Candidates sitting the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have been informed of a revised arrival time for the first session, following an announcement by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on its official X handle on Monday.
The board stated that first session candidates are now required to arrive at their examination centres by 7:00 a.m., replacing the earlier published time of 6:30 a.m. The examination will commence at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 10:30 a.m.
In its notice, JAMB stated, “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.”
The board confirmed that candidates are not required to reprint their examination slips as a result of the adjustment. The full daily timetable covers four sessions running Monday to Friday, with adjusted timings across all batches to ensure smoother operations at CBT centres nationwide. Sessions 3 and 4 on Fridays are reserved.
Candidates are advised to confirm their designated session, examination centre, and date before the examination begins. See our complete guide on how to Check Your JAMB Exam Centre, Date and Time
The adjustment was made in response to feedback from candidates and parents regarding the difficulties of early morning travel, including safety concerns on roads before dawn and logistical challenges for candidates travelling from distant locations.
The 2026 UTME is scheduled to hold from Thursday, April 16, to Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Last Updated on April 13, 2026 by Ola Funmilayo
With over a decade of experience in education journalism, JAMB-GOV.ORG has become a trusted voice in providing relevant and comprehensive JAMB news reporting that matter most to students and educators nationwide.
