NCEE Timetable — find the National Common Entrance Examination date, registration window, fees, subjects and full exam-day schedule for entry into Federal Unity Colleges.
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NCEE 2026 at a glance
- Exam name: National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE)
- Conducted by: National Examinations Council (NECO)
- Purpose: JSS 1 admission into the 110+ Federal Government Unity Colleges
- Exam date: Saturday, 6 June 2026
- Registration window: Monday, 5 January 2026 — Saturday, 6 June 2026 (9:00 am)
- Schools’ normal registration deadline: Monday, 25 May 2026
- Schools’ late registration deadline: Friday, 29 May 2026 (no further extension)
- Registration fee: ₦5,940 per candidate
- Registration portal: www.neco.gov.ng
Who can sit the NCEE
You qualify to register only if your child is:
- A final-year primary school pupil (Primary 6).
- At least 10 years old by September 2026.
Underage candidates fail the eligibility check at registration and cannot be entered for the paper.
NCEE 2026 timetable — exam day schedule
The exam runs as a single-day, two-paper sitting. Use the times below to plan arrival, breaks and pickup.
Morning session (Paper I)
- 7:30 am – 9:30 am: Validation of candidates, attendance marking, hall sanitisation.
- 9:30 am – 9:40 am: Distribution of customised OMR answer sheets for Paper I.
- 9:40 am – 9:50 am: Distribution of Paper I question papers.
- 9:50 am – 12:00 noon: Paper I (2 hours, 10 minutes).
- Part A: Mathematics and Basic Science & Technology
- Part B: English Studies and National Values Education
Mid-day break
- 12:00 noon – 12:55 pm: Break and sanitisation.
Afternoon session (Paper II)
- 12:55 pm – 1:05 pm: Distribution of customised OMR answer sheets for Paper II.
- 1:05 pm – 1:15 pm: Distribution of Paper II question papers.
- 1:15 pm – 2:35 pm: Paper II (1 hour, 20 minutes).
- Part A: Quantitative and Vocational Aptitude
- Part B: Verbal Aptitude
If the time printed on the question paper differs from the time on the timetable, follow the time on the question paper.
Subjects tested
- Paper I: Mathematics, Basic Science & Technology, English Studies, National Values Education.
- Paper II: Quantitative Aptitude, Vocational Aptitude, Verbal Aptitude.
How to register for NCEE 2026
Registration is online only on the NECO portal. Schools register their pupils in batches; private candidates register through approved centres.
- Visit www.neco.gov.ng and pick the NCEE registration link.
- Pay the ₦5,940 fee through the listed payment channels and keep the receipt or RRR.
- Fill the candidate’s bio-data, upload a recent passport photograph, and select six Federal Unity Colleges — one school per geopolitical zone.
- Submit the form and print the registration slip. Candidates must take the slip to the exam hall.
What to bring on exam day
- Printed registration slip with passport photo.
- HB pencil, eraser, sharpener, and a blue or black pen.
- A simple (non-programmable) calculator. Scientific and programmable models are banned.
- A bottle of water and a light snack for the break.
Items banned from the hall
- Mobile phones, iPads, tablets.
- Smart watches, smart glasses, smart pens.
- Programmable or scientific calculators.
Special accommodations
- Albino and blind candidates get an extra 30 minutes per paper.
- Blind candidates write on the NECO-supplied OMR braille sheet.
How to prepare
- Cover the syllabus. Work through every topic listed for each Paper I subject so nothing on exam day catches your child off-guard.
- Drill past questions. NCEE recycles question patterns. Time each practice paper to match the real 2-hour-10-minute window for Paper I.
- Train OMR shading. Wrong shading loses marks faster than wrong answers. Use blank OMR sheets at home.
- Build aptitude speed. Paper II rewards quick pattern recognition. Daily 15-minute drills on quantitative, verbal and vocational items beat marathon weekend sessions.
- Sleep and food. A full breakfast and a calm night’s sleep matter more than last-minute cramming.
How to check your NCEE result
NECO releases NCEE results on the Unity Schools admission gateway. You do not need to buy a result-checker token.
- Go to https://ncee.neco.gov.ng/.
- Sign in with the email or phone number used at registration plus your password.
- Click Result on the left menu.
- Read the verdict next to your child’s score.
You will see one of three outcomes:
- Qualified for National Merit Selection.
- Qualified for State Quota Selection.
- Not qualified for selection.
NCEE cut-off marks and selection
The Federal Ministry of Education weights admission this way:
- National merit: 60% (the merit cut-off has historically sat around 146).
- Equality of state: 30%.
- Other factors (catchment, exigency): 10%.
Top-tier unity schools — King’s College Lagos, Queen’s College Lagos, FGC Enugu, FGC Sokoto, FGGC Benin, FGGC Akure — pull merit cut-offs well above the national floor because applicant volume is high. Candidates who apply to a school outside their home state get priority on that school’s quota slots, and pupils who score above the minimum are picked ahead of those who only meet it.
Frequently asked questions
When is the NCEE 2026 exam date?
The 2026 National Common Entrance Examination holds on Saturday, 6 June 2026 at centres across Nigeria.
How much is the NCEE 2026 registration fee?
₦5,940 per candidate, paid online during registration on the NECO portal.
What is the deadline to register for NCEE 2026?
Schools must finish normal registration by Monday, 25 May 2026. Late registration closes on Friday, 29 May 2026 with no further extension.
Who can register for the NCEE?
Final-year primary school pupils who turn 10 by September 2026. Younger candidates fail the age check.
How many schools can I choose on the NCEE form?
Six. You pick one Federal Unity College from each of the six geopolitical zones.
What subjects are tested in the NCEE?
Paper I covers Mathematics, Basic Science & Technology, English Studies and National Values Education. Paper II covers Quantitative, Vocational and Verbal Aptitude.
Can I bring a calculator into the NCEE hall?
A simple, non-programmable calculator is allowed. Scientific and programmable calculators, phones, smart watches and tablets are banned.
Do I need to pay to check my NCEE result?
No. Sign in to ncee.neco.gov.ng with the credentials used at registration and click Result. Token purchase is not required.
What is the NCEE merit cut-off mark?
The Federal Ministry of Education sets merit at 60% of selection weight. Recent cycles have placed the merit cut-off near 146, though competitive schools admit well above that.
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