Given the high cost of diesel and Gother energy challenges in the country, the management of JAMB has given the nod to its partnering CBT centres to henceforth collect the sum of N2,000 as service charge for the use of their centres from candidates sitting both Mock-UTME and the UTME starting from 2023.

In essence, candidates who did not indicate to sit the Mock-UTME will pay only N1,000 for the UTME while those who indicated their desire to sit the Mock-UTME would pay additional N1,000 irrespective of whether they sit the examination or not. The Board resolved on this move as many candidates who had indicated interest to take the Mock-UTME had oftentimes refused to turn up for the exercise forcing the centres to expend resources in preparation for their appearance.

The implication of this is that once you indicate interest to sit the Mock-UTME, you are duty bound to pay for the exercise whether you take the examination or do otherwise. Before now, the candidate pays N700 for Mock-UTME and another N700 through the Board for the UTME but given the high cost of maintaining the centres for the two exercises, the Board has approved the slight inc rease to ameliorate the pressure on the centres.

Consequently, candidates are now advised to make up their minds if, indeed, they want to participate in the mock exercise before indicating their interest at the point of registration as they will be required to pay for it. This is owing to the fact once candidates indicated their interest to take the Mock-UTME, the centres to which they would be assigned would be mandated to put in place necessary facilities to prepare for their appearance.

It should also be noted that expression of interest to participate in the mock examination would have precluded other interested candidates from taking part in the exercise which they would later abandon.