The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has acknowledged technical glitches that disrupted the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on Saturday, promising a comprehensive review to address the lapses.
In a bulletin released Monday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin said the mock examination offered the board an opportunity to assess its preparedness for the forthcoming April UTME.
The statement came as thousands of candidates were reportedly stranded at examination centres on Saturday due to server failures, power outages, and delayed start times. Some candidates, who arrived at their centres as early as 6 a.m., had to wait for hours before attempting the exam, prompting frustration among parents and social media users.
The bulletin added that the mock exam also gave candidates the chance to familiarise themselves with the Computer-Based Test environment.
“While the exercise was largely successful, a few centres experienced technical failures. This underscores the importance of the mock examination, which allows candidates to familiarise themselves with the Computer-Based Test environment and enables the Board to assess its level of preparedness,” the statement said.
JAMB explained that the 2026 mock exercise featured two sessions: a primary mock examination and a second session to provide candidates with additional hands-on practice. Centres that failed during the exercise, the Board noted, would be delisted. Candidates were urged to leverage the experience gained to navigate the main UTME, scheduled to commence on April 16, 2026.
There were reports of chaos at Quiblaminds Comprehensive CBT Centre in Abule Egba, Lagos, where one candidate attempted only four questions before the server crashed, forcing the centre to send students home around 3 p.m. The candidate described the ordeal as “stressful and frustrating,” while some parents questioned the credibility of the exam and called for accountability.
Social media users also condemned the situation, calling it “intolerable” and a “mockery of a mock exam,” highlighting repeated administrative failures and poor coordination across centres.
JAMB, however, assured affected candidates that the experience would inform corrective measures.
“With the exercise now concluded, the Board will undertake a comprehensive review to evaluate its effectiveness, address identified gaps, and take necessary action, including the delisting of centres that failed to meet the required standards,” the bulletin stated.
The Board also reminded candidates that absence from the mock UTME after indicating interest would attract sanctions, emphasising the importance of participating in the upcoming main examination.
