Server failures, power outages and delayed start times left thousands of candidates stranded at examination centres across the country during the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination on Saturday, March 28, 2026, drawing widespread criticism from parents and social media users and prompting an official response from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).

At Quiblaminds Comprehensive CBT Centre in Abule Egba, Lagos, a candidate managed to attempt only four questions before the server crashed, forcing the centre to send students home around 3 p.m. The candidate described the experience as "stressful and frustrating," while parents questioned the examination's credibility and demanded accountability. Social media users went further, condemning the situation as "intolerable" and a "mockery of a mock exam," citing repeated administrative failures and poor coordination across centres.

Responding in a bulletin released on Monday, JAMB spokesperson Fabian Benjamin acknowledged the disruptions while maintaining that the exercise was largely successful overall. "While the exercise was largely successful, a few centres experienced technical failures. This underscores the importance of the mock examination, which allows candidates to familiarise themselves with the Computer Based Test environment and enables the Board to assess its level of preparedness," the bulletin stated.

JAMB explained that the 2026 mock exercise featured two sessions, a primary mock examination and a second session designed to provide candidates with additional hands on practice ahead of the main UTME. The board noted that the mock examination also allowed candidates to familiarise themselves with the Computer Based Test environment, describing the exercise as a valuable assessment tool for gauging their own preparedness.

The board assured affected candidates that the disruptions would inform corrective measures, announcing that centres which failed during the exercise would be delisted. "With the exercise now concluded, the Board will undertake a comprehensive review to evaluate its effectiveness, address identified gaps, and take necessary action, including the delisting of centres that failed to meet the required standards," the statement disclosed.

JAMB urged candidates to leverage the experience gained from the mock exercise to prepare adequately for the main UTME, scheduled to commence on April 16, 2026, adding that absence from the mock examination after indicating interest would attract sanctions.