Matatiele Alfred Nzo District Eastern Cape info@mdi-za.org

UNDERSTANDING NATIONAL BENCHMARK TEST (NBT)

HOW TO REGISTER FOR THE NBT

Register on the internet:

  1. Access the NBT website:www.nbt.ac.za
  2. Click on “BOOK A TEST” and follow the prompts.
  3. You can also register via the internet on your cell phone
  4. A letter confi rming your registration and containing a barcode/NBT reference number will be available for you to download and print after you click on “SUBMIT”.
NOTE: Registration is date and site specifi c. If you miss your scheduled writing session, or wish to write a second time, you must register and pay again.
NBT COST
  • AQL only

    R175

  • AQL & MAT

    R350

  • Re-mark

    R250

PAYMENT FOR THE TEST

  • You must take your registration letter to an EasyPay Paypoint to pay the testing fees.
  • You may pay on the EasyPay website at www.easypay.co.za
  • You may pay by making a direct deposit or EFT payment to NBT Project.

WHY DO I HAVE TO WRITE THE TESTS?

The NBTs are used by many universities in the country. They help higher education institutions to interpret school leaving results such as those of the National Senior Certifi cate (NSC). The test results support, but don’t replace or duplicate, NSC results. Some South African higher education institutions use the NBTs for admission and others use them to determine whether you will need extra academic support during your studies. They also assist with the development of curricula. Find out from the institution you are applying to whether you are required to write the tests.


WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM THE TESTS?

There are two tests: Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy (which are combined: AQL), and Mathematics (MAT). For more information about what the tests focus on, go to our web site: www.nbt.ac.za The QL test is closely related to the intended outcomes of the NSC subject, Mathematical Literacy.
Students with disabilities are accommodated. The AL test has also been translated into Braille.
Each test requires you to apply prior learning - what you know and are able to do - to materials that refl ect expectations for fi rst year students in university programmes.
The tests are confi dential, so there are no past papers and no special study materials to prepare for the tests.


CHOOSE ONLINE OR THE PENCIL & PAPER TEST

  1. The tests are equilibrated so there is no dierence in writing the online or pencil and paper form of the NBT.
  2. You should choose the test form that suits you the best.
  3. The online test is convenient as you would normally write the test at home, but you will need a computer that meets the minimum specifi cation and have stable internet access and sufficient bandwidth or data.
  4. You may prefer to write in a test venue using the pencil and paper form of the NBT, in which case you should book your test in a venue closest to you on a date that suits you.

2024 CALENDAR

AT THE TIME OF COMPILING THIS BROUCHER THESE WERE THE DATES NOT IN THE PAST:

NBT Test Dates Last Day to Register Online Last Day to Pay Fees Results Available to Institutions Results Available to Writers
11-May 21-Apr 29-Apr 3-Jun 10-Jun
18-May 28-Apr 6-May 10-Jun 17-Jun
1-Jun 12-May 20-May 24-Jun 1-Jul
8-Jun 19-May 27-May 1-Jul 8-Jul
9-Jun 19-May 27-May 1-Jul 8-Ju
22-Jun 2-Jun 10-Jun 15-Jul 22-Jul
29-Jun 9-Jun 17-Jun 22-Jul 29-Jul
6-Jul 16-Jun 24-Jun 29-Jul 5-Aug
7-Jul 16-Jun 24-Jun 29-Jul 5-Aug
13-Jul 23-Jun 1-Jul 5-Aug 12-Aug
20-Jul 30-Jun 8-Jul 12-Aug 19-Aug
27-Jul 7-Jul 15-Jul 19-Aug 26-Aug
28-Jul 7-Jul 15-Jul 19-Aug 26-Aug
3-Aug 14-Jul 22-Jul 26-Aug 2-Sep
17-Aug 21-Jul 29-Jul 2-Sep 9-Sep
18-Aug 21-Jul 29-Jul 2-Sep 9-Sep
24-Aug 4-Aug 12-Aug 16-Sep 23-Sep
31-Aug 11-Aug 19-Aug 23-Sep 30-Sep
7-Sep 18-Aug 26-Aug 30-Sep 7-Oct
14-Sep 25-Aug 2-Sep 7-Oct 14-Oct
28-Sep 8-Sep 16-Sep 21-Oct 28-Oct
5-Oct 15-Sep 23-Sep 28-Oct 4-Nov
12-Oct 22-Sep 30-Sep 4-Nov 11-Nov
30-Nov 10-Nov 18-Nov 12-Dec 12-Dec
11-Jan 8-Dec 15-Dec 3-Feb 10-Feb

  • Sunday test session ( Pencil and Paper - 20 )
  • Online test session - 5
  • National test session (Pencil and Paper)


WHICH TESTS MUST I WRITE?

The faculty or department will determine which test/s you must write and the deadlines for receiving your results.


WHERE CAN I WRITE THE TESTS?

A complete schedule with all the test locations is on the NBT website - www.nbt.ac.za. If there are no tests near to where you live, and the online test is not a viable option for you, send an e-mail to nbt@uct. ac.za or phone us on 021 650 3523


WHEN SHOULD I WRITE?

You should write the NBT before the closing date of your university application, in order to meet all deadlines and requirements for the programme(s) to which you are applying. You must write both AQL and MAT tests on the same day.

You are allowed to write the NBT for a second time, but you will need to confirm with your faculty fi rst that a second score will be accepted.


APPLY AS A REMOTE WRITER

A remote writer/student is someone who is unable to write at an institution that generally facilitates the national benchmark test sessions. A remote writer is a writer who is in another country or in an area too remote to be able to make a trip of a reasonable distance to the nearest testing centre. Send an email to nbtremote@uct.ac.zato register as a remote writer.


TEST RESULTS

  1. Login to your NBT account approximately four weeks after writing, to access your results
  2. You will only be able to access them if you have paid for any tests for which you were registered