The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has commenced its 2026 examination activities with the conduct of the mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) held nationwide on Saturday.
JAMB disclosed that no fewer than 227,896 candidates indicated interest in participating in the mock exercise during registration for the 2026 UTME.
The board had, days before the exercise, warned that sanctions would be imposed on candidates who registered for the mock UTME but failed to show up.
In a statement, JAMB explained that candidates who indicate interest and secure a slot but fail to participate deny other willing candidates the opportunity.
“Failure to participate in the mock UTME after indicating interest during registration and securing a slot deprives other interested candidates of the opportunity and will not be condoned,” the board stated.
JAMB noted that although the mock UTME is optional, participation is limited to a specific number of candidates, stressing that indicating interest automatically secures a valuable slot.
The board further insisted that absence from the exercise after securing a slot would attract appropriate consequences.
“Candidates are therefore advised to make the necessary arrangements to participate in the mock UTME,” it added.
JAMB Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede, had introduced the mock UTME in 2017 to familiarise candidates with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) system, reduce examination anxiety and prepare them for the main UTME.
The board also uses the exercise to test its systems, manpower and overall readiness ahead of the main examination.
Meanwhile, the 2026 mock UTME recorded mixed experiences among candidates who sat for the exercise at various Computer-Based Test centres in Abuja.
