The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced key dates for the conduct of the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), including the schedule for its mock examination and the commencement of the main test nationwide.
According to the examination body, the optional UTME mock examination will hold on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The mock test is designed to help candidates become familiar with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) environment before the main examination.
JAMB also disclosed that the main UTME will officially commence on Thursday, April 16, 2026, across accredited CBT centres in the country. The examination is expected to involve over two million candidates seeking admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
The mock examination serves as a preparatory exercise aimed at testing the readiness of both candidates and examination centres. It allows participants to experience the CBT format, understand the examination interface and correct possible technical challenges before the main test.
Education stakeholders have encouraged candidates who registered for the mock exercise to take advantage of the opportunity to build confidence and improve their time-management skills during the examination.
Candidates are advised to regularly check their profiles on the official portal of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board for updates on printing of examination slips, centre allocations and other important instructions ahead of the examinations.
The UTME remains Nigeria’s primary entrance examination into tertiary institutions, and the board has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a smooth, transparent and credible examination process in the 2026 admission cycle.