JAMB Moves 2027 UTME Time Forward to Make Exams Safer for Students

(JAMB. Photo by TVC News)

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has pushed back the start time for candidates taking the first sitting of the 2027 UTME exam.

Instead of arriving at 6:30am, students now need to be at their exam centres by 7:30am, with the test running from 8:30am to 10:30am.

JAMB made this change to tackle safety and logistical issues, particularly for candidates who have to travel long distances before dawn to reach their centres.

The board's spokesperson and Acting Director of Public Affairs, Dr Fabian Benjamin, explained that the adjustment came after the Board's 2026 Management and Information Technology Retreat in Akwa Ibom State last month, where staff, state coordinators, office heads and other officials gathered to discuss the exam structure.

The public had raised concerns about the implications of such an early arrival time, and the Board recognised the difficulties candidates would face travelling before daybreak.

By moving the time an hour later, JAMB believes it will make things safer and more convenient for students, and likely reduce the number of people who miss the exam because of the early reporting requirement.

The change applies only to the first session.

Other examination sittings will continue under the current schedule.