JAMB exam day: what to bring and what to do
Many candidates lose marks — or miss the exam — for reasons that have nothing to do with how much they studied. Prepare for the day itself.
The day before
- Print your exam slip from JAMB's e-Facility portal. Bring a printed copy, not a phone screenshot.
- Check your centre, date and time on the slip. If you can, visit the centre so you know the route.
- Sleep early. A tired brain reads questions wrongly.
What you can bring
For the 2026 UTME, JAMB allowed only an HB pencil and a copy of your exam slip.
What is banned in the hall
Bringing any of these can stop you from writing the exam (2026 list):
- Mobile phones and other electronic devices
- Wristwatches, smart watches
- Pens or biros, erasers
- Calculators
- USB drives, CDs, hard disks
- Reading or writing materials
- Cameras, recorders, microphones, earpieces, Bluetooth devices
- Smart lenses, smart rings, smart buttons, "spy" reading glasses
- Jewellery: bangles, rings, necklaces
- Key holders, ATM cards, wallets or purses
Rules can change each year. Check your exam slip and JAMB's official announcements for the current list before your exam. Source: BusinessDay, UTME 2026 prohibited items. Last checked 2026-11-12.
At the centre
- Arrive early. There is biometric verification (fingerprint and photo) before you enter.
- If your verification fails, tell the officials at the centre immediately — do not just go home.
- Leave everything banned at home, not "in your pocket just in case".
Inside the CBT
- Answer the easy questions first, then come back to the hard ones.
- Watch the timer on the screen and divide your time across all four subjects.
- There is no reason to leave any question blank — pick your best answer.
- Do not submit early. Use any time left to check your answers.
- Practise with a CBT practice app before the exam so the screen feels familiar.
After the exam
Check your result on e-Facility, then calculate your aggregate for your university and read how admission works for the next steps.