What is NBT day like? What time do I have to be at the test centre? Check-in at all sites in South Africa begins at 07:30. Door closes at 8:30, after which no one is allowed inside the test rooms. The AQL test is written in the morning and the MAT test is written in the afternoon. … Read more
Where Can I Write The NBTs? Click here to view the Test Schedule There are a number of NBT National writing sessions scheduled on Saturdays, and some on Fridays and Sundays. The NBT Project reserves the right to cancel a session with three weeks’ notice. Reasons for cancelling include low registration as well as structural … Read more
How do I register for NBT? Why do I have to register? The NBT Project and the local sites guarantee space and materials only for learners registered to write at a specific site on a specific day. Test sites and rooms are reserved with a fixed number of seats. The number of writers at a … Read more
What does it cost to write the NBT? Costs for the 2025/2026 admission cycle are: AQL only: R 80 AQL and MAT: R 160 Registered applicants that do not report for scheduled tests must again register and pay in order to re-schedule a missed test. Please note that you may not write only the MAT test. Can … Read more
In what languages are the national benchmark tests available? The NBTs are available in English and Afrikaans – the common languages of instruction used at Institutions of Higher Education in South Africa. When registering, you will be asked to indicate the language in which you wish to write. Note that you can only choose one language; … Read more
How long does it take to get NBT results? Results will be sent to institutions four weeks after each writing session as shown on the NBT Test Schedule. Results are uploaded for writers approximately five weeks after the writing session. This helps ensure that learners wishing to write a second time have a minimum of … Read more
When should I write NBTs? You should write the NBTs when you feel ready. However, you must also meet the closing dates and deadlines for the institutions where you are applying. Remember also that you must allow time for your NBTs to be processed, scored and the results sent to institutions. The dates on which … Read more
NBT Results Take note of the following: The NBT Project does not determine which test you must write nor the deadline for submitting results. Most institutions in South Africa post their requirements on their website and in their prospectus. The username and EasyPay number assigned to you during registration is used to: Complete the registration … Read more
NBT Sample Questions WHAT IS IN THE NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS? Download exemplar questions for the Mathematics (MAT) test. Download exemplar questions for the Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) test. The NBTs focus on academic readiness for university study. Each test requires you to apply prior learning – what you know and are able to do – to … Read more
NBT 2025/2026 intake National test dates View our 2025/2026 intake National test dates, or click through our calendar below. Test Dates Download a list of our venues and the test dates. If you are in an area too remote to be able to make a trip of a reasonable distance to the nearest testing centre, contact … Read more