Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has moved the arrival time for candidates in the first session of the 2027 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., the board announced on Sunday.
Under the revised schedule, candidates for the first Computer-Based Test (CBT) session must report to their centres by 7:30 a.m. The examination will begin at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 10:30 a.m.
JAMB said the change was designed to address safety and logistical difficulties linked to very early morning travel, especially for candidates covering long distances to reach their assigned centres.
The decision followed extensive discussions at the board’s 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat held last week in Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State. The gathering brought together management, state coordinators and other stakeholders to review examination operations.
According to the board, public concerns over the previous 6:30 a.m. reporting time were carefully examined. Officials noted that pre-dawn journeys could expose candidates to safety risks and increase the chance of absenteeism.
Shifting the arrival window by one hour, JAMB stated, would enhance candidates’ safety and convenience while reducing the number of those who miss their papers due to travel difficulties.
Subsequent examination sessions will continue according to the board’s established timetable. Although the 2027 UTME remains several months away, JAMB said preparations were already under way with the aim of delivering a more efficient and candidate-friendly process.
The board advised candidates and the public to take note of the adjustment and to await further official details on the full 2027 timetable and related arrangements.
