The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced its 2026 examination activities with the conduct of the mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across the country.

A total of 227,896 candidates registered to participate in the optional preparatory test, designed to familiarise candidates with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system ahead of the main examination.

Ahead of the exercise, JAMB warned that candidates who indicated interest but failed to show up risk sanctions, stressing that such actions deny other applicants the opportunity to utilise limited available slots.

The examination body reiterated that while the mock UTME remains optional, participation is crucial for candidates to gain experience, reduce anxiety, and adequately prepare for the main UTME scheduled in the coming weeks.

Registrar of JAMB, Is-haq Oloyede, introduced the mock UTME in 2017 as part of efforts to test the Board’s systems and ensure operational readiness, as well as to help candidates adapt to the CBT format.

Reports from some Computer-Based Test centres, particularly in Abuja, indicated mixed experiences among candidates. While some participants reported smooth and hitch-free processes, others complained of technical glitches, including biometric verification challenges and system timeouts.

Despite the concerns, stakeholders acknowledged that the mock exercise provides JAMB with valuable feedback to improve its systems ahead of the main examination.

In a notable adjustment for 2026, JAMB extended the duration of the mock UTME from the traditional two hours to four hours. The examination was conducted in two sessions—8:00am to 10:00am and 10:30am to 12:30pm—to give candidates broader exposure to the testing environment.

The Board emphasized that insights gathered from the mock exercise would be used to address observed challenges and enhance the overall conduct of the forthcoming UTME.