This comprehensive guide provides 2026 UTME candidates with crucial advice on avoiding and correcting critical registration errors. It highlights seven common mistakes, such as using the wrong phone number, name mismatch with NIN, and incorrect subject combinations, offering immediate preventive actions. Furthermore, it details the official JAMB correction procedures for fixing details like course, name, date of birth, and email address, specifying that all changes must be completed at an accredited CBT center. The guide concludes by confirming that registration can only be done once per year to prevent cancellation, and advises candidates to utilize the one-time name correction window with utmost care.
New 2026 UTME Registration Common Mistakes You Need to Avoid
Success in the UTME requires accuracy from the start. This guide covers the most critical registration mistakes and provides clear solutions based on official JAMB correction procedures.
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Common UTME Registration Mistakes You Need to Avoid
These are the same errors that cost many candidates their smooth admission journey. Avoid these simple pitfalls to ensure your process is hassle-free.
1. Using Someone Else’s SIM Card
The Mistake: Using a relative’s or café attendant’s phone number.
The Risk: You will miss crucial, time-sensitive updates from JAMB (e.g., exam slip printing, admission alerts) because the messages go to the wrong number.
The Action: Use YOUR OWN PERSONAL SIM CARD and keep it active and secure until you’re successfully admitted.
2. Registering with Inaccessible Email Accounts
The Mistake: Using an email address created by a third party, or one whose password you don’t know.
The Risk: You lose access to your JAMB profile, cannot reset passwords, and miss vital admission and O’Level upload updates.
The Action: Create a GMAIL ACCOUNT YOU OWN AND CAN ACCESS EASILY. This is your primary identity for the JAMB portal.
3. Name Mismatches on Official Documents
The Mistake: Having differences in the spelling or order of your name across your NIN, WAEC/NECO, and JAMB profile.
The Risk: This triggers serious verification issues during admission screening, potentially leading to disqualification.
The Action: Before registration, ensure that your NIN, WAEC/NECO, and birth certificate all carry the EXACT same name format.
4. Choosing the Wrong Subject Combination
The Mistake: Guessing or selecting subjects that do not align with the UTME requirements for your desired course.
The Risk: You can score very high (e.g., 300+), but still be disqualified if your subject combination does not match your chosen course’s entry requirements.
The Action: Check the official JAMB brochure to confirm the CORRECT SUBJECT COMBINATIONS for your course.
5. Registering at Unaccredited CBT Centres
The Mistake: Patronizing non-official computer centres for registration services.
The Risk: Incomplete biometric capture, incorrect data entry, and potential registration fraud. If biometrics fail, you cannot sit for the exam.
The Action: Only register at a JAMB-accredited CBT Centre. Check the official JAMB website for the comprehensive list.
6. Ignoring the Compulsory Reading Text
The Mistake: Assuming the compulsory novel is only for Literature-in-English students and skipping it.
The Risk: Questions from this text form a significant part of the Use of English paper (the General Paper) for ALL candidates.
The Action: Obtain the approved novel and dedicate time to reading and understanding it.
7. Having Poor Quality Passport Photographs and Biometrics
The Mistake: Rushing the capture process, leading to blurry photos or failed fingerprint scans.
The Risk: Disqualification or serious delays during the exam-day verification process.
The Action: Ensure your fingerprints are clearly captured and your photograph is bright and facing the camera during registration.
UTME Registration Correction Procedures: Common Challenges and Solutions
If you have made a mistake, JAMB provides official windows for data correction. All corrections must be done at an accredited CBT centre.
What details can I correct on JAMB?
You can officially apply to correct the following details on the JAMB portal by paying the prescribed fee:
- Change of Course and Institution: You can change your preferred institutions and courses.
- Change of Name: To correct spelling errors or rearrange the order of your names.
- Correction of Data: Includes fixing errors in:
- Date of Birth
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- Gender
- State/LGA of Origin
- Choice of O’Level Subject(s)
How do I edit JAMB profile details?
The process is generally done through the official JAMB portal and must be completed at a JAMB-accredited CBT centre:
- Generate a Remita Retrieval Reference (RRR) Code for the specific correction type (e.g., Change of Course/Institution, Name Correction).
- Pay the prescribed fee (usually online or at a bank).
- Visit an Accredited CBT Centre with your payment receipt.
- The centre will effect the changes on the JAMB portal after verifying your identity and capturing your biometrics.
- Print the new correction slip as proof of the successful amendment.
Can email be corrected after JAMB registration?
Yes, the email address linked to your profile can generally be corrected through the official Correction of Data application window. Since the email is critical for receiving access codes and updates, you must rectify this immediately if it’s wrong.
How many times can I correct my name in JAMB?
JAMB typically allows a change of name only once. Due to the sensitivity of name correction (often related to NIN and certificate linking), the process is highly restrictive. You must be absolutely certain the correction is accurate before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the official cost for the 2026 UTME registration form?
The cost is set annually by the Federal Government. It typically consists of the registration fee (currently around N3,500 – N4,000) plus fees for the compulsory reading text and the CBT centre charge. Always check the official JAMB announcement for the precise, non-negotiable total fee.
2. What is the deadline for 2026 UTME registration?
Registration deadlines vary but usually last for 4-6 weeks. It is crucial to adhere strictly to the dates published by JAMB in their official press releases. Do not wait for the last week, as network congestion and technical issues are common.
3. How long does it take for a data correction to reflect on my profile?
Once the correction is successfully submitted and processed at an accredited CBT centre, the changes usually reflect on the JAMB portal instantly or within 24 to 48 hours. You must print the new correction slip immediately to confirm the update.
4. Can I check my UTME result without a scratch card?
Yes. JAMB has largely phased out the use of physical scratch cards for results. Candidates are typically instructed to check their results either by sending a specific SMS code to a designated number or by checking directly on the JAMB portal using their profile credentials.
5. What should I do if I lost my JAMB profile code?
If you have lost the 10-digit profile code created during NIN linking, you can recover it by sending the word RESEND (or the current official recovery keyword) as an SMS to the same number (e.g., 55019 or 66019) you used initially. The profile code will be sent back to you.
6. Is it possible to upgrade from the DE (Direct Entry) form to the UTME form?
No. Direct Entry (DE) and Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) registrations are separate processes. If you registered for DE, you cannot simply upgrade or convert that to a UTME registration. You must register for UTME if you intend to sit for the exam.
7. Can I still change my course/institution after the correction window closes?
Officially, the data correction window is only open for a specific period (usually before or shortly after the exam). Once the window is closed, changes are not permitted until JAMB reopens the portal, which typically happens much later, often during the admission process.
8. Can JAMB make a mistake in the result?
While JAMB’s systems are robust, technical errors or issues related to exam malpractice detection can occur. If a candidate strongly believes their result is incorrect, they can follow the official JAMB complaint resolution procedure, which usually involves visiting the JAMB office or an accredited CBT centre to lodge a formal complaint and sometimes request a review.
9. Can JAMB registration be done twice?
No, absolutely not. A candidate can only register for the UTME once per year. Attempting to register twice is considered an offense and will lead to the immediate cancellation of both registrations and likely disqualify you from sitting for the exam.
10. Is the compulsory reading text tested only in the Use of English paper?
Yes. The current JAMB structure requires all candidates, regardless of their subject combination, to answer questions based on the prescribed novel within the Use of English paper. It is not tested under Literature-in-English or any other subject.
