FG proposes March 2027 UTME, targets all exam results by August
- JAMB has published a proposed 2027 timetable that puts UTME in March and secondary school exams from April to July.
- The government wants NECO, WAEC, NABTEB and NBAIS results out by August so admissions can start in September.
- JAMB says the dates are proposals, not final, and candidates should wait for official confirmation.
The Federal Government has proposed a harmonised timetable for the 2027 examinations, with the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) set for March 15 to 25, 2027.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) shared the plan on its social media pages on Thursday. Under the proposal, results from the National Examinations Council (NECO), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) and the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) would all be out by August 2027.
That would let candidates who qualify begin tertiary admissions by September 2027, the government says.
What the timetable looks like
- UTME: March 15 to 25
- NECO Senior School Certificate Examination: April 1 to May 14
- WAEC West African Senior School Certificate Examination: May 11 to June 18
- NABTEB: June 1 to July 5
- NBAIS: June 10 to July 9
JAMB said the aim is to reduce clashes between exam timetables, improve coordination among the exam bodies, ensure results are processed and released on time, and allow candidates to start admission early.
For an ordinary Nigerian family, the plan matters because it could cut the long wait between sitting an exam and knowing whether there is a place in a tertiary institution. That wait often stretches into the following year, leaving students at home while their mates move on.
What happens next
JAMB was clear that the dates are proposed timelines, not confirmed final dates. It urged candidates to follow official announcements from each examination body before making plans.
Candidates preparing for 2027 should therefore treat the schedule as a guide for now and watch for confirmation from JAMB, NECO, WAEC, NABTEB and NBAIS.
