The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a minor change to the arrival time for candidates taking the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), especially those scheduled for the first session.
In an official notice posted on its X (formerly Twitter) account on Monday, JAMB informed candidates that they are now expected to arrive at their designated examination centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the previously specified 6:30 a.m. The examination will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m.
Attention 2026 UTME Candidates: Please note a slight adjustment to the arrival time for the first session. Candidates should now report by 7:00 a.m. rather than 6:30 a.m., with the session starting at 8:30 a.m. and ending at 10:30 a.m., the notice stated.
JAMB also emphasized that candidates do not need to reprint their examination slips as a result of this adjustment.
According to JAMB’s revised daily timetable, there will be four examination sessions each day from Monday to Friday, with updated timings for all batches to improve the flow of activities at Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide.
This change comes after ongoing feedback from candidates and parents, who highlighted the safety and logistical difficulties of traveling before dawn, especially for those coming from distant areas.
The 2026 UTME will take place from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
