Discover the National Benchmark Test, or NBT, your key to securing admission at prestigious South African universities. The NBT is a comprehensive assessment that complements your school leaving results, such as the National Senior Certificate (NSC), empowering universities to make well-informed admission and placement decisions.
What is the NBT?
The National Benchmark Test (NBT) is an essential academic assessment that evaluates your quantitative literacy and mathematics proficiency, offering additional insights into your potential. Numerous South African universities rely on NBT results to enhance their admission and placement procedures, making it an integral part of the application process.
Why Take the NBT?
NBT results provide universities with crucial information to interpret your school leaving scores while assisting in determining your need for academic support during your studies. Additionally, they play a role in curriculum development. To find out if you need to take the test, check with the institution you’re applying to.
It’s important to take the NBT before your university application’s closing date to meet all program requirements. You’ll be required to complete both the Academic and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) and Mathematics (MAT) tests on the same day. While you can take the NBT a second time, ensure your faculty accepts multiple scores.
No specific pass mark exists for the NBT, as universities use your scores in various ways to gauge your readiness for higher education.
NBT Test Subjects
The NBT consists of two distinct tests:
- Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy (AQL) – A combined assessment.
- Mathematics (MAT).
The Quantitative Literacy (QL) test is closely related to the NSC subject, Mathematical Literacy. Special accommodations are available for students with disabilities, including a Braille version of the Academic Literacy (AL) test.
Each test evaluates your ability to apply your prior knowledge to university-level materials.
NBT Assessment Modes
You have two assessment modes to choose from:
- Online
- Pencil & Paper Test
Both modes are equilibrated, ensuring no difference in difficulty. Opt for the mode that best suits your preferences:
- The online test offers convenience, allowing you to take it from home. Ensure you have the necessary computer specifications, stable internet access, and sufficient bandwidth.
- Alternatively, you can choose the pencil and paper test, taking place at a designated test venue near you. Book a test date that fits your schedule.
For a comprehensive list of NBT schedules, dates, and test locations, visit our website. If no testing centers are near your location, and the online test isn’t viable for you, contact NBT for assistance.
Become a Remote Writer
If you cannot write the NBT at a designated testing center due to living in another country or a remote area, you may qualify as a remote writer. Contact NBT for more information.
For all inquiries or to register as a remote writer, please contact NBT:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 021 650 3523
- Email for remote writers: [email protected]
Discover the power of the National Benchmark Test in unlocking your path to higher education. Contact us today and take the next step toward your academic journey.