JAMB changes 2027 UTME first-session arrival time

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has moved the arrival time for candidates sitting the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, from 6:30am to 7:30am.

Under the new arrangement, candidates for the first session are expected to arrive at their designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:30am. The examination will begin at 8:30am and end at 10:30am.

JAMB said the adjustment was made to address safety and logistical concerns associated with very early morning movements, particularly for candidates travelling long distances to their examination centres.

The decision was disclosed in a statement by JAMB spokesperson and Acting Director, Public Affairs and Protocols, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

Benjamin said the adjustment followed deliberations at the Board’s 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from September 6 to 11.

He said the Board considered concerns raised by members of the public over the implications of the previous early arrival time.

According to Benjamin, the Board also considered the difficulties candidates could face when travelling before dawn and concluded that a later arrival time would improve their safety and convenience.

He added that the revised schedule could reduce the number of candidates who miss their examinations because of challenges associated with the earlier reporting time.

However, JAMB said other examination sessions would continue to operate under the existing scheduling arrangements.

The Board said the adjustment was among the outcomes of discussions at the retreat, which brought together members of its management, state coordinators, heads of outstation offices and other stakeholders.