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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a slight adjustment to the arrival and commencement schedule for candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly those assigned to the first examination session.
In an official notice issued on Monday via its verified communication channel, JAMB stated that candidates scheduled for the first session are now expected to arrive at their examination centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the earlier communicated 6:30 a.m. The board also clarified that the first session examination will now begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m.
The clarification is part of JAMB’s effort to streamline candidate movement into Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and reduce congestion during biometric verification and accreditation.
Under the revised timetable released by the examination body, Monday to Thursday sessions will run as follows:
- Session 1: Arrival 7:00 a.m., Exam starts 8:30 a.m., Ends 10:30 a.m.
- Session 2: Arrival 9:00 a.m., Exam starts 11:00 a.m., Ends 1:00 p.m.
- Session 3: Arrival 11:00 a.m., Exam starts 1:30 p.m., Ends 3:30 p.m.
- Session 4: Arrival 2:00 p.m., Exam starts 4:00 p.m., Ends 6:00 p.m.
For Friday, the same timing structure applies, except that the third session remains reserved, in line with JAMB’s longstanding accommodation for Friday observances.
Importantly, the Board stressed that candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips as a result of the adjustment.
“Please note that you need not reprint your slip. Thank you,” JAMB said in a follow-up advisory to candidates.
The notice is expected to bring relief to many candidates and parents who had expressed concern over the earlier 6:30 a.m. reporting time, especially in locations where transportation and security challenges make very early movement difficult.
JAMB has consistently advised candidates to arrive only at the exact time indicated for their sessions and to avoid late arrival, warning that missing accreditation windows could affect their ability to sit for the examination.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to begin on April 16 nationwide, with candidates expected to adhere strictly to the revised reporting arrangements as printed on their notification slips, subject to the new timing adjustment for the first batch.
