The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced a slight adjustment to the timetable for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), shifting the first session’s arrival time to 7:00a.m instead of 6:30 a.m.
In a notice released on Monday, JAMB explained that the first session will now begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m.
The board said the change was introduced to ease congestion at test centres and give candidates more time to settle before the examination begins.
The revised schedule covers four sessions daily from Monday to Thursday. After the first sitting, the second session will run from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by the third session from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the fourth session from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
On Fridays, the timetable remains similar, though the third session has been reserved, leaving three sittings for the day.
JAMB clarified in a follow‑up message that candidates do not need to reprint their examination slips, as the adjustment does not affect centres or registration details.
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The board emphasized that punctuality remains critical, warning that late arrival could result in missing a session entirely.
With over a million candidates expected nationwide, the UTME remains one of Nigeria’s largest examinations.
JAMB urged applicants to take note of the new times and arrive promptly, stressing that the adjustment is part of efforts to improve coordination and fairness across centres.
The announcement, made through JAMB’s verified X account, underscores the board’s commitment to ensuring a smoother examination process for candidates across the country.
Patience Ikuomola
