UTME 2026: Test Item Automation Process Completed – JAMB

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has successfully completed the automation of the test item development process for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and other board exams.

The innovation, known as the Remote Authoring and Moderation System (RAMS), marks the end of the manual method previously used in developing exam items.

According to the council’s weekly bulletin on Monday, the automation training, which concluded on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, brought together paper writers to finalize the digitization process ahead of the next UTME.

A test carried out immediately after the training confirmed the efficiency and readiness of the system. The initiative represents a significant advance for a computer-based examination (CBT) that requires the development and administration of millions of test items each year.

Speaking at the event, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, described the decade-long journey to complete digital automation as rigorous but rewarding. He noted that RAMS symbolizes the Council’s transition from a manual, paper-based system to a fully digital platform, eliminating challenges such as physically moving documents, logistical constraints, identifying resource persons and other bureaucratic bottlenecks associated with convening physical meetings.

According to the Chancellor, the new system will make the process simpler, more convenient and more efficient. He added that automation improves the integrity, security and reliability of exam items, while relieving test takers from the stress of travel.

“This is a win-win situation for both the Council and the authors of the articles,” he said.

Prof. Oloyede also gave an update on the 2026 UTME registration exercise, revealing that over two million candidates had registered at the time of the briefing.

He assured the nation of the Council’s commitment to conducting a credible review. Responding to calls from some Nigerians for the centers to be removed from the list for various infractions, he reiterated the Council’s zero tolerance for negligence and non-compliance with its operational standards.

The Chancellor also called on political leaders and well-meaning Nigerians to support the Council’s efforts by investing in the establishment of world-class CBT centers to improve digital literacy nationwide.

He commended the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, and Barr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), among others, for their exemplary support and recognition of the value of investing in education.

Professor Adenike Oladiji, Chairperson of the Federal Universities Vice Chancellors Forum and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, described RAMS as a robust quality assurance mechanism.

He noted that the system allows universities, as the end users of successful UTME candidates, to be actively involved in the processes that validate and certify prospective university students. According to her, reliable generation of elements strengthens the credibility of the admissions process.

Likewise, the Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Osun State, Prof. Olayinka Ramota Karim, and the African School of Economics, Abuja, Prof. Mahfouz Adedimeji, described the initiative as innovative and forward-thinking.

They noted that technology allows item writers to work more conveniently and efficiently, significantly reducing the stress associated with exam item development.

Speakers unanimously praised JAMB for its foresight, courage and commitment to implementing technology that allows exam questions to be generated securely from anywhere, while maintaining the highest standards of reliability and validity.