The National Benchmark Test (NBT) is an assessment test written by learners who want to enrol at a higher learning institution. When applying at a higher learning institution, some qualifications will require a learner to write NBT as one of the administration requirements and in some institutions, it is compulsory for a learner to write the NBT before getting admitted. The aim of the NBT is to assess the first-year enrollers (students) if they are university ready and to interpret the results on the learners National Senior Certificate (NSC).
When applying for a qualification at a higher learning institution, a learner needs to take note of the admission requirements before applying. If the qualification requires an NBT, a learner has to visit the NBT website www.nbt.ac.za to make a booking and check the dates they can write on and the closest venue which they can write the test at.
These are the requirements needed to book:
- South African Identity Document
- An email address
- City and location they want to write at
- The institution where they want to apply at
- The ideal assessment date
When making a booking for an NBT, a learner needs to take note that there are two different tests and they vary, Academic and quantitative literacy (AQL) and Mathematics Test (MAT).
AQL is a multiple-choice test that combines academic and quantitative literacy. Quantitative literacy is a method that determines if a learner can interpret charts, graphs and tables. The AQL is taken by everyone who applied for the test regardless of the career choice a learner has chosen. MAT is a multiple-choice test taken by learners applying for qualifications that require mathematics. Both tests run for three hours each. Learners need to note that NBT price ranges from R100 to R360 depending on the test they are writing.
Three after writing the assessments, the (NBT) team will send the results to the institution that the learner applied at. If the learner wishes to apply at other higher learning institutions, the same results can be used. However, the learner needs to inquire with the institution before submitting results. The results are valid for three years after writing.
The NBT allows learners to re-write the assessment. However, not every faculty and every higher learning institution in South Africa will accept the second result. Learners need to enquire with the university if they can submit a second result. When registering for the second time, learners do need not start a new application. Learners must login using their ID number as their username and the password they have created when they registering for the first time. Learners need to note that there should be at least six weeks between multiple writing sessions.
Learners need to check in at the writing centres from 7:30 am across all South African writing centres. Center doors close at 8:30 am, after which, they allow no one inside the test rooms. The AQL test is written in the morning and the MAT test is written in the afternoon. No learner is allowed to come mid-day to write just the MAT test. If learner is writing the MAT test, learner must write on the same day with writing the AQL test.
On the day that the learner is writing, they must bring:
- A South African ID booklet or foreign passport or a birth certificate with an affidavit from the police including a recent photograph.
- A Pencils and an eraser
- Water and lunch, if the learner is writing both AQL and MAT
- The leaner is not allowed to bring a calculator, ruler, dictionary or other learning aid. If you require special assistance such as a magnifier or other adaptive device, learner must send a written request to nbt@uct.ac.za at least three weeks prior to the writing session. Special arrangements will be made for any learner with a disability.
Note that learners without an official ID will be turned away and not allowed to write (unless learner provides the following documentation: a birth certificate with an affidavit from the police including a recent photograph.)
Gradesmatch paid-for services provides an opportunity for learners to get assistance with booking for NBT and pay the required amount for the test. For more information on Gradesmatch paid-for service visit our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @Gradesmatch or visit www.gradesmatch.co.za
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