JAMB 2026 Registration: 12 Common Mistakes That Could Cost You Admission

JAMB 2026 UTME registration opens January 31st and closes March 8th. During this window, thousands of candidates will make avoidable errors that complicate their admission chances or disqualify them entirely. Some mistakes seem minor but create problems that persist throughout the admission process.

Understanding these common errors before you register helps you avoid them. Here are the mistakes that trip up candidates every year and how to prevent each one.

1. NIN Data Mismatches

Your JAMB registration pulls biographical data directly from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) database using your NIN. If your name, date of birth, or gender differs between your NIN record and your O'Level certificates, you'll face problems.

Before registration begins, verify your NIN details match your WAEC or NECO certificates exactly. If corrections are needed, visit an NIMC office early. Changes take time to reflect in the system, and JAMB cannot modify data that comes from NIMC.

Common issues include name spelling variations (Muhammed vs Muhammad), reversed surname and first name order, and incorrect dates of birth. Fix these with NIMC before generating your profile code.

2. Profile Code Generation Errors

To register for JAMB, you first generate a profile code by sending your NIN to 55019. The format matters: type NIN, leave a space, then your 11-digit number. Send from the phone number you want linked to your JAMB profile.

Candidates who type the wrong format receive error messages. Those who send from someone else's phone number link that number to their profile instead of their own. This becomes problematic because all JAMB communications, including exam schedules and result notifications, go to that number.

Use your personal phone, ensure the SIM is registered in your name, and double-check the format before sending.

3. Using Previously Registered Phone Numbers or Emails

JAMB requires unique phone numbers and email addresses for each candidate. If your phone number or email was used for a previous registration (even years ago), the system will reject it.

This catches candidates who use family members' contacts or whose details were previously used by siblings. Get your own phone number and create a fresh email address specifically for JAMB if you're unsure about previous usage.

4. Wrong Subject Combinations

Each university course requires specific UTME subject combinations. Engineering courses typically require Physics, Mathematics, and Chemistry. Medicine requires Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Arts courses have different requirements.

Candidates who register wrong subjects cannot gain admission to their chosen courses regardless of their scores. JAMB's brochure, available at ibass.jamb.gov.ng, lists the correct subject combination for every course at every institution.

Check the brochure before registration. Verify that your chosen institution offers your course with your planned subjects. Don't assume all universities follow the same pattern.

5. Choosing Institutions That Don't Offer Your Course

Not every university offers every course. Candidates sometimes select institutions without verifying course availability, then discover after registration that their first-choice university doesn't offer their intended programme.

The JAMB brochure lists all courses offered by each institution. Confirm availability before selecting your first and second choice universities. This verification takes minutes but saves months of complications.

6. Registering at Unauthorized CBT Centres

JAMB accredits specific centres for registration. Unauthorized centres may offer cheaper rates or promise faster service, but registrations done at these locations can be invalidated.

Some unauthorized centres also collect candidate data fraudulently. Only register at JAMB-approved CBT centres. The list of accredited centres is available on JAMB's official website.

7. Poor Quality Passport Photographs

Your passport photograph becomes part of your permanent JAMB record. It's used for identification during examination and potentially throughout your university career. Poor quality photos create recognition problems.

Requirements include: recent photograph with white background, clear facial features, no glasses or head covering (unless for religious reasons), and proper lighting. The photo should show your face clearly, not be blurry, overexposed, or taken from unusual angles.

Many candidates use old photographs or poorly lit selfies. Invest in a proper passport photograph before registration. The centre's camera may not produce optimal results.

8. Biometric Capture Failures

JAMB captures your fingerprints during registration. These biometrics verify your identity on examination day. Failed captures mean you cannot be verified and may be denied entry to your exam.

Ensure your fingers are clean and not too dry or oily during registration. If the capture fails multiple times, report to a JAMB office rather than allowing the centre to force through a poor capture. A clean capture now prevents exam-day problems.

9. Not Verifying Information on the Dual Screen

During registration, a dual screen should display your captured photo and entered information. This verification step lets you confirm everything is correct before final submission.

Candidates who rush through or don't pay attention to this screen miss errors that become permanent. Take time to verify every detail: name spelling, date of birth, course choice, institution selections, and photograph quality.

10. Incorrect O'Level Result Entry

You must enter your O'Level results (WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB) during registration. Errors in subject grades, examination numbers, or year of examination create verification problems during admission.

Have your original result statement available during registration. Enter grades exactly as they appear. If awaiting results, select the "Awaiting Result" option rather than guessing grades.

11. Late Registration

Candidates who register in the final days face multiple problems: crowded centres, system slowdowns, and limited time to correct errors. Those who register very late may receive examination centres far from their location or at inconvenient times.

Early registrants get better centre assignments and have time to address any issues that arise. Start preparing your documents now and register within the first two weeks of the registration window.

12. Not Keeping Payment Records

The JAMB 2026 registration fee is ₦4,700. Payment is made at designated banks or through approved payment channels. Candidates who don't keep receipts or transaction records struggle to prove payment if disputes arise.

Keep your payment receipt, note your transaction reference number, and take screenshots of any online payment confirmations. Store these securely until you've completed your university admission.

What to Do If You Make a Mistake

Some errors can be corrected through JAMB's official channels. Visit a JAMB state office with your registration documents if you notice problems after completing registration. Correction of some data requires payment of additional fees.

However, certain information cannot be changed after submission, including your NIN-linked biographical data. This is why verification before registration matters more than correction attempts afterwards.

Registration Checklist

Before heading to a registration centre, confirm you have:

• Your NIN with verified, correct details matching your O'Level certificates
• Profile code generated from your personal phone number
• Valid email address not previously used for JAMB registration
• Original O'Level result statement or examination number
• Verified course and subject combination from JAMB brochure
• Confirmed institution choices that offer your course
• Recent, clear passport photograph with white background
• Registration fee payment receipt

Taking time to prepare these items properly prevents the registration errors that complicate thousands of admission journeys every year.

After Registration

Once registered, print multiple copies of your registration slip. Keep the original safe and store digital backups. Your registration number and examination details appear on this slip.

Monitor your registered email and phone for JAMB communications. Check your profile periodically for any updates or required actions. Begin serious examination preparation immediately, using past questions and quality study materials.

Platforms like Ulearngo provide JAMB past questions with explanations, helping you prepare effectively while avoiding common examination mistakes alongside the registration ones you've now learned to avoid.