The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has adjusted the arrival time for candidates writing the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Those scheduled for the first session must now arrive at their examination centres by 7:00 a.m., not 6:30 a.m. as previously announced. The exam will begin at 8:30 a.m. and end at 10:30 a.m. JAMB made the change following public criticism over the earlier time, which required many teenage candidates to leave home before dawn. The board confirmed that candidates do not need to reprint their examination slips. From Monday to Thursday, four exam sessions are scheduled daily, with start times at 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 4:00 p.m. On Fridays, only three sessions are active, with the 1:30 p.m. slot marked as "reserved" for administrative use. The UTME is set to run from Thursday, 16 April to Saturday, 25 April.
The revised arrival time for the first UTME session offers relief to candidates, especially those from distant areas who would have struggled with the earlier 6:30 a.m. requirement. Starting at 7:00 a.m. gives students a more realistic window to travel safely to test centres, reducing stress and fatigue on exam day.
This adjustment reflects growing public influence on education policy decisions in Nigeria, where student welfare is increasingly shaping administrative choices. For years, concerns about early exam times were dismissed, but sustained feedback has now led to change. It signals that JAMB may be becoming more responsive to the practical challenges faced by test-takers across the country.
Candidates should confirm their session times on their slips and plan travel routes in advance, particularly for centres located far from their homes. Arriving early, even with the new time, remains critical to avoid delays.
