Candidates writing the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will now be required to arrive at their Computer Based Test (CBT) centres by 7:30 a.m., an hour later than the previous 6:30 a.m. arrival time, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced.
Under the revised arrangement, examination for the first session will run from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., while other sessions remain unaffected and will continue according to the Board’s existing scheduling arrangements.
JAMB disclosed that the decision followed deliberations at its 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat, held in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State, from September 6 to 11, 2026, where management, state coordinators, heads of outstation offices and other stakeholders examined ways to strengthen the UTME’s efficiency, safety and credibility.
According to the Board, the change responds directly to public concern over candidates travelling long distances before dawn. “During the retreat, the Board considered concerns raised by members of the public regarding the implications of the previous early arrival time, including the challenges candidates may face travelling before dawn,” JAMB stated.
The statement added, “The adjustment is aimed at addressing concerns over the safety and logistical difficulties faced by candidates who are required to travel very early in the morning, particularly those journeying considerable distances to their assigned CBT centres.”
JAMB noted that management had concluded the new arrival time would benefit candidates in several ways. “Management consequently determined that a later arrival time would enhance the safety, convenience and overall examination experience of candidates, while potentially reducing absenteeism arising from difficulties associated with the earlier schedule,” it stated.
With the 2027 UTME still months away, the Board said groundwork for the exercise was already underway, drawing on outcomes from the retreat and lessons from previous examinations. “JAMB intends to apply lessons from previous examinations and implement decisions reached at the retreat to deliver a more efficient, seamless and candidate friendly UTME,” the statement read.
The Board urged candidates and the general public to note the revised arrival time and to watch out for further official communication on the full 2027 UTME timetable and other examination arrangements.
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