If you were dreading a pre dawn journey to your CBT centre on 16 April, here is some welcome news. JAMB has pushed back the required arrival time for first session candidates from 6:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m., giving you an extra 30 minutes of sleep and, more importantly, the ability to travel in daylight.
The board announced the adjustment on Monday via its official X handle, confirming that the change applies specifically to the first session of each examination day throughout the UTME, which runs from 16 to 25 April 2026. The examination itself still starts at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 10:30 a.m. Nothing else about your session has changed.
“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 notice read.
One thing you do not need to do is reprint your examination slip. JAMB confirmed that the slip you already have remains valid. The only thing that has changed is the arrival time.
The revision came in direct response to concerns raised by candidates and parents about safety and transport challenges tied to very early morning travel. Those coming from distant locations or navigating cities with limited transport before dawn had flagged the original 6:30 a.m. requirement as a genuine problem. The board has acknowledged that concern and acted on it.
What this means for you practically: plan to arrive at your centre by 7:00 a.m., not before and certainly not after. Arriving late to a UTME centre is one of the few mistakes with no remedy on the day. You have your slip, you know your centre, and you now know your arrival time. The only thing left is to be there.
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