and April 25, 2026, across accredited CBT centres nationwide. The examination remains a key requirement for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with thousands of candidates expected to participate.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to ensuring a seamless examination process and urged candidates to adhere strictly to the revised schedule while preparing adequately for their exams.
