By Nworisa Michael
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced an adjustment to its Computer-Based Test (CBT) schedule nationwide as part of preparations for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
In a notice issued on Monday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the examination body stated that candidates scheduled for the first session are now expected to arrive at their respective examination centres by 7:00 a.m., instead of the previously announced 6:30 a.m.
According to JAMB, the first session of the examination will now commence at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m., while other sessions in the daily timetable have also been adjusted to ensure smoother coordination across CBT centres nationwide.
The board said: “Attention 2026 UTME Candidates: This is to notify you of a slight adjustment to the arrival scheduled time, particularly for the first session, which is now 7:00 am as against the earlier published 6:30 am, while the scheduled start time for the session is now 8:30 am and end time 10:30 am.”
JAMB clarified that candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips following the adjustment, explaining that the revision only affects the arrival time and not the core details of the examination schedule.
The examination body noted that the decision was taken in response to concerns raised by candidates and parents regarding the challenges associated with very early morning travel. These concerns, it said, include safety risks before dawn and transportation difficulties, particularly for candidates travelling from distant locations.
The revised timetable forms part of broader logistical preparations for the 2026 UTME, which is scheduled to hold nationwide from April 16 to April 25, 2026.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to ensuring a seamless and candidate-friendly examination process across all accredited CBT centres in the country.
