JAMB Lifts Ban On a Prohibited Item, Encourages Candidates to Bring It to Exam Hall

JAMB Lifts the Ban On a Prohibited Item and informs candidates that they can now bring It to the Exam Hall.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has urged candidates sitting for the 2024 Mock-UTME scheduled to be held on March 7, to come into the examination hall with an ordinary HP pencil for numerical analysis if they so desire.

The board also revealed that candidates who will be writing the main exam from 19th April can also come along with HP Pencil.

This clarification became necessary following the series of enquiries from candidates and the general public regarding whether HP pencils are permitted in the examination hall as writing material.

This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin in Abuja on Wednesday.

“It should be noted that the Board had hitherto prohibited the use of pencils and other banned materials in view of the nefarious ends that these materials are put.

“The Board has, however, okayed the use of ordinary HP pencil during the upcoming Mock-UTME and the main examination scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19.

“Consequently, candidates are urged to note that they are to come with only one pencil to their respective examination centres as specified while ensuring that they are not in possession of any other prohibited items,” he said.

As a result, below is the updated list of prohibited items candidates aren’t allowed to bring to the exam hall:

wrist watches,
pen/biro,
mobile phones or similar electronic devices,
spy reading glasses which should be scrutinised,
calculators or similar electronic devices,
USB, CD, hard disks and/or similar storage devices.
books or any reading/writing material,
cameras,
recorders,
microphones,
ear pieces,
ink/pen readers,
smart lenses,
smart rings/jewellery,
smart buttons
Bluetooth devices
Key Holders
ATM Cards
Erasers

JAMB Important Dates

Here are some important dates all JAMB Candidates must remember:

Commencement of 2026 JAMB UTME Registration: January 2026.
Deadline for the 2026 UTME Registration: March 2026.
2026 UTME Mock Examination Date: April 2026.
Printing of 2026 UTME Examination Slips: April 2026.
2026 UTME Examination Date: April – May 2026.
Release of UTME Results: May 2026.
Sale of 2026 Direct Entry (DE) application form: March 2026.
Deadline for the 2025 DE application: It will likely be on or before June 2026.

JAMB Important Dates

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