JAMB Fixes June 13 for 2026 UTME Mop-Up Examination for Affected Candidates
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has announced Saturday, June 13, 2026, as the official date for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up examination for candidates affected during the main examination exercise.
The announcement was made by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, in a statement released on Monday.
According to the Board, the mop-up examination is specifically for candidates who were successfully verified biometrically during the main UTME but could not sit for the examination due to technical challenges, biometric verification problems, or issues linked to withdrawn results arising from examination infractions.
Why JAMB Is Conducting the Mop-Up Examination
JAMB explained that the mop-up examination serves as the final phase of the 2026 UTME exercise and is intended to resolve all pending issues involving affected candidates nationwide.
“The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed Saturday, 13th June, 2026 for the conduct of the UTME mop-up examination for all candidates who presented themselves and were biometrically verified for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) but were unable to sit the examination for one reason or another,” the Board stated.
The Board recalled that the 2026 UTME was conducted between April 16 and April 29, 2026, across accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide. However, technical issues at some centres disrupted the examination process for several candidates.
JAMB also revealed that some results were withdrawn because of examination malpractice investigations, while other candidates encountered biometric verification difficulties despite appearing for the examination.
All affected candidates have now been scheduled to participate in the mop-up exercise.
Important Instructions for Candidates
JAMB advised all affected candidates to begin printing their Examination Notification Slips from Saturday, June 6, 2026.
Candidates were also encouraged to visit and familiarise themselves with their examination centres before the examination date to avoid confusion or lateness on the exam day.
The Board stressed that the mop-up examination would be the final opportunity for candidates to participate in the 2026 UTME exercise.
Highlights From the 2026 UTME Exercise
The 2026 UTME recorded over 2.2 million candidates across Nigeria.
JAMB initially released 632,752 results for candidates who sat for the examination on April 16. It later published an additional 1,264,940 results for candidates who wrote the exams on April 17 and 18, bringing the total released results within the first three days to 1,897,692.
In May 2026, the Board also began the process for change of institution and course for candidates seeking admission adjustments.
Additionally, JAMB released 279 previously withheld results after completing investigations into suspected examination malpractice cases.
JAMB Retains Admission Benchmarks for 2026
JAMB has maintained the existing minimum admission benchmarks for the 2026 admission exercise.
Under the current policy:
Universities and Colleges of Nursing Sciences will continue to admit candidates with a minimum UTME score of 150.
Polytechnics will maintain a minimum admission score of 100.
The minimum admission age remains 16 years.
New Policy to Take Effect From 2027
The Board also announced a major policy change that will begin from the 2027 admission cycle.
Candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education for education-related and agriculture non-engineering programmes will no longer be required to sit for the UTME.
According to JAMB, the policy aims to improve access to teacher education and agriculture-focused courses in Nigeria.
However, candidates applying for similar courses in universities and polytechnics will still be required to participate in the UTME.
The announcement of the 2026 UTME mop-up examination date provides another opportunity for affected candidates to complete their examination process and continue their admission journey without further delays. Candidates are advised to prepare adequately, print their slips early, and ensure they comply with all examination guidelines before the June 13 exercise.
