The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a statement clarifying that it does not select examination towns for candidates taking the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or the Optional Mock examination.
This follows rising concerns over candidates’ preferences for specific towns, especially in light of the limited spaces available for the mock exams.
JAMB’s spokesperson, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, explained on Sunday that 90% of the available slots for the optional mock exam have been filled across the country.
He said only a few states, including Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Plateau, Sokoto, Taraba, and Yobe, have remaining slots. “Candidates need to select their examination towns wisely, as once a town’s capacity is filled, it will no longer be available,” Benjamin said.
The Board has observed unusual patterns of candidates selecting towns far from their homes in an effort to secure spots in the mock exam. “JAMB does not assign candidates to towns far from their homes. They choose based on available spaces,” Benjamin clarified, urging candidates to avoid later blaming the Board for what they deem unfavourable locations.
He also pointed out that while candidates are free to select their preferred towns, it is crucial to consider travel logistics and convenience. The mock examination, designed to familiarise candidates with the Computer-Based Test (CBT) environment, is a privilege, not a guarantee of proximity.
