The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has released another batch of results for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, offering relief to hundreds of thousands of candidates who have been anxiously waiting to know their performance.
In its latest update, the examination body confirmed that candidates who sat for the UTME on Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18 can now check their results, marking a significant step in the ongoing nationwide exercise.
This latest release reflects the board’s continued effort to process and publish results in phases, a system it has adopted in recent years to manage the large volume of candidates across the country.
Over 1.2 million results released in the latest batch
According to the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, a total of 1,264,940 results from the two examination days have now been made available for candidates to access.
The announcement came shortly after concerns over delays in releasing the second batch of results, with the board earlier issuing an apology and assuring candidates that the situation had been resolved.
The UTME, which began earlier in April, is one of the largest coordinated examinations in Nigeria, involving hundreds of accredited computer-based test centres nationwide. Each year, millions of candidates sit for the exam as part of the admission process into universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
By releasing results in batches, the board aims to ensure accuracy, minimise technical errors and maintain the integrity of the examination process. This approach also allows for proper screening and verification before scores are made public.
How candidates can check their UTME results
Candidates who participated in the Friday and Saturday examinations have been advised to check their results using the official SMS method provided by the board.
To access their scores, candidates are required to send the keyword “UTMERESULT” to either 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number they used during registration.
This method has remained the primary channel for result checking, as it helps prevent congestion on online platforms and ensures a more controlled and secure process.
It is important for candidates to have sufficient airtime on their mobile lines, as the service attracts a small charge. The board has also emphasised that candidates must use the exact SIM linked to their registration, otherwise the request may not be successful.
For many candidates, the moment of checking results is often filled with anxiety, anticipation and, in some cases, relief or disappointment. Education experts have continued to advise students to remain calm and focused, regardless of their scores, as there are multiple pathways to higher education.
Earlier batches and the ongoing examination process
Before the release of the Friday and Saturday results, the board had already published the first batch of results for candidates who sat the examination on Thursday, April 16.
That initial release covered over 600,000 candidates, signalling the start of what has become a phased result publication system for the 2026 UTME.
The examination itself is still ongoing and is expected to run until April 25, with more candidates scheduled to sit for the test across different centres nationwide.
This means additional batches of results will continue to be released in the coming days as the board processes scripts and completes necessary checks.
The phased system, while sometimes leading to anxiety among candidates awaiting their results, has been widely regarded as a practical solution to handling the scale and complexity of the UTME.
Reactions, expectations and what comes next
The release of over 1.2 million results has sparked reactions among candidates, parents and education stakeholders across the country.
For many candidates, the focus now shifts to the next stage of the admission process, which includes selecting preferred institutions, monitoring cut-off marks and preparing for post-UTME screenings where applicable.
The board has consistently warned candidates against falling victim to fraudsters who claim they can upgrade or manipulate results. Officials have reiterated that the UTME system is secure and that any attempt to alter scores is both illegal and impossible within the system.
As more results are released in the coming days, attention will also turn to national performance trends, including average scores, top-performing candidates and subject-based analysis.
For now, candidates who sat for the Friday and Saturday examinations can finally access their scores, bringing an end to days of waiting and uncertainty.
The 2026 UTME cycle is still unfolding, but with each batch of results released, the path towards tertiary education in Nigeria becomes clearer for millions of young hopefuls.
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