JAMB UTME Exam starting date and other essential Information: You might wonder when JAMB exam will start for 2027. The answer to this question is always dependent on the year of UTME. So you have to keep on looking for the latest announcement here from JAMB rather than relying on exam dates posted online by unauthorised individuals or even on social media.
When Is JAMB Exam Starting? For the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), the JAMB exam date starts on Thursday, April 16, 2026 and ends on Saturday, April 25, 2026.
Note that the date provided is general for all candidates writing JAMB UTME. The specific date, time and CBT centre assigned to a candidate for the JAMB examination is determined by JAMB.
Before the main CBT exams, you will have to Reprint your JAMB Slip to have all the necessary details for your exam. Your JAMB reprinted slip will contain your exam date, time, center and other essential information.
JAMB UTME Exam Date at a Glance
Here are some of the key dates officially announced for the 2026 UTME exercise:
- Optional Mock-UTME: Saturday, March 28, 2026
- Main UTME starts: Thursday, April 16, 2026
- Main UTME ends: Saturday, April 25, 2026
These dates were published in JAMB’s official website for the 2026 examination exercise.
Has JAMB Officially Announced the Exam Starting Date?
Yes. JAMB UTME 2026 Exam Date has been announced by JAMB. The Board in a statement announced that the UTME will hold from April 16, 2026 to April 25, 2026.
Candidates should be cautious of the information online as JAMB can confirm or refute information online as JAMB did regarding exams scheduled for different dates from what was online.
Also, remember that every year is different, so for UTME examinations that will hold in the future, do not go with the information from previous year’s UTME. Wait for JAMB to announce.
JAMB Official UTME Examination Schedule
Like previously stated, the UTME is not written on a single day; it’s actually a period of time in which the exams are written by all candidates. So for 2026 UTME, it will be written from April 16 to April 25, 2026.
These candidates will write their exams on different dates within this period.
Your examination date and time is contained in your JAMB examination slip, as released by JAMB.
When Will Your Own JAMB Examination Hold?
Not every candidate will write the JAMB UTME on the first day the examination is announced to commence by the Board.
Your personal examination time and date is issued to you by JAMB via your notification slips. So, don’t assume that JAMB UTME will start on the date it starts for other candidates.
How to Check Your JAMB Exam Date, Time and Centre
Always check for updates from JAMB through her official platforms to know when your examination slip will be made available. The slips contain information regarding the scheduled dates, times and venues of the exams as previously stated by JAMB.
It is very important for candidates to familiarize themselves with the centers where they will be sitting for their exams before the scheduled date. Each candidate has been assigned a specific schedule on their notification slip.
Always check for information from JAMB official contact channels as against information being spread by friends or even unofficial social media handles.
What Your JAMB Examination Slip Means
The JAMB Examination Slip contains the information contained in the notification sent to you by JAMB. So check the details on the slip and abide by the information and instructions contained in it.
Bear in mind that, if there is any difference between the information you see online and that contained in your examination schedule, you should follow the information contained in your notification slip and seek clarification from the Board through the approved channel
What Time Does JAMB Exam Start?
There is no fixed time for UTME examination; time is given to each candidate on the slip. So find your time and adhere to it. Arrive at your designated center on the day of the examination very early to undergo all the screening and get accredited to write the examination.
Also, JAMB advises candidates to get to their centers very early for screening and for accreditation so as to get settled before examination time.
Don’t be misled by what time another candidate sat for his or her examination.
Important JAMB Dates Candidates Should Know
Apart from the UTME starting date, there are other very important dates for the examination exercise as announced by JAMB.
JAMB UTME Registration Dates
JAMB announces at the time the UTME registration is opened for candidates to register for the examination. The dates for registration are usually published by JAMB and candidates are advised to go through the announcement to know when to register for the UTME.
JAMB announced UTME Registration for the 2026 UTME Exercise.
JAMB Mock-UTME Date
The Mock-UTME is a separate exercise from the main UTME. For the 2026 exercise, JAMB’s official bulletin stated that the optional Mock-UTME was held on Saturday, March 28, 2026.
Candidates should not confuse the Mock-UTME date with the date for the main JAMB examination.
JAMB Examination Period
The examination period refers to the range of dates during which the main UTME is scheduled to take place. For 2026, the official examination period was April 16 to April 25, 2026.
Your own examination date may fall on any date assigned to you within the official schedule.
Examination Slip Printing and Other Candidate Updates
JAMB provides important updates to registered candidates before the examination. Candidates should regularly check official communication channels for information about examination slips, schedules and other instructions.
Avoid waiting until the last minute to confirm your examination details.
SEE ALSO: JAMB Questions and Answers for all Subjects
What Candidates Should Do Before JAMB Exam Starts
Once JAMB announces the examination date, candidates should focus on both academic preparation and practical arrangements.
Here are important steps to take:
- Confirm your exact examination date and session when the official slip is available.
- Check the location of your assigned CBT centre ahead of time.
- Study the subjects you registered for using relevant and reliable materials.
- Review JAMB’s current examination instructions.
- Make arrangements to arrive early at the examination centre.
- Avoid people or websites claiming they can change examination centres, dates or scores unofficially.
JAMB advised candidates for the 2026 UTME to familiarise themselves with their examination centres ahead of the examination to avoid inconvenience.
JAMB Examination Rules and Important Instructions
Candidates should follow all examination rules and instructions issued by JAMB for their particular UTME exercise.
Important areas to pay attention to include:
- Biometric verification and accreditation procedures
- Arrival and reporting instructions
- Examination conduct
- Prohibited items
- Examination malpractice rules
JAMB’s official 2026 information stated that biometric verification was required for candidates to be allowed into the examination hall or to sit the examination.
Because examination procedures may be updated, candidates should always check the latest instructions issued by JAMB.
What to Take to the JAMB CBT Centre
Candidates should follow the specific instructions provided by JAMB for their examination exercise. Before leaving for the CBT centre, carefully review your examination slip and any current official instructions.
Do not rely on outdated blog posts listing items from previous UTME years. Examination requirements and security procedures may change.
How to Verify the JAMB Exam Starting Date
The safest way to verify when JAMB is starting is to use primary sources.
You can check:
- JAMB’s official website and announcements
- Official JAMB bulletins and publications
- Your official JAMB candidate information and examination slip
- JAMB’s official support channels for clarification
What Happens If JAMB Changes the Examination Date?
If JAMB changes an examination date or schedule, candidates should wait for an official announcement from the Board.
Do not assume that a viral message is genuine simply because it contains a JAMB logo or looks like an official press release. Check the information against JAMB’s official website or verified communication before sharing or acting on it.
Your updated examination instructions or official candidate information should guide you if any legitimate changes are made.
Frequently Asked Questions About When JAMB Exam Is Starting
When is 2027 JAMB exam starting?
JAMB Exam Date: For the 2026 UTME exam, JAMB announced that the exam would start from Thursday, April 16, 2026.
For 2027 examination year, go to JAMB’s latest official announcement on when the UTME in that year will take place.
When will JAMB exam end?
The end date for the UTME in 2026 is Saturday, 25th April, 2026.
Is the JAMB exam date the same for all candidates?
No, the JAMB UTME will be written over a period of time fixed by JAMB for the examination to take place. Each candidate is scheduled for a date and time for his or her examination as stated on his or her examination slip.
How do I know my exact JAMB examination date?
All examination details are on the examination slip/ candidate’s information printed for each candidate. The candidate’s date, time and centre are indicated on the slip.
What is the time I am supposed to check or print my examination slip?
Follow JAMB’s instructions to access and print your examination slip. It is advisable to confirm your details as early as possible when such service is made available by the Board.
Is the JAMB Mock-UTME compulsory?
As for the Mock-UTME for the 2026 UTME, JAMB described it as optional for the year’s UTME. However, for each year’s UTME, the requirements and provisions as stipulated by JAMB in the year’s bulletin should be thoroughly cross-checked by all candidates.
Official Sources Used to Verify JAMB Exam Dates
Information within this article has been prioritized from Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) official publications like their official website, JAMB Official Bulletins, as well as their 2026 UTME bulletin.
The main official sources used include:
- JAMB Official Website
- JAMB Official Bulletins Page
- JAMB’s official 2026 UTME bulletin, which announced the examination period.
Conclusion
When would JAMB Exam Start? For 2026 UTME Exams, JAMB started the UTME Exams on Thursday, April 16, 2026 while it ended on Saturday, April 25, 2026 for all registered candidates across the country.
It is your date printed on the examination slip that is most important to you. This date is as JAMB has scheduled it and you should check from the Board’s official sources as against what others are saying, speculating or spreading in the social media.
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About the Author
Sylvester Victor
The founder of infoshoutloud has been publishing news on Exams, Post UTME, Admission and career opportunities with over six years of experience.